Weekend Mirror 24-25 October, 2021

Coalition blasted for more false claims 23-24 October, 2021 / Vol. 11 ‒ No. 95 / Price: $100

Email: mirror2018.gy@gmail.com

PAGE 23

Jordan ‘attempts’ response to Nandlall, fails to respond to with specifics Guyana on the Global Stage PAGE 3

SEE INSIDE East Coast communities benefit from $377 M road construction PAGE 7

1,600 youths benefit from training PAGE 8 programmes countrywide

Amerindian villages assured of support for economic development PAGE 9

PAGES 14-15

2

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

Edghill addresses “mischievous” social media post on Mon Repos Road

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Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill and engineer inspecting the culvert that has to be renovated for the new road

M

inister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill has slammed a “mischievous” social media post on the construction of a 380meter road in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

The post claimed that the government spent monies on a road that leads to “nowhere” and will benefit no one.

Minister Edghill on a visit to Middle Street, this week, said the creator of the narrative is only seeking to cause confusion. In Mon Repos, the ministry has spent $91.4 million to construct six roads in the community. The specific road costs government $27.7 million.

“There are six roads that have finished asphaltic pavement in this area in keeping with the connector roads. The road has come and given access to the last house in this street,” Minister he said.

He further added that “we could not have come and connected this road with that road because of a failed culvert. The NDC of the area has taken out the failed culvert and is to be restored.

The road has served every single resident that live in this street right down to the last entrance.”

The minister explained that a culvert will be constructed to connect Middle Street and Agriculture Road under another programme.

On Wednesday (October 20, 2021), the minister visited several communities on the East Coast to check on the progress and quality of a number of connector roads.

The communities include Mon Repos, Buxton, Enmore and Annandale.

During the visit, residents welcomed the upgrades to their roads.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

Jordan ‘attempts’ response to Nandlall, fails to respond to with specifics T

he APNU+AFC Coalition’s Winston Jordan, this week, attempted to respond to Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, on the move to hold him accountable for several questionable transactions.

However, Jordan, despite releasing a statement, did not respond to any specifics.

He said, “I was alerted to a statement made by Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney General, in which he alluded to an investigation into the dealings of the APNU/AFC government. Specifically, he mentioned that a file into the conduct of former Finance Minister Winston Jordan will, very shortly, be sent to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the commencement of a criminal investigation. It was further alleged that I am implicated in a number of nefarious transactions. These allegations are false, baseless and repugnant.”

Nandlall, last week, announced that an investigation into the dealings of the former APNU+AFC government is actively being pursued. Jordan, according to him, has been implicated in a number of nefarious transactions. “The former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, has been implicated in a number of nefarious and question-

able transactions, which we intend to send to the Police Force and to other authorities for investigations,” he said.

Among the transactions in question is the receipt of the US$18 million signing paid by ExxonMobil for over a year.

HIDDEN FROM GUYANESE While the monies were received in 2016, the Guyanese people were not made aware of it until 2017.

On December 8, 2017, a leaked letter addressed the receipt of a signing bonus.

The letter, which was leaked to the media, and exposed Government’s denial that a signing bonus was paid was written by Finance Secretary, Hector Butts and sent to Bank of Guyana Governor, Gobin Ganga.

The letter, dated, September 20, 2016, read: “I shall be grateful if you would arrange for the under-mentioned Foreign Currency Account to be opened at the Bank of Guyana, in order to receive a deposit in the form of a signing bonus to be given by ExxonMobil. This account shall not be treated as part of the Bank’s foreign reserves.

Instead the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is, United

States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

The letter was copied to the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Raphael Trotman, who had refused to admit that a signing bonus was paid by ExxonMobil.

In addition to Trotman, other APNU+AFC Coalition officials had vehemently denied that a signing bonus was paid.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) on November 3, 2017 reported then that: “Joseph Harmon, in response to Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram’s claim that the Government has signed a new US$20M agreement with Oil company, ExxonMobil, which it has refused to make public, on Friday, endorsed a public statement made by the Minister of Natural Resources that the contract would be made public at a later date to be announced.

He stated that he will not speculate about contents of GoG’s contract with ExxonMobil.”

Kaieteur News on, November 23, 2017, quoted Jordan as saying that: “Such a claim is ‘a figment of the imagination’ and that there is ‘no agreement for any bonus’. Further, he noted that the Government did not

request such a bonus.”

Of note is that Jordan was later quoted in the local media as refusing to explain what the US$18M, plus interest earned, was spent on.

“Once the money goes into the Consol Fund, there is no specific item…funds are spongeable,” he said.

In August 2021, Jordan, during an interview, proffered a new explanation, saying he thought the US$18M was a gift. He said, “When the individual who apparently negotiated this….he represented it as monies being given by Exxon for the specific purposes of the border and training in petroleum activities…I am not saying the individual lied or anything but if he fairly represented what Exxon wanted then we did not get a signing bonus.”

Although, the sum of US$18M or G$3.717 billion was received from ExxonMobil as a signing bonus was paid to Guyana on October 31, 2016, that money was not reported in 2016. It was not included in the 2017, 2018 or 2019 national budgets.

WHAT WAS THE MONEY USED FOR? The 2019 Auditor General’s Report, on page 8, said: “The Government of Guyana

received the sum of US$18M or G$3.717 billion from ExxonMobil as a signing bonus.

This amount was deposited into the Ministry of Finance ExxonMobil Account №.

845L5086 at Bank of Guyana. The Bank maintained a Cash and Investment Accounts to independently account for proceeds from investments.

“During the period 9 to 17 November 2016, amounts totalling US$15.831M or G$3.269 billion were transferred to the Investment Account and expended to purchase overseas bonds. The balance of US$2.176M or G$449M remained in the account №. 845L5086.

“The Government of Guyana earned interest of US$498,775 or G$103.629M from its investments during the period 9 November 2016 to 31 December 2018, while account №. 845L5086 interest totaled US$2,889 or G$598,443.

“On 28 December 2018, the Ministry of Finance instructed the Bank to transfer the sum of G$788.100M or US$3.780M from account №. 845L5086 to the Consolidated Fund. The amount was

transferred to the Consolidated Fund on 31 December 2018, leaving a balance of G$23.452M or US$112,480 in the account.

“In the month of January 2019, the value of investments appreciated to US$14.545M from US$14.477M, an increase of US$67,705. In addition, interest earned on the Investments and Cash Accounts totalled US$42,378.”

By January 2019, the Ministry of Finance, under the stewardship of former Finance Minister, instructed the Bank to close account №.

845L5086 and transfer all balances to the Consolidated Fund. “In keeping with the directive of the Ministry, an amount of G$3.065 billion or US$14.699M was transferred to the Fund on 24 January 2019. A final transfer of G$104,867 or US$502.96 was made on 14 February 2019, resulting in nil balances in the accounts,” the 2019 Auditor General’s report said.

The Bank closed the accounts in February 2019. This took place two months after the passage of the no-confidence motion in December 2018.

Granger faces Harmon as possible challenger for PNCR leadership

T

he leadership struggle within the People’s National Congress Reform’s (PNCR) persists with Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, now indicating that he may challenge his former boss and current PNCR leader, David Granger for the post.

Harmon, in recent publicized comments said he is “actively” considering running for the position.

Notably, Richard Van West-Charles, son-in-law of the Party’s founder Forbes Burnham and PNRC Executive, challenged Granger for leadership of the Party.

He had said, “Let me answer this way. Am I prepared?

Yes. Am I willing? Yes. The only thing I would say to you in accordance with the constitution of the PNC. It is in the hands of the membership of the PNC, in terms of the nominations…. as we prepare for a congress,

once there are nominations in my favor, I am prepared and I am willing to play a significant role in the leadership of the party.” Van West-Charles’ most recent appointment was as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the former Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) under the former APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

He joins PNCR Executive, Aubrey Norton, in challenging Granger. Last month, Norton had said, “I believe I have the requisite skills to give leadership. I have said to people I believe that even while we served in Government I cannot be accused of corruption or anything of that kind, and I believe that I am one among the viable candidates. The direct answer to that is once the congress of the People’s National Congress reform is called, I intend to run for the leadership of the party.”

Others challenging Granger include PNCR Executive, Aubrey Norton.

Granger, who is currently on a “leave” of absence from his duties as party leader, has been coming under increasing pressure for the current state of the party.

Congress Place was picketed by members of Granger’s own party, who demanded that he hold the Congress so that the party could choose a leader. One placard, aimed at Granger and Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, read ‘David and Joe, stop denying democracy in the PNC. Time for congress’.

Also, Granger has also been denounced by individual members of the party, like former PNCR Parliamentarian, James Bond.

Bond had labelled Granger’s leadership as “ineffective” and “mediocre”.

Meanwhile, a PNCR di-

aspora group on May 16, 2021 had called for Granger to step down from leading the party. The letter, published by the local press, signed by Connie McGuire, Michael Bramford, George E Lewis and the PNCR New York Diaspora group.

They appealed to all PNC Executives, members and supporters to demand the resignations of Granger and other party leaders. They noted that after working tirelessly to get Granger elected in 2015, the party made a series of missteps, failed to connect to supporters, and sidelined young and dynamic leadership like that offered by former Region 10 Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon. “It will be a colossal mistake for (us) the members of the PNCR groups in the New York Diaspora and the executive members of the PNCR to allow them to remain at the

helm of the PNCR. This will no doubt do irreparable damage to the party… it is time for them to pass the baton on to the younger leadership of the likes of

Sharma Solomon, Vanessa Kissoon, Thandi McAllister and others,” the NYC group said.

The PNCR’s last biennial congress was in 2018.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

EDITORIAL

The Reality of Our Democracy Trampling on the Constitution, [This week the Mirror re-publishes an article penned by former President, Janet Jagan, in 2009 in commemoration of her 101st birth anniversary]

By Janet Jagan question that dominates discussions and the views and A opinions of many Guyanese is that of democracy. If one keeps an eye on the print and TV media, one can see the

subject being frequently raised — is Guyana a democracy, or something else, short of being a democracy.

Guyana has gone through three stages: 1) Colonial rule 2) The Burnham/PNC era of rigged elections and denial of human rights; and 3) The 1992 restoration of democracy. As a colony of Great Britain, Guyanese lacked the right to govern their own country.

Although fair elections were held, the British held on closely to security, foreign affairs, finance and the civil service, and held, as well, tight control of the media. We all know only too well what happened during the PNC regime, when that party held on to power by means of electoral rigging and tight control of people's rights — like freedom of the press, freedom of movement and freedom of thought.

All of these restrictions on the liberties of people ended when the PPP won the 1992 elections, following activities of those inside and outside of Guyana (Jimmy Carter's help was a major contribution to the restoration of democracy) for the changing of electoral procedures, mainly the counting of ballots at the place of poll.

There is, however, a slice of Guyanese society, that will not accept that Guyana is a democracy. They complain bitterly that their rights are denied, that one party keeps winning elections, which they believe is unfair. They demand participation in the Executive branch of government and consider the use of the majority vote in the National Assembly an affront to democracy. They interpret the government ownership of the radio station, the one—TV station situation at Linden and the restriction of advertisements to Stabroek News some time ago as assaults on democracy and the right to freedom of speech and thought the slap on the wrist of TV Channel 6 for permitting threats to the President, an attack on human rights.

They also complain bitterly about Parliament — that its practices are unfair and the majority vote rules on every bill and matter before that body. The critics fail to understand that this is the way democracies are run. The minority cannot rule, except in dictatorships. As one historian Frederic Austin Ogg: put it in his book ‘European Governments and Politics’: "... The debate ended, the motion is put. If the opposition prevails, the bill perishes; and while most government bills almost always come through (failure to do so, being a government defeat, would quite possibly upset their minority), the mortality of private members' bills at this stage is very great." That is the reality of how parliaments work.

But the critics never mention the tremendous changes that have taken place in our National Assembly. I sat there in the PNC years when questions were never answered and when Opposition Leader Cheddi Jagan was prevented from speaking in parliament for over two years because of the PNC speaker's ruling. I put some 12 questions on Jonestown to the then National Assembly at each session, but they were never placed on the Order paper. Today, questions are answered and not 'ducked.' We now have an advanced committee system known as the Parliamentary Standing Committees that embraces all parliamentarians in the study of bills and reports that go to the National Assembly and is responsible for appointments to commissions and boards. We now have Hansard, important to our history, which the PNC government did not print. All that is left for historical study during that period are speeches typed on thin paper, now deteriorating.

As to freedom of speech and expression, the critics have to dig deep and deeper to justify their charges. In fact, some of the "free speech" is so noxious and unfair, that the government should be challenged for allowing such nonsense to be printed or said.

Guyana can be proud. We are one of the few countries in the world where the Cabinet Secretary reports weekly to the nation on Cabinet decisions and where the Head of State, the President, holds regular press conferences where any and all questions put by journalists are answered. Guyana's ministers go out to the "roots" on a regular basis to inform, to enquire, to investigate and to rap with citizens. Several ministers hold "open days" where people can seek help and express their grievances.

Further, in the PPP's efforts to enhance democracy, the PPP/C has endorsed the UN Declaration of Human Rights and has enacted legislation to ensure that the rights of Guyanese are guaranteed by the Constitution. Also five rights commissions have been established to enhance the rights of women, children, indigenous people and ethnic relations.

We are a full-fledged democracy and we can hold up our heads in pride that this is a reality.

Standing Orders, norms and conventions of parliamentary democracy will not be allowed Dear Editor,

W

e, the five Government members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have noted a press statement issued on ‘Office of the Leader of the Opposition” letterhead

by Ganesh Mahipaul, Opposition Member of the PAC on October 19, 2021.

Mr. Mahipaul has misrepresented the facts regarding the “motion to rescind” brought by Minister Gail Teixeira on Monday October 18th, 2021, to the PAC meeting.

Here are the facts: 1. The motion moved by Minister Teixeira, is perfectly in order, and in compliance with the Standing Orders.

Minister Teixeira explained on Monday 18th October at the PAC meeting, that she had consulted with the Clerk of the National Assembly to ensure she was adhering to the Standing Orders.

2. One of the functions of the Chairman of any Committee of the Parliament is “Putting motions and questions”. This, the Chairman, Mr. Figueira, failed to do by not putting the motion as presented by Minister Teixeira to the Committee for discussion and a vote, if necessary.

3. Another of the Chairman’s functions is “Balancing the rights and interests of the majority and minority in the committee”. On Monday 11th of Octo-ber when the motion was moved by Mr. Mahipaul to meet twice weekly, Minister Edghill was in the meeting, virtually. This was pointed out to the Chairman by Member Seeraj. He was totally ignored and Minister Edghill was not recognized to make a contribution or vote on the issue. In fact, the Chairman insisted that Minister Edghill was not online.

At the October 18th meeting, this was proven to be false as the log in records of the Parliament Office for that meeting proved that he was in the meeting at the time of the vote.

4. The fact that Minister Edghill was denied his right to speak and to exercise his right to vote on the

motion – although he was present in the meeting – illustrates the level of crass bullyism by the APNU+AFC Members in the PAC. 5. The Chairman, Mr Figueira, at the October 18th meeting, after saying he needed more time to examine the motion, although the relevant Standing Order was identified, was asked how much time he required, on more than one occasion he indicated (and the verbatim report of parliament will confirm) that Minister Teixeira’s motion will be on the agenda for the next statutory meeting of the PAC to be held on Monday 25th October.

6. However, the Chairman, Mr. Figueira hurriedly closed the session by saying the PAC is adjourned to Friday 22nd October and walked out.

7. By preventing the motion from being put at the said meeting and then convening a meeting for Friday October 22nd with full knowledge that a written substantive “motion to rescind” had been tabled and circulated to all Members, is a clear and unambiguous attempt at deceit.

8. The public is reminded that this is the repetition of the behaviour of the former Chairperson, Mr. Patterson, who did not allow, in fact never allowed, a motion for his removal to be put to the committee from February to May 2021 in the PAC. 9. On May 3, 2021 the Speaker of the National Assembly wrote the Chairperson that he had no authority under the Standing Orders to prevent a motion from being put to the Committee, in fact he was “compelled” to do so by the Standing Orders.

10. The matter was successfully resolved by a motion to the House to remove him as Chairperson.

The least we have hoped for with any chairperson, and in particular the new Opposition Chairperson of the PAC was that he would have learnt from his predecessor’s fate and stick to the Standing Orders.

Alas, the APNU+AFC Members of the PAC continue to re-affirm the public’s and the Government’s opinion that they are incapable of digress-

ing from crass bullyism.

Furthermore, it must noted that the PAC is supported in its work by the presence of statutory and constitutional representatives, the Financial Secretary, the Auditor General and the Accountant General. All of whom carry out hectic and critical posts in the executing of their mandates as well as the management of the government on a day-to-day basis. To have these key officers sit for 2 full days a week in the PAC means that the work of the government will be stymied. To vote as they did on October 11th without any consultation with these persons is also another example of bullyism.

Mr. Mahipaul has raised the amount of work pending in the PAC and trying to throw shade on the PPP/C Members.

But Mr. Mahipaul and company must answer —who held up the general and regional elections after his government fell to a no confidence motion on Decem-ber 21, 2018 for 14 months, in violation of the constitution? And who is responsible for attempting repeatedly to hijack the elections and delayed the declaration of the results of those elections for 5 more months? That is where two years was lost in the PAC to address the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Annual Auditor General’s reports. And who again, but the APNU+AFC Members, by their bullying tactics in the new 12th Parliament’s PAC held up its work from February to May 2021, and, appear to want to do the same once again.

The Parliament and its Committees are guided by the Constitution and the Standing Orders, and, we shall not allow persons, whoever they may be, to trample on the Constitution, Standing Orders, norms and conventions of our parliamentary democracy.

Yours faithfully, Gail Teixeira, M.P. Bishop Juan Edghill, M.P., Dharamkumar Seeraj, M.P., Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, M.P., Sanjeev Datadin

5

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

PNCR still to face past failures Dear Editor,

PNCR’s rhetoric outlandish, its viability in question Dear Editor,

O

pposition elements have been launching an unending attack on the PPP/C Government, accusing the administration of discrimination against Afro-Guyanese; of firing Government workers; and of being “installed” into office, among other things.

Says PNCR member Mr. Errol J. Lewis: “The PPP, with international help, was installed as the Government in Guyana, despite a recount that showed fraud was committed by the PPP/C.” Mr. Lewis captured the general mood of the PNCR towards the PPPC: “the PPP Government is oppressive, and authorises regular wonton discrimination against Afro-Guyanese and anyone supporting the Coalition.” He also stated that there was discrimination in COVID-19 relief distribution, and that discrimination accounted for over 1,000 public servants being dismissed from their jobs.

Whether Mr. Lewis and other PNCR members have succeeded in convincing all segments of their supporters with their caustic polemics, as opposed to solid evidence, is doubtful. The rhetoric has become so outlandish that even PNCR supporters question their viability. For example, PNCR’s Juretha Fernandes, MP, said: “The PPP (are) in Government now, and they are discriminating against every single person; and we cannot tolerate them.” This is the most convoluted statement to be uttered by an MP. The facts/ evidence tell a different story.

What political leverage could the PNCR get from pushing forth their claim that the PPP/C Government was installed? The CARICOM high level team declared the PPP/C as the winner of the 2020 regional and national elections, after conducting a review of the recount operations. All the local political parties except the APNU coalition conceded that the PPPC won the elections.

The coalition’s election petitions failed in the courts. All the western diplomatic missions (American, Canadian, European, UK) recognise the PPPC as the legitimate Government, and so do CARICOM, OAS, Commonwealth, the Carter Center, and 100 countries. Yet the PNCR has refused to accept the legitimacy of the PPPC Government.

What is even more astonishing is that despite the PNCR’s incredulous claim of being cheated out of office, they have refused to make their copies of SoPs (Statements of Poll) public. A party which claims victory would readily make their SoPs available to the public.

The PNCR’s apparent preoccupation with the race factor as a political tool is also based on their claim that the PPPC Government fired over 1,000 of their supporters upon taking office in 2020. Every new government tends to fire political and contract

employees. This is well established practice in any democracy. The PNCR are acquainted with this practice, and applied it when they took power in 2015 and fired over 7,000 sugar workers (of which over 5,500 were Indo-Guyanese) leaving them to languish on the breadline. The closed sugar estates, of which the workers constituted the hub of economic activities, had become economic dead zones.

One must not forget that the PNCR coalition also fired 1,972 Amerindian CSO workers, who served in the most impoverished hinterland regions of the country (where the poverty level is 75%). Not to mention hundreds of Government workers (Indo-Guyanese and others thought to be sympathetic to the PPPC) who were likewise fired.

Notwithstanding the plight of sugar workers, the PNCR coalition Government proceeded to add 14,500 Government jobs (thus increasing the Government’s payroll by a massive 36% in 5 years). The overwhelming majority of new hires were Afro-Guyanese. The PPPC’s Minister of Local Government lamented on assuming office, for example, that many staff members of his ministry had been under-utilised, while some could not show any work output.

The current PPP/C Government implements policies and programmes to benefit all Guyanese, irrespective of race, gender, and geography. The Government, for example, has recently granted 6,000 online scholarships. The ethnic distribution is as follows: 39% to Afro-Guyanese, 40% to Indo-Guyanese, and 21% to Mixed and Amerindians.

In addition, house lots totalling 5,926 have been allocated during the PPP/C’s first year in office equitably among the ethnic groups.

This is not to suggest that everything is perfect, and Government must continue to address the pressing needs of the people.

Could the PNCR become a formidable Opposition, instead of being fixated on making ridiculous claims and playing with people’s emotions, rather than tapping into their reason? The dominant factor in voting preference has been ethnicity, but this seems to be changing, though not rapidly with the rise in political consciousness. The Indo-Guyanese population is declining, and the PPPC does not have a demographic advantage anymore. By 2025, the Indo-Guyanese population will drop to 34% due to emigration, mixed marriages, and lower fertility levels.

The political battlefield could become extremely competitive. Ethnic-based parties like the PNCR must convince other ethnic groups of their vision and policies if they really want to win state power. Spewing incendiary rhetoric and distortions will not help any political party.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

T

he PNCR/APNU/PNCR whatever you may want to call them, would be having their congress celebrations this month, during which time they will take the opportunity to choose a new leader for the party. I wish them well in their endeavours. While that party’s Congress holds significant interest for those running for office, I, on the other hand, am not so keen on their internal affairs. However, I would like to make some comments which, I think those in the party might find helpful.

My comments stem from the fact that this party held political office for the longest period in our nation’s history, and as such they owe it to us to clear up those negative images of the party etched in our minds. At least they owe us the decency to come clean in their act this time around. So, once again, I say that party held national office for the longest period of our history, the first instance being 28 continuous years. During that period, this country experienced its most harrowing ordeals. We were relegated to the position of a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) the true interpretation of that acronym meaning, we were ranked below Haiti. We were poor, as well as we were a highly indebted country, as Guyana and Guyanese were looked upon with scorn and derision; this is what our country was subjected to.

The last experience of them which lasted for five years five months, was no different.

Here the party caused a growing economy to slump back into the dumps, while the higher echelons held tenaciously on to power. For the next five months, the PNC tried every conceivable ruse at their disposal to hang on, power being the central focus of their attention. This only ended after a final recount of the votes and some pitched court battles right down to the wire.

Now, it is hoped that with new leadership – there is definitely going to be a change – that some semblance of decency and class might grace that party. But that is just wishful thinking, because much of what we see as replacement is the same old classless gang, thinking under the same old, retrograde dogmas. Except and until that image is erased the party will continue to languish in the doldrums.

Another disgraceful and embarrassing feature of that party is the age-old problem of rigging. This is not only an endemic situation when on the national level, but even among party members themselves rigging or the falsification of election results is a serious malignancy. Until such time that the party put away that ghost of rigging, they will continue to be a symbol of repulsion in the eyes of the people. So, if you should ask me if there will be another episode of gunplay at this year’s party congress, I am tempted to give you an answer in the affirmative.

Respectfully submitted, Neil Adams

Guyanese must be wary of Coalition’s rabblerousing Dear Editor,

T

he rabble-rousers of the PNC-led APNU+AFC Coalition are again using the sugar workers to stymie development in the sector and the nation. At a time when workers have a government that is open to advocacy, listening to representative bodies, some are once again being misled like sheep and following so-called union leaders with a Coalition agenda to “… undermine this government… in whatever way you can.”

There was a plethora of strike actions prior to elections of 2015 as the workers were misled by false promises into supporting a cabal that has always been anti-sugar industry. They were betrayed when the APNU+AFC got into government and began dismantling the industry, firing over 7,000 of them in the process. The union and its reps were passive during this assault.

The human quotient and consciences of the striking workers are synonymous

with that of the Coalition cabal as they are displaying the same mindset and actions of their nemesis, who brought them to their knees. They have no empathy or sympathy for their colleagues who were left on the breadline, with starving children, losing homes and appliances because they could not service debts, while they went to bed with full bellies, comfortably ensconced in their secure homes.

Now they are blackmailing this government, just when the industry is being transformed; a strike last month, one again this month. These misguided few seem to like the PNC Government because they seem intent on joining the Coalition cabal to sabotage the progressive and transformative socio-economic paradigm now giving every Guyanese citizen hope for a future of peace, progress and prosperity.

Yours respectfully, Alvin Hamilton

6

Janet Jagan stood out as a political leader, journalist and stateswoman Dear Editor,

T

here are few politicians, who on their arrival on the political scene, bring with them an air of freshness to the humdrum of local politics. Janet Jagan was one of such.

Born on 2Oth October 1920, she brought with her a huge amount of freshness that pushed against the stale and male-dominated politics obtaining at the time in colonial British Guiana. Suffice it to say that the freshness of her appearance on the political scene was felt not only in the first years of her arrival in the colony, on the contrary, that freshness was manifested in thought, word and deed continued throughout her entire life as a political leader, journalist and states-woman. Arriving in British Guiana as a White, attractive American woman, Janet Jagan was, politically aware that coloured people in a colonial society would talk amongst themselves about their precarious lives, but would dare not implicate the high and mighty outside their company nor resort to political action to change that precariousness so typical of the colonial order.

Long before the digital age, and, under seemingly insurmountable conditions, compounded by limited resources, Janet Jagan turbocharged into the prevailing backward socio-economic conditions that shackled women as hapless victims of colonial rule. What made her stand out as the

primus inter pares amongst women, was her immersion in and advocacy of left-wing politics characterized by her anti-colonial, freedom-loving and internationalist outlook powered by her commitment and dedication to a national struggle to set Guyana free as an independent nation. Left-wing or radical politics in those days was cast in the mode of anti-establishment and to be engaged in subversive activities aimed at overthrowing the established order. The political and social vineyards in which Janet Jagan laboured was cultivated by the Whitehall-pedigreed sugar barons and colonial overlords who shared the same class identity and unity of purpose in maintaining the existing order of oppression, suppression and exploitation of the poor and dispossessed.

Small wonder why in 1952, the satraps of the colonial powers squatting in the Legislative Council, moved and supported the passage of the Subversive Literature Motion to ban the entry of progressive and anti-colonial literature into the colony. Janet Jagan ‘stormed the Bastille’ as it were, waging battle to educate women and men who laboured at the sugar plantations, the waterfront, the fields and factories as well as domestics, as they were known in those days, about their fundamental rights.Janet Jagan’s groundings with the people in general, and mobilization of women in particular, were considered hostile and unfriendly

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021 acts by the colonial authorities who viewed her political activism as disruptive aimed at fomenting unrest in what the colonial authorities considered to be the ‘serene and benevolent’ order of the day. Stereotyped as a ‘White American Jew’ who had no place in Guyanese politics, racist epithets leveled against her neither distracted nor dissuaded Janet Jagan from discharging her heavy responsibilities with vigour and selflessness never seen before by any woman in the colony at that time. To her, life was as Samuel Johnson described it; ‘an arduous and tragic struggle with more to endure than to enjoy’.

The 1960’s was probably the most difficult period in her political life. What today would qualify as crimes against humanity were perpetrated while she served as Minister of Home Affairs during the 1963-1964 period. To this day, modern-day quasi ideologues who dislike Janet Jagan continue to label her, even in death, as a ‘hardliner’ and ‘Old Guard’ without having the slightest notion of her contribution to Guyana as a trade unionist, woman activist, politician, Deputy Speaker of the Legis-lative Assembly, Minister of Government, Member of Parlia-ment, diplomat, first ever Prime Minister and woman President of Guyana. Janet Jagan’s whiteness was neither a humbug nor some ethnic honorific right of passage to meet, greet and ground with Guyanese working people.

At bottom-house and street-corner meetings, Mrs Jagan spoke freely and understandably. She chose her words carefully during debates in parliament and privately as at internal party meetings or at cabinet.

In exceptional circumstances, she did not mince words in letting her interlocutor know what her views were on matters under discussion. For a left-wing politician to run for political office and win at elections was unprecedented in those days. But Janet Jagan did just that in 1953. 44 Years later, she was elected the world’s 22nd Woman Head of State. Long before then, she helped dismantle legally, the sexist and structural barriers against women though many are still with us culturally to this day. Images

still linger in the heads of some who stubbornly refuse to accept her apology and explanation for throwing a Court Order over her shoulder. “Yes, I regret what took place and I wish to apologize for my action… I also wish to mention very categorically, that it had nothing to do with disrespect for the laws or our Constitution.”

The brightest political act in another dark period of our country’s recent history was manifested when Janet Jagan was sworn in on December 18, 1977, as the fifth Executive President of Guyana’s following the election where she won a stunning 55.5 per cent of the valid votes cast. The significance of Janet Jagan, a White woman as president of Guyana was a phenomenon that was unfathomable and unacceptable for the PNC’s leadership. Not finding one iota of corruption or scandalous to pin on her, they turned to race and ethnicity, threats and violence to undermine and deprive her of the powerful mandate handed to her by the electorate. Asked how she felt about being elected President of Guyana she replied; “I felt like I was going into a prison.”

It was perhaps, in that frame of mind after serving just three years in office that she agreed to cut short her term in office in the wake of multiple violent protests by the PNC. According to Mrs Jagan; “If it had not been for the responsible behavior of the PPP/Civic, I’m afraid this country may have gone back into the abyss that we went into in the ‘60’s.”

On Saturday, 28th March 2009, Janet Jagan passed away. Her stellar reputation outshone the many challenges she faced given the weight of prejudices stacked against her as a woman. Her feisty journalism and political stature was unquestionable; so was her popularity inside the PPP and amongst the electorate. She entered the political scene at a time when politics was considered an exclusively male domain.

But in the end, many were forced to accept her as a revolutionary fighter and leader.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

Strategic approach to development of renewable energy in Guyana Dear Editor,

R

enewable energy is taking over electricity grids around the world. Wind and solar energy now provide almost 10 per cent of global electricity, compared to less than 1 per cent just 15 years ago.

This dramatic transformation has been powered by increasingly low costs. According to data from the International Energy Agency, wind and solar now provide electricity cheaper than virtually all other forms of power.

However, there is one major drawback — intermittency.

Unlike many other sources, wind and solar do not provide power on a steady and predictable schedule. Instead, the electricity generated by a wind or solar farm depends on the weather.

This presents a challenge for grids.

Demand for electricity fluctuates constantly, and grid operators must ensure that the supply of electricity meets demand at all times. When consumers turn on air conditioners at mid-day, grid operators must increase electricity production to compensate. Typically, this is done through “dispatchable” generation, which can adjust output as needed. The most common dispatchable sources include natural gas and hydro-electricity.

When intermittent sources are introduced to the mix, grid operators are forced to rely

more heavily on dispatchable sources to ensure sufficient electricity supply. If intermittent sources make up only a small share of overall production, this problem remains very manageable. However, as renewables continue to grow, smoothing out the gap between supply and demand becomes more challenging. Years ago, some critics had suggested that this would limit renewable sources like wind and solar to a negligible role in the grid. While renewables now play a major role in many grids, variability remains a challenge at high penetration rates.

While our quest for a clean and green energy source is getting some positive vibes, the renewable energy industry is also open for investment. Just like any other investment, the renewable energy sector (solar, wind, geo-thermal) requires you to consider the investment horizon and risk tolerance. In fact, you should start with the least risky investments that offer a maximum time horizon.

The growth of renewable energy has been outstanding. With the passage of time, more and more individuals are investing in this field to get their share. For instance, investing in the solar power sector is a great idea to multiply your money without any serious risk.

Guyana will complement this strategy with the development of renewable energy sources to sustain its growing energy demand.

The future never looked brighter for renew-

able energy in Guyana.

Historically, Guyana has been reliant on diesel and heavy fuel oil to power its economy, which not only emit more carbon, but are also more expensive. By developing its wind resources along the Atlantic shoreline, installing solar panels in the hinterland, build-

ing solar farms and developing a large-scale hydro project, Guyana would “green” its grid in the future.

Sincerely, David Adams

All ‘nefarious’ activities under Coalition must be investigated Dear Editor,

I

t boggles the mind that, after all the adverse publicity regarding the US$18 million bonus which the former Minister and his Government vociferously denied, the whereabouts of the money is still an unsolved mystery. Yet Mr Jordan wants us to believe that the allegations of possible corrupt actions by him are “false, baseless and repugnant”.

One can only imagine that if the first money from oil cannot be accounted for, what would have happened to the revenues which keep coming in. We, as Guyanese, must be forever thankful that the Coalition is still not in Government.

It is heartening to note that the Attorney General will also be going after the many corrupt land transactions and giveaways of prime state land in addition to those who have benefited from below-market value sale of state lands.

The Attorney General must also launch an investigation into the spending of $17.4 billion of the GuySuCo Bond and the corrupt sale of estate assets by the Special Purposes Unit (SPU). Many operable pieces of equipment, machinery, and even houses were sold for peanuts to friends and families. The SPU Head and the former Finance Minister must be brought to justice.

Yours sincerely, H. Yusuf

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

PPP/C’s grant to dismissed sugar workers is reasonable Dear Editor,

T

here has been much criticism of the government’s announcement at Skeldon (10/5/21) to grant each dismissed sugar worker a onetime sum of $250 000 as compensation for loss of income (weekly household incomes had fallen sharply by 64 per cent [ILO: 2021]) and the non-payment of wage increases and production bonus for 5 years (2015-19) by the previous administration. Failure to get wage increases alone, according to GAWU, has “resulted in sugar workers taking home $24,000 less per month between 2014 and 2017.” This situation sharply worsened when the PNCR coalition also failed to provide alternative jobs and training to retool dismissed workers, as they had promised. “The coalition government had pledged to unveil a diversification plan to ensure continued employment for sugar workers being sent home, but no major effort has materialized.” (Abrams: 12/17/17).

Fearing the social upheaval and dislocation that this massive dismissal of workers (7,000) would create on the lives and livelihood of workers and the blithe (economic dead zones) it would create on sugar estate communities, the PPP/C’s call for restraint and for the conduct of a social impact study before imposition of closure, was rejected by the PNCR government. The ILO’s social impact study notes: “workers found it difficult to obtain new employment. Many of those who did find new jobs were employed on a part-time or seasonal basis. The highest continuing unemployment rates…. occurred at the Wales and East Demerara estates, at 60 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively.” The ILO study paints a very dark picture on the social fabric of those communities that have been reeling from an 80% increase in alcohol consumption; a similar increase in crimes; and a rise in suicides.

Responding to the tardy approach adopted by the PNCR administration, PPP/ C’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, delivered this promise to sugar workers at a meeting (12/16/2017) in Canefield and Reliance, East Canje, Berbice.

“When we take back office, I am making a pledge on behalf of the PPP that every single person who has been terminated, that outside of their severance, they will get support from the budget until we can find places for them, they will get monthly payments,”

(R Abrams: 12/17/2017). The PPPC government will not make monthly payments but provide instead a one-time sum of $250,000 to each dismissed worker at a total cost of $(US) 1.8 billion or 0.4% of the budget. It should be noted that when the PPP/C made this announcement in 2017 and at election campaigns, no one contested this initiative. .

While a few critics inject subsidies to bolster their position, that is not a central element to the proposed onetime grant to sugar workers. It is noted, however, that spending $6 billion per annum could generate over $24 billion in economic activity (multiplier effect). One should also never forget that when other sectors of the economy were struggling during the 70s, 80s, and 90s, it was the $92+ billion sugar levy that were diverted from re-investment in the sugar industry to stabilize those faltering sectors. Notwithstanding, the PPP/C government expects that within 4 years the sugar industry would be able to break even and then proceed to make profits. To spend 2% of the country’s annual budget for the next 4 years to save an industry that has been the engine for the country’s economic growth for decades as well as providing the direct livelihood of over 30,000 persons, is good public policy.

Context and perspective for any policy decision are crucial. Drawing conclusion by comparing uneven and different situations is risky and premature. For example, the bauxite operations at Kwakwani that came to a halt cannot be compared with the closure of the 4 sugar estates.

The scenarios are completely different. The Kwakwani operations, owned and operated by a private company GBCI (a subsidiary of Rusal), was forced to close because of an ongoing industrial dispute.

Observers attribute blame to both the company and the union for the lack of a settlement. Pending the dispute resolution, the company and the union should jointly render relief to the workers. It was the coalition government that intervened and made a one-time payment totaling $(G) 30 million to the workers (in 2020). That works out to $329,670 per capita. The PPP/C did not object to this.

Regarding sugar, it was the PNCR coalition government that forced the closure of the 4 sugar estates claiming continuous economic loss, despite the government’s own COI recommending a 3-year turn-around time. Neither

sugar workers nor their union caused the closure of the sugar estates. In its 2015 election campaign, the PNCR coalition stated that they would offer sugar workers a 20% pay increase if they won the elections. Had the coalition decided to pay just 1/3 of their 20% promise, sugar workers’ average pay increase

per annum would have been $26,130 or $130,650 for 5 years. The lawful bonus that was denied for years would have amounted to $32,500 per annum or $162,500 for 5 years. At a minimal level, bonus and wage increase would have amounted to $293,150.

The grant of $250,000 to each dismissed worker is therefore

reasonable. All categories of government workers received wage increases, except sugar workers who were denied this for 5 years.

The award is also the fulfillment of a PPP/C campaign promise.

Sincerely, T. Singh

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

P P P /C D E L I V E R I N G O N ‘ P L A N F O R P R O S P E R I T Y ’ East Coast communities benefit 1,600 youths benefit from $377 M road construction from training programmes countrywide ‒ Gov’t seeking to duplicate works countrywide E

C

lose to 1,600 young people across the country have been equipped with skills and knowledge to become gainfully employed after completing a series of training programmes by the Department of Youth.

Of this number, 614 Community Service Officers (CSOs) under the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Programme (YEAP) received training in the areas of solar panel installation and maintenance, upkeep of tractors, and Information Technology.

As such, $303.4 million of the $820 million earmarked for this initiative was expended in the first half of 2021.

In July, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, M.P, and Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton signed a Memorandum of Agreement for a six-month theoretical and practical training in community development for CSOs. The initiative is in keeping with the government’s commitment to enhance its

human resources.

Minister Sukhai had said that “the CSO programme is not only an attachment to your village council and to provide support for your village development…our government also budgeted for training to be imparted to these CSOs.” The Ministry of Fi nance’s mid-year report shows that the remaining beneficiaries were exposed to programmes such as robotics, financial literacy and small business training, job readiness, substance abuse, life skills, and renewable energy. About $31.2 million was used from the budgeted $85 million.

Since assuming office in 2020, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., M.P, had stated that there is a need to reshape the existing youth training programmes after reviewing the Ministry’s Youth Empowerment Unit.

This approach, he said, will increase the success rate of the department.

In hopes to fulfil this

vision, he said that “an inter-ministerial engagement has sought to improve coordination and minimise redundancy across the various government training programmes, including those offered by the department of youth. The government has engaged the private sector, including an educational institution, to standardise the training programmes being offered.”

Further interventions will be done to ensure the trained young people are gainfully employed, once the website of the national job bank goes live (online) by year-end.

The ministry is also undertaking preparatory work for the reform and re-launch of the Voluntary Support Platform which facilitates work-study attachments and the formation of community development youth groups across the country.

The ministry is also setting up its secretariat and employing a youth empowerment coordinator for its youth advisory council.

10M drying floor commissioned at Riverstown he Ministry of Agricul- we are to achieve our target We are working to have that T ture, through the Guyana of doubling paddy production developed into a candidate Rice Development Board within the next four years, variety and I’m optimistic that (GRDB) commissioned a GY $10,071,000 drying floor at Riverstown, Essequibo Coast.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who officiated the commissioning by spreading paddy on to the asphalt structure, urged farmers from the area to make full use of the facility. He said the facility was constructed following requests made by farmers during a visit to the Region earlier in the year.

According to Minister Mustapha, once farmers make requests for those facilities to be constructed, the government through the Ministry of Agriculture will work to facilitate those requests.

He also said over the next four years, the government will be opening more lands for agricultural development and making more facilities like the drying floor available to farmers. “As a government, we recognize that the rice industry has and will continue to earn a lot of revenue for the country. Therefore, we have been making the necessary investments in the sector. If

we have to open up more lands and make the necessary facilities available to you, the farmers. When we took government a little over a year ago, a number of agriculture inputs were taxable. We’ve since removed those taxes and farmers have more money in their pockets,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha also said that GRDB has been working to develop new varieties of paddy with higher yields per acre. “Our scientists have been working to create new varieties to increase your yields per acre.

Only last year we launched the GRDB16. That variety, with good farming practices, has the potential to increase the national average from an average of 40 to 45 bags per acre to about 55 to 60 bags per acre. We are also working to develop another type of rice through the GRDB and IICA. It is a biofortified rice variety enriched with Zinc. It is healthier and could also attract preferential prices on the international markets.

by May of next year, farmers can have that as a candidate variety for their fields. We are exporting rice to about 30 countries around the world so just imagine how many new markets we will benefit from if we have a variety that is enriched with Zinc.”

Minister Mustapha also told farmers that the government is working through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs to retrieve monies owed to Guyanese millers for rice supplied to Panama under the previous administration. He reminded farmers that the former government referred to rice as private business and that it wasn’t until the PPP government took office last August, that Panamanian officials were engaged on the matter.

Farmers who were present at the commissioning expressed thanks to the Ministry for acting on the request made by the farmers to construct the drying floor.

The drying floor was constructed by A. Bacchus Contracting and Trucking Services.

ast Coast Demerara residents are now enjoying better accessibility as the government has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to construct roads in several communities.

The projects in communities such as Enmore, Buxton, Annandale and Mon Repos, total about $377.4 million.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, MP, and team visited the communities on Wednesday, to get a firsthand look at the works which are benefitting thousands of residents. The roads are being constructed by China Railway First Group Company Limited.

Minister Edghill said the construction of the roads was made possible due to

“saving.” The minister said it was done with monies remaining from the four- lane, East Coast Road which was executed by the very Chinese company and supplementary, from government. The roads done are deemed connector roads. He said, “You would have seen those roads that are being connected are main access roads to villages, roads that carry you to community centres, schools, health centres, high use facilities and high use thoroughfares we have paid attention to and that is part of our development programme.”

The construction of the roads forms part of government’s manifesto promise creating greater access for Guyanese. Minister Edghill

said the aim is to replicate the same kind of access countrywide.

“We would like to duplicate that in every village, in every way. So, the assurance I want to give the people of Guyana, as funding becomes available, development would move faster, we can get more done as we get more money. We have the political will, we have the engineering experience, we have the capacity and we are working on phasing that based upon the adequacy of funding,” Minister Edghill stated.

The public works minister said a total 29 connector roads will be completed by the end of the year on the East Coast corridor, creating greater accessibility.

Guyana working to expand Radiology capabilities in

T

he Ministry of Health (MOH) announced a new partnership with the radiology nonprofit organization, RADAID International, to increase and improve radiology capabilities and services throughout the nation of Guyana.

The collaboration entails the expansion of medical imaging equipment, Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS), electronic health interconnectivity, community outreach, as well as clinical education for nurses, technologists and physicians.

The partnership builds upon RAD-AID’s work to establish Guyana’s first radiology residency at Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) since 2017, which recently graduated Guyana’s first class of in-country trained radiologists. Over the last four years, RAD-AID also implemented and supported new computed tomography (CT) services and PACS in GPHC, New Amsterdam and Bartica Hospitals, along with training of physicians, nurses and technologists for IV contrast procedures, radiologic/ultrasound image-quality, patient-safety, and women’s health outreach (with support from Ambra Health, Philips, Bayer and Google Cloud). During the COVID-19 pandemic, RADAID increased remote teaching and clinical support to Guyana’s hospitals, and delivered innovative medical imaging artificial intelligence implementation and training (with support from Densitas,

Koios Medical, and Qure.ai).

Guyana’s Ministry of Health and RAD-AID aim to leverage these achievements to scale up health care resources in Guyana’s low-resource hospitals and facilities. The Ministry is working with RAD-AID to expand healthcare accessibility among medically underserved communities in Guyana, accelerate technology adoption for modernizing the country’s health information platforms, and connect tertiary care institutions with regional and district health facilities.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said, “Radiology (Imaging diagnostics) is a critical part of quality medicine. With this collaboration, we seek to elevate both technology and human resource capacity throughout the country, bringing better health care to people. We are delighted to collaborate with Guyana’s Ministry of Health for advancing radiology health services and capabilities in Guyana,” said Dr. Daniel J. Mollura, Founder and CEO of RAD-AID. “This new partnership will enable RADAID to extend the progress at GPHC, New Amsterdam, and Bartica Hospitals, to other health institutions throughout Guyana. We look forward to strengthening technology, innovation, and education for Guyana’s health workers and patients.”

The Ministry of Health intends to have state-of-theart X-rays and other imaging

diagnostics, such as CT, MRI and Ultra Sound more accessible in all Regional Hospitals.

The Ministry of Health is also phasing out old technology, phasing out the need for imaging films and use of chemicals which constitute an environmental hazard.

RAD-AID International is a nonprofit (501c3) charitable organization with the mission of increasing and improving radiology and medical imaging for medically underserved regions. RADAID delivers radiology education and training through on-site and hands-on teaching of healthcare workers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as low-resource facilities in medically underserved communities of high-income countries.

RAD-AID designs, builds, and implements healthcare infrastructure, imaging equipment, and radiology technology, integrated with clinical training, to accomplish vital radiology capacity-building. The organization consists of over 14,000 volunteers and +80 university-based medical center chapters and operates global health outreach programs in 38 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

As radiology is vital to most health services, such as cancer treatment, maternal-fetal monitoring, heart disease care, and trauma response, RAD-AID improves the accessibility, safety, and quality of radiology worldwide as an anchor for improving global health.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

Amerindian Development…

FOCUS ON GUYANA’ S FIRST PEOPLE

Amerindian villages assured of support for economic development T

he PPP/C government will continue to develop all hinterland communities, as the low level of economic opportunities in the communities could affect development opportunities.

The assurance was made by Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai.

She said, “As a government we have an objective to be responsible to intervene and support development…

We will always come here to

bring developmental intervention to ensure that every community benefit from our government and its terms.”

Her comments were made during a visit to Kurukubaru, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuta). While in the village, the minister distributed a tractor, one of the government’s commitments to the people of Kurukubaru. She urged them to care the machine as it is important for agriculture and other developmental

The tractor distributed to the Kurukubaru village

purposes.

The minister said there will always be challenges to work around, and that it would take some time to “close the gaps” and achieve equality in the communities.

However, by consistently empowering, educating and improving services, persons in the hinterland communities will be able to access all opportunities.

Meanwhile, the minister encouraged the residents

to get vaccinated against COVID-19. She said the government’s policy on vaccination must be carried out by all Guyanese across the country.

“It is a government policy to try to bring back normalcy to our country because our population is not large…and the few people who want to disrupt the system have caused us trouble…if a government institutes a policy, we have to carry it out,” the Minister stressed.

$8.1M water supply system commissioned at St. Cuthbert’s Mission

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he community of St. Cuthbert’s Mission located in Region 4 now boasts of significantly improved water supply with the commissioning of an $8.1M upgraded and expanded water supply system which is benefitting some 700 residents.

Of these 700 residents, more than 300 are receiving potable water for the first

time as a result of the Government of Guyana funded project The project was executed

by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in-house staff, the village council and a local contractor was used to refurbish a metal trestle. It entailed the upgrading of the distribution system, trestle rehabilitation, leak repairs,

well head rehabilitation and discharge and the installation of new service connections.

This is in keeping with a commitment made the PPP/C government.

Some 90 per cent of the community will be benefitting from the upgraded water supply system. This is in comparison to the 35 percent that was being served

Karasabai gets abattoir L

ivestock farmers of Karasabai and surrounding communities in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) will now be able to slaughter animals for human consumption under hygienic conditions, following the commissioning of a $2 million abattoir there.

Deputy Toshao, Elvis Edwards said villagers had been slaughtering their animals at home and under trees, a practice he deemed unsafe. He thanked the government for providing the

community with a facility that caters to the needs of the people. “It (abbatoir) will serve a great purpose in our village, in terms of our health. This world is changing, you know, things that we did in the past can no longer be done like this and so this facility will allow us to do things by the book for the safety of our people, especially the children,” Toshao Edwards said. He said the facility will complement the council’s plan to start cattle rearing among

other sustainable projects from its $15 million one-off COVID-19 relief grant.

The grant is one of the many initiatives of the Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali-led Government to support Amerindian communities from the effects of COVID. Livestock farmers will be required to notify the council at least 72-hours to use the facility on the specified Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Close to 3000 animals are owned by villagers.

before the upgrade. With the upgrade, the system now has the capacity to serve twice as many residents that it is currently serving.

Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Timothy Andrews said that the water supply system is yet another promise fulfilled by the Government of Guyana. The village leader expressed confidence that

the system will ensure not only easy access to water but an efficient and regular water supply for the community. He thanked all those involved in the execution of the project.

Notably, before the end of 2021, five new wells will be drilled along the Linden/ Soesdyke highway in the communities of Swan, Kuru

Kuru, Kairuni, Long Creek and Moblissa.

In 2021, a programme of $344M is being executed in the Hinterland regions (1, 7, 8 & 9) to provide potable water to communities there.

This includes the drilling of new wells, the upgrading of water supply systems and the installation of Photovoltaic systems.

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

In Focus : Adv ances in t he Agr icult ur e Sect or

NON-TRADITIONAL AGRI SECTORS SUPPORTED FOR EXPANSION $ 6 0 2 . 8 M in v e s t e d in t o n o n -t r a d it io n a l c r o p s c u lt iv a t io n

T

he National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has expended some $602.8 million at the end of June this year, to further diversify Guyana’s production base and ensure food security.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, contends that he remains optimistic that his ministry will continue to accelerate efforts to meet the dietary demands of all Guyanese.

He said following his appointment as minister, it was discovered that most of the programmes to rural and hinterland communities were halted by the previous government.

He said, “This significantly affected agricultural development in this country. Since taking office in 2020, we have not only re-started these programmes, but we have also revamped them and introduced new ones to ensure that everyone benefits.”

Already, NAREI has provided technical assistance and knowledge sharing to hundreds of farmers countrywide.

The 2021 mid-year report shows

that designs were given to farmers for the construction of 97 shade houses in all regions. Shade houses were constructed for demonstration purpose at Hosororo, (Region One), Paramakatoi, (Region Eight) and three at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

With the continued push for fruit cultivation, the agency made available hundreds of low-cost seedlings at all NAREI nurseries with 54,915 plants sold for some $13.7 million.

During the review period it was discovered that technical support was provided to 16,284 farmers.

Over 1,357 farmers from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 benefitted from training sessions in pest and disease management, climate smart agriculture, good agriculture practices and crop husbandry systems, among others.

Further, it was highlighted that of the targeted 1,000 acres of new coconut cultivation for the year, 766 acres were cultivated, bringing the national coconut acreage to 29,802 acres.

P P P / C g o v ’ t r e c o m m it s t o a d d r e s s in g f is h in g s e c t o r is s u e s

T

he Ministry of Agriculture continues to make significant strides towards advancing Guyana’s fishing industry, to encourage increased investment and productivity.

Of the $292.4 million budgeted for the fisheries subsector, some $121.7 million was expended at the end of June 2021. That investment saw the completion of a strategic plan (20212026) for the development of inland fisheries and aquaculture. Government is also drafting amendments to the Fisheries Act 2002 to incorporate inland fisheries and an aquaculture legislative framework.

“When this government took office in 2020 the state of the fisheries industry was quite dismal. To reverse the effects of its mismanagement by the previous administration, we immediately withdrew the VAT on fisheries inputs. Now, fishermen are once again able to purchase fishing equipment and (get) fishing licenses without having to pay exorbitant fees to conduct their businesses,” Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha said.

As stated in the 2021 mid-year report, in March 2021, an aquaculture

committee was established to provide strategic direction for the commercialisation of the aquaculture industry and the preparation of the aquaculture master plan.

A breeding programme is being developed for indigenous species at the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station to provide patwa, lukanani and hassar fingerlings, and snail hatchlings at a subsidised cost to farmers. The report also declared the relaunching of the National Fisherfolk Organisation this year, along with the Parika and Meadow Bank Fisherman Cooperatives. Training in organisational management and monitoring of financial transactions and other records was also conducted.

Further, the channels at No. 66 Village and the Albion landing sites were desilted to facilitate movement of the fishing vessels.

Minister Mustapha has started consultations with fisherfolk countrywide to ascertain their daily challenges. The minister said he wants to work closely with the men and women on the ground to physically understand their pleas.

$ 4 0 7 . 2 M e x p e n d e d f o r d e v e lo p m e n t o f liv e s t o c k in d u s t r y in f ir s t h a lf o f 2 0 2 1

O

f the $806 million allocated to the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), $407.2 million was expended by the first half of this year to spur production in the meat industry.

Since taking office, the PPP/C Government created a conducive environment for local producers to benefit from the increasing demand for meat from local businesses and oil and gas companies.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, believes that these measures which his ministry has implemented, will significantly reverse the challenges faced by farmers.

Earlier this year, senior officers from the agency travelled to several regions and hosted consultations with farmers. The outreaches sought to observe the daily operations of the agriculturists and find out issues affecting them.

At the time it was revealed that extension officers did not have vehicles to access farmers. Applied research was also lacking and limited, while available training failed to meet the needs of the farmers.

Against this backdrop, GLDA was able to make a number of advancements and it provided technical support to new producers and small-scale farmers across the country, through a number of initiatives.

As stated in the mid-year report, the GLDA successfully distributed 1,000 broilers, 300 black giant chicks, 430 ducklings and 71 bags of feed to farmers

before the May/June rains.

The Black Giant is one of the demands in the hinterland communities.

The large dual-purpose bird has the ability to produce up to 200 eggs annually and about 4.5 kilogrammes of meat. The bird forages and still produces reasonably well.

A total of 186 breeding stocks including pigs, sheep and cattle were distributed to farmers. Additionally, 18 training sessions on animal care, animal husbandry, feeding and sanitation and animal health were conducted with 300 farmers.

In Region Nine, about nine pastures were established in the communities of Karasabai, Nappi and Parishara.

Farmers in both the hinterland communities and coastal regions have benefited from access to appropriate breeding stock.

Minister Mustapha said his ministry continues to craft measures to address the obstacles affecting the livestock industry. These efforts have already met the needs of approximately 5,000 small farmers and broiler producers. “The removal of VAT on key inputs in the poultry industry and zero-rating the poultry industry was done as promised and has benefited an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 small farmers and broiler producers,” the minister said.

The ministry is also planning to invest about $29 million to establish a modular pig slaughtering and processing facility at Garden of Eden.

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

Jagdeo details Guyana’s positions on key issues at Caribbean Islands Roundtable

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, joined several other Caribbean Leaders at a Caribbean Islands Roundtable with Special Envoy John Kerry, at the invitation of the US government, through the State Department.

The virtual meeting, held at 9:30hours on Thursday (October 21, 2021), saw discussions on several issues, including climate change.

Guyana’s positions were addressed by the Vice President, who also maintained his advocacy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

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12

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

Jagdeo secures Ghanaian support for finalizing local content policy, more O

ver the course of his three-day working visit to Ghana, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo engaged the state officials, as well as technical staff of the Petroleum Commission, National Oil Company, National Gas Company and a number of others during several meetings.

During an interview on Asaase Radio in Ghana, Jagdeo charged that Guyana is looking forward to strengthening its relations with Ghana. He said, “We are here to learn a lot as we try to craft the architecture to manage this industry and to build the institutions necessary for its proper regulation and what I have heard here is amazing. I have always known Ghanaians to be very smart people from my engagements around the world with them, but you have a ton of brilliant technicians here in building these institutions and crafting these policies and we are looking forward to them coming to help us do that.”

The Vice President stressed that Guyana is new to the oil and gas industry and the PPP/C, as a government, has a responsibility to the Guyanese people to ensure that there is careful in planning for the future to develop

the industry. Ghana’s experience, according to him, will help Guyana in that regard.

He said, “The pace of the development of the industry in Guyana is a dizzying one.

So, from the discovery of oil in 2015, we are already producing oil. We are producing 120,000 barrels per day and by 2025 we will be producing 800,000 barrels a day and then by 2027, possibly 1.2- 1.4 million barrels a day almost the same quantity as Nigeria, more than Venezuela.”

CAUTION Jagdeo disclosed that Guyana is moving forward cautiously to avoid the missteps made in other oil producing nations. He said, “With a lot of resources, you can still be poor, if you don’t have a free country, and you do not manage well; the government practices bad policies…so, you can have extremely high growth rates, but very little impact on revenue, job creation, or economic activities because it’s not integrated. “…the idea is to utilize the windfall carefully to avoid the Dutch disease, a change in relative prices… and to ensure that we spend it wisely in areas that can build

the capacity for future nonoil growth; that is education, healthcare, infrastructure, and supporting the other non-oil economies, agriculture, etc.”

He noted that after taking office in 1992, the previous PPP/C administration was successful in rebuilding Guyana, without oil revenues, moving Guyana’s per capita GDP from about US$300 to about US$6,000. He said, “Without oil, we got our debt servicing down from 153 per cent of revenue, to 5 per cent of revenue, one of the lowest in our hemisphere. And the stock of debt to GDP at about 40 per cent, one of the lowest again in our hemisphere, and this is without oil…so, we are very, very conscious about the need to manage any windfall carefully, so that we don’t return to the past.”

That said, he made clear that the continued focus of a PPP/C administration will continue to be on policies delivers real benefits to the Guyanese people.

LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT Part of the caution being exercised is in the area of legislation. The Vice President has since been able to secure support for the strengthening of Guyana’s Local Content legislation from Ghanaian

officials.

Following talks with Ghanian counterpart Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Jagdeo announced that Ghanian experts will be reviewing Guyana’s draft local content legislation. He said, “The Local Content Policy that I came here to talk to Ghana about, hopefully by the end of the year we pass this. We want a second look from technicians from here, who’ve done this before, looking at the draft we have, so we can pass this.

So that all our people benefit. We work for all 800,000 of our people. If we don’t transform this massive windfall we will experience into better lives for our people, we would have failed as a Government.”

The Vice President added, “…we have to build the next generation infrastructure to support a low carbon, nonoil economy. We had laid out this plan before we even discovered oil. So, the oil resources can accelerate our plans for the development of those sectors. Secondly, it has to put in place both the infrastructure on the social side and the economic side.

So, the roads, the ports, the hospitals, the schools of the future, the big scale infrastructure. And of course, massive amounts of training and support for growing Indigenous industries.”

FOCUS ON NON-OIL ECONOMY Further, Jagdeo charged that Guyana with its vast arable lands in the savannahs and the prevalence of fresh water. As such, the country is uniquely posi-

tioned to capitalise on the agricultural sector and the global demand.

He said, “The world is growing. By 2050 we’ll have 10 to 11 billion people living in the world.

The consumption patterns have changed. People are eating more meat. It takes more grains to produce meat. So, on the demand side, you’re going to have massive growth. On the supply side, because so many parts of the world are water stressed. And you have arable land because you cannot convert forest into agricultural lands because of climate change.

This will lead to increased prices. Food production will become an important task of the future.”

Investments, according to him, is critical to ensure that Guyana is not overly dependent on the oil and gas sector.

GUYANA IN THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN Addressing calls for Guyana to slow down or even halt oil production, given the global focus on climate change, Jagdeo made clear that the Guyanese people cannot be denied a justified expectation of progress, in a country that is a net zero emitter of carbon.

He said, “Our argument is that if we follow through with the logic of what the IEA said and the IPC, that you should not spend any money on the exploration and development of fossil fuel. Effectively they are

calling for a monopoly for the existing producers, a $4 trillion industry…so Saudi Arabia, the United States, Russia, Norway, Venezuela, can continue to meet the global demand and there will be a demand for fossil fuel in the near future because the demand is growing because the world is not decarbonising the key sources of emissions as rapidly as they need to.”

Jagdeo explained that there are three key sources of carbon emissions, including burning fossil fuel for energy, for transport and deforestation and land use. He noted that enough is not being done to reduce these instances. This is something that is likely to be addressed at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland, next month. He said, “Not enough is being done to get renewable energy to meet current demand, not enough on transportation and deforestation. The world will continue to need fossil fuel and the only people who can benefit from this are the existing producers. What about us?

Our people have a legitimate expectation. Who will pay us for the opportunity cost of giving this up? Will they be willing to do that?

So that has to be the core of our argument, without disputing the science or arguing against global carbon prices…once there is a market, we should be part of the supply chain.”

The high level visit to Ghana was aimed at enhancing and fortifying the bilateral ties between the two oil-producing countries. Specifically, focus is being placed on deepening economic cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, agriculture, industrialisation, real estate development and digitisation.

Members of the Guyanese delegation included; Mr Floyd Naynes, Public Accounts and Financial Analyst, Mr Gopnauth Gossai, Senior Petroleum Coordinator, Dr Reyaud Rahman, Executive Liaison Officer to the President and Mr Hamley Case, a member of the Civil Society.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

VP engages Ghanaian President

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, during meeting with Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana

Tributes paid to Kwame Nkrumah

VP holds technical meeting with Ghanaian counterpart

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, during discussions with Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of Ghana and a team of technical officials

Finance, more discussed between Jagdeo and Ghana’s Ofori-Atta

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, meeting with Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of Ghana

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo visited the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum where he took part in a wreath-laying and tree planting exercise, during a three-day working visit.

He was accompanied by Floyd Haynes, a member of the Advisory Panel on Local Content in Guyana; Gopnauth Bobby Gossai Jr of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and Hamley Case who are all part of the visiting delegation.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

GUYANA ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

President Ali markets Guyana’s potential to investors at Expo 2020 Dubai

‒ Says country has an open economy with investor-friendly policies

P

resident Dr. Irfaan Ali this week told investors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that Guyana is ready to take its transformative steps into the future and that it is an open economy with investor-friendly policies.

The Head of State who delivered the feature address at Guyana’s National Day celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai not only highlighted the country’s potential but its strategic location, its harmonious diversity and its picturesque natural attractions. He said, “Guyana needs to convert its abundant resources. We need you. We welcome you, and we urge you to remember the name Guyana and to keep the name Guyana in your plans for

growth and development, both in country and by businesses and sectors.”

The President said that his Government is business-friendly and that his country has laws which “protect the right to property and which also allows freedom to repatriate profits”. He said, “We need investment to drive our transformative agenda, and we are keen on attracting investments across all sectors.”

To highlight Guyana’s potential, the President listed several facts about the country, including its irreversible growth trajectory; its natural richness, its current position on the investment radar due to its oil, and its multitude of sectors, including agriculture,

that have the capacity and potential for massive expansions. He said, “Guyana is the most resource-rich country in the English-speaking Caribbean. If we speak about world food production, environmental services, worldclass eco-tourism, freshwater potential, mining opportunities, research and development, human transformation, health and educational services, I assure you Guyana will be an important part of that conversation.”

DECARBONISATION OF ECONOMY Although the focus was on investment opportunities, the President highlighted the progressive nature of his country, including its drive

MOU inked to advance technical assistance and cooperation between the UAE and Guyana E ngagements between President Dr. Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, saw steps being made to advance closer relations between the two countries and to discuss key areas of technical cooperation.

Among the areas discussed were food security, climate change, the environment, technology and infrastructure and revising the visa policy for both countries.

In his remarks, President Ali expressed gratitude to the Sheikh and Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim AlHashimy, the Minister of International Cooperation and Managing Director for Expo2020 Dubai. “We came with a clear intention to extend the foundation of the relationship that we want to

grow and expand for the betterment of both the UAE and Guyana,” President Ali said.

He explained that since arriving in Dubai, the delegation has engaged in discussions with many agencies, including the Abu Dhabi Ports.

The President noted that the visit has already proven successful as several additional engagements have been planned in the coming months to advance discussions in technical cooperation in a number of areas.

During the discussions, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan assured the Guyanese President of the UAE’s support to strengthen bilateral relations.

The two countries also committed to setting a tangible results-based agenda moving forward.

Immediately following the discussions, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was inked to

advance closer technical cooperation between the UAE and Guyana. This was signed by Minister Singh and Minister Reem AlHashimy at the UAE Pavilion at the Expo.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates on February 9, 2006. The ministry’s role focuses on maintaining clear political positions that support the UAE’s relationships with its regional and international partners while promoting the UAE as a regional leader in different fields.

Also, as Foreign Minister, he focuses on establishing specialised diplomatic capabilities and encouraging political talents to address international concerns and provide distinct consular and other services in looking after UAE nationals and the issues they may face during their travels.

towards preservation and protection of its environment.

He said, “We will continue to pursue oil production offshore, but onshore we will definitely intensify the decarbonisation of the economy.

We will do so principally on an expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy, which will emphasise low levels of deforestation, biodiversity protection, freshwater management, the sustainable development of the marine economy and conservation.”

The country’s tourism potential was also highlighted, especially its sustainable tourism development drive.

HUMAN RESOURCES The President said that the drive behind Guyana’s

transformational agenda is the development of its human resources. He said, “Guyana needs to convert its abundant resources – material and human – into wealth and thence to translate this wealth into human prosperity. But in order to do so, Guyana needs investment.”

The Guyanese Head of State said that the country is in its “finest era” and will progress with all of its people. He said, “We want to see a modern Guyana which will mould the next generation of our children and provide them with the best life that we can offer. We want to build a more inclusive society in which our diversity is celebrated…. We want to ensure a prosperous country where

our people can enjoy high standards of living, including a 21st-century education and world-class health services.

I want Guyanese to enjoy these and other benefits in a healthy, safe, and secure environment.”

First Lady, Her Excellency, Arya Ali; along with Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibilities for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. and other officials were also in Dubai.

Some 192 countries are participating in Expo 2020 Dubai, which runs from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.

Guyana indicates interest in creating new UAE logistics hub in Guyana ‒ Abu Dhabi Ports CEO says committed to investment in Guyana

G

uyana wants to build a strong partnership with Abu Dhabi Ports to create a new logistics hub for the United Arab Emirates that will connect business opportunities in South America, Central America, the Caribbean, North America and West Africa.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali made the statement while visiting Abu Dhabi Ports’ ultra-modern temperature-controlled vaccine storage warehouse facility. The venue is also the home of the Hope Consortium at KIZAD and the Khalifa Port.

The CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports and owner, operator, developer and regulator of Abu Dhabi’s maritime infrastructure and Khalifa Industrial Zone (KIZAD), Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, said that his company is very serious about investing in Guyana. He said, “Thank

you for that trust. We are serious about Guyana, and I promise you we passed the time of thinking, now we are in the implementation stage.

So what you will see today is the capability of Abu Dhabi Ports.”

President Ali said that Guyana’s contingent, which features a large delegation from the local private sector, is on “a very serious mission” in the UAE with the drive to have meaningful discussions and to make impactful decisions. He said, “We want to be in strong partnerships with Abu Dhabi Ports, seriously connected to opportunities in Brazil in the oil and gas sector, and creating a new logistics hub for the UAE in Guyana.”

The President emphasised to the group that his Government is willing to facilitate the project by creating incentives and by en-

suring that investments made are feasible for all parties involved. Ali said, “We are ready to work with you on having that deepwater port ready for not only Guyana but for the region. And for the most important strategic positioning for the UAE in South America, the Caribbean—in Latin America. I think we could just think about it as an upscaled Panama [Canal] development.”

After the discussions, the CEO took the Head of State and his delegation through a guided tour, explaining the operation of the specific departments of the company as well as their work around the globe.

The President was joined

by Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum of the UAE and representatives of the Guyanese private sector as well as Government Ministers including.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

GUYANA ON THE GLOBAL STAGE

Guyana: Home of Nature, Land of Opportunities [ADDRESS OF HIS EXCELLENCY, DR. MOHAMED IRFAAN ALI, PRESIDENT OF THE COOPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA AT THE EXPO 2020, DUBAI, UAE]

Y

our Highness, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan; Excellencies; Members of the UAE and Private Sector delegates from Guyana - As-salaam Alaikum and Good morning, We are delighted to be present here in Dubai and to participate in this showpiece Exposition. I thank the United Arab Emirates and the organisers of this Exposition for the extremely splendid arrangements which have been made to facilitate my attendance here and my country’s participation in EXPO 2020 Dubai.

Being at Expo2020 Dubai is an extremely overpowering experience. But even more amazing is the opportunity which this Exposition provides countries, such as my own, to showcase their products and services and to establish connections and synergies with investors and suppliers. Indeed, the theme of Expo2020 Dubai- ‘Connecting Minds Creating the Future’ resonates with each international participant, including Guyana.

We are here in this magnificent city. The story of Dubai’s development is truly fascinating. In recent times I hear people predict that my country, Guyana, will be the next Dubai; I often have to caution them that resources require investments to create wealth and generate opportunities for human well-being. It is a vision that must be captured and embraced, and this is what this Expo2020 offers, an opportunity to showcase that vision and create a winning culture.

Guyana’s theme at Expo2020 is ‘Home of Nature, Land of Opportunities’.

Today, I want to tell you a little bit about my country, our vision for its development and the tremendous investment opportunities, which presently exist.

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America. It sits on

the northern shoulder of the continent facing the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Brazil is on our most southern doorstep, and the bridge linking our two states provides a gateway to the large markets of the continent. We are also bordered by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the west, and to the east, we are establishing a bridge linking the Dutch-speaking Republic of Suriname, which will further increase trade and human contacts between our two states.

We are a multicultural society in which our various peoples coexist in harmony. This diversity is one of our greatest assets, and it is my ambition to let the melting pot of One Guyana be a model of unity and diversity, leading to the prosperity of all of our people.

Just to give you an example of how diverse we are, today in Guyana, it is a national holiday in honour of the birth and death of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be unto him.

Guyana was once described as the best-kept secret in South America because of the country’s stunning natural attractions and its unmatched biodiversity. Nature has blessed us abundantly with serene beaches, sprawling savannahs, pristine rainforests, diverse flora and fauna, spectacular waterfalls and a vast network of rivers and other waterways.

Guyana is a net carbon-sink. More than 80% of our country (the size of England) is covered by forests which generate oxygen and capture and store carbon – critical environmental and biodiversity services are provided with these standing forests.

Guyana, however, is no longer the continent’s best-kept secret. The country is igniting excitement throughout the region with its economic transformation. With GDP growth at 43.5%, it became the world’s fastest-growing economy in 2020 and is likely to sustain high lev-

els of growth for the next decade. Guyana also has become the most exciting destination for tourists. The country was voted by an expert panel as being the best in sustainable tourism in 2019.

In 2015, Guyana discovered oil. This triggered a wave of further explorations, which have been highly successful. As a consequence, Guyana is now ranked among the world’s top 20 countries in terms of oil reserves.

Oil production commenced in December 2019 and is expected to continue to increase well beyond the turn of the decade.

The discovery of oil, however, has not reduced Guyana’s commitment to the preservation and protection of the environment.

We will continue to pursue oil production offshore, but onshore we will definitely intensify the de-carbonisation of the economy. We will do so principally on an expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy, which will emphasise low levels of deforestation, biodiversity protection, freshwater management, the sustainable development of the marine economy and conservation. Indeed, Guyana has announced that it intends to be a leader in terms of the environment and to align its development trajectory along a low-carbon pathway. Guyana also aims to become active in carbon trading markets. We take our responsibilities to the environment seriously. Guyana has already signed a Letter of Intent with a non-profit company to market Guyana’s carbon credits.

My country is a major food producer. Agriculture has long been a mainstay of its economy, contributing, even with oil production, more than 15% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product last year. It is also a significant foreign exchange earner, which together with forestry and fisheries accounts for more than 12.2% of national employment.

The country is blessed with vast tracts of arable lands, abundant sources of freshwater supplies and a highly skilled and experienced agricultural workforce.

With a small population, Guyana depends considerably on international trade. We are an integral part of the Caribbean Community, which has a single market and is moving towards a single economy.

We share historic ties with Britain and the European Union, which have long been valued markets for our goods and services.

We also have ties with countries in Asia, and now we are strengthening our relations with this part of the world.

Investors are assured of agreements which facilitate trade between Guyana and all corners of the globe. Among these agreements are the Caribbean Basin Recovery Act; the Caribbean-Canadian Trade Agreement; the CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement; and Guyana-Brazil Partial-Scope Agreement.

This is a capsule of some of the main features of our country, which should be of interest to those seeking to visit or to do business with Guyana.

All development must be inspired by a vision. We have a vision for Guyana.

I believe that Guyana is in its finest era. The country is being prepared for its fastest and most explosive economic and social trans-

formation.

We want to ensure a prosperous country where our people can enjoy high standards of living, including a 21st century education and world-class health services. I want Guyanese to enjoy these and other benefits in a healthy, safe, and secure environment.

We want to see a modern Guyana which will mould the next generation of our children and provide them with the best that life that we can offer. We want to build a more inclusive society in which our diversity is celebrated.

Guyana is set to become a leading oil and gas producer, an energy powerhouse, a bastion of food security, a prime destination for sustainable tourism and a regional information communications technology hub.

Guyana needs to convert its abundant resources – material and human – into wealth and thence to translate this wealth into human prosperity. But in order to do so, Guyana needs investment.

EXPO 2020 provides Guyana with the opportunity to showcase not only its products and services, including its sustainable tourism, but also to underline its investment opportunities in Infrastructure, Housing, Energy, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Agriculture, Manufacturing and Oil and Gas among others.

We need investment to drive our transformative

agenda, and we are keen on attracting investments across all sectors. I invite you all to come and do business in my country.

We welcome you. We have an open economy and with investor-friendly policies in place, including attractive incentive regimes, laws which protect the right to property, and which also allows freedom to repatriate profits.

Permit me to tell you why Guyana is unique in just a few sentences: • Guyana is on an irreversible growth trajectory. This fact alone should provide comfort to investors that they are entering an economy which is expanding and doing so rapidly.

• Guyana now has the resources which would allow it to do much more, better and much faster.

• Guyana is already becoming a beacon for investment. The oil companies are bullish in investing in Guyana. Other companies are following their lead.

International companies are lining up to do business with Guyana.

• Almost all our sectors have the capacity and potential for expansion. There is no crowding-out of potential investors.

• Guyana is the most resource-rich country in the English-speaking Caribbean. If we speak about world food production, environmental services, world-class eco-tourism, freshwater potential, mining opportunities, research and development, human transformation, health and educational services, I assure you Guyana will be an important part of that conversation.

Guyana needs to convert its abundant resources. We need you. We welcome you, and we urge you to remember the name Guyana and to keep the name Guyana in your plans for growth and development, both in country and by businesses and sectors Thank you very much.

God bless all of you, and please continue to stay safe.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND WORK OF FORMER PRESIDENT MRS. JANET JAGAN ON HER 101ST BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

The role of the People's Progressive Party in the history of Guyana (Condensed version of address given by PPP Executive Member Janet Jagan at first session of the 25th Congress of the PPP. Re-published as part activities to mark the life of Janet Jagan who died on March 28, 2009)

BY JANET JAGAN

O

ur Party was the first stable political party in Guyana. We introduced politics to the masses, educating them about political life at public meetings and seminars, the first to be held on a wide scale in the country. It was the PPP which began the political education of Guyanese, making them aware of their rights, the need to run their own affairs and to have Guyanese, instead of expatriates, in positions of power.

In its first programme issued in April, 1950, the Party set out as its aims the objectives of winning independence and establishing a just socialist society.

The Party fought to bring full and genuine democracy to Guyana. In doing so, our Party advanced the limited franchise to universal adult suffrage, allowing all adults to vote for the first time in the nation's history.

We began the long struggle to end dual control of schools, which forced Christianity, in a multi-religious society, on teachers and students. Eventually we won the change to a state-controlled school system.

We ended the system of nominated members being appointed to Parliament. We fought against the undemocratic system which allowed, for example, the nomina-

tion of the sugar boss, Mr. Seaforth to the Legislative Council when he had lost the seat he contested in elections in 1947.

We fought against, and eventually won, the end of nominated members to the Executive Council of government, bringing in for the 1953 elections, the first cabinet system in Guyana.

Our party fought for, and finally won, the right of union members to choose, by free and fair ballot, the union they wanted for negotiations and representation. For years, sugar workers were forced to join the MPCA, the company union, until they finally won the battle to join the union of their choice, GAWU. The Party fought against the undemocratic system of the British in fiddling and gerrymandering our constitution and the boundaries of constituencies.

In our battle to restore full democracy, we fought

against the British-imposed laws of detention without trial.

The PPP fought and won an overwhelming majority of seats and votes in the 1953 elections which ushered in universal adult suffrage, self-government, the cabinet system; these elections brought the unity of the Guyanese people as never before seen.

We saw the suspension of

the constitution in 1953, becoming the cold war victims of US and British foreign policies. Constitutional life was ended until 1957, with a fully nominated Parliament taking over. The British colonial government worked tirelessly to divide the people's forces, succeeding in the split in the PPP and the

formation, by Mr. Burnham, of another party, which at first he called the PPP, later the PNC. His group lost heavily in the 1957 elections, winning only three of 14 seats.

This technique of dividing the party, mainly on racial lines, was the method used by the British to hold its colonies together. Nelson Mandela in his recent autobiography cites how, when in

prison, the authorities gave better food and clothing to Indian and coloured prisoners as against Black prisoners, trying to divide them on racial lines.

Despite the split and the gerrymandering of constituencies for the 1957 election, our Party won. An example of the gerrymandering was that Cheddi Jagan won his Corentyne seat with 23/143 votes, more votes than all of those won by the five parties other than the PPP which won seats in that elections.

(The PPP won nine out of fourteen seats).

During the period 195761, our Party in government worked with the British Governor and top officials here without problems; we led a successful government within the colonial system and brought greatly increased benefits to the working man and woman. This record was well remembered during the 1992 elections, as voters compared conditions of the two periods.

It was our third success at winning elections, in 1%1, that the cold war climate began seriously affecting our Party in government. The USA greatly feared the influence of Cuba and charged that Guyana was going to be a second Cuba in this hemisphere. The US greatly influenced British colonial policy in Guyana. We then entered the period of activities by the CIA and British MI5 to destabilise our government.

The opposition parties, the PNC and United Force, plus

the TUC, worked closely with the CIA to undermine our Party and government, attempting to blow up Freedom House and fostering racial differences which led to the loss of lives and property.

The PNC, along with

greater poverty, a severe drop in social services, the wrecking of the country's infrastructure and the demoralisation of the nation's citizens.

The assault on democracy highlighted this period with the gross rigging of elections.

The long battle to restore democracy began, first with the PPP's exposure of the electoral fraud of the 1%8 elections. Little or no support was given to the PPP's struggle then, or even in the violent and heavily rigged elections of 1973. The Party boycotted the National Assembly for three years, protesting the electoral fraud. The Party eventually decided to return to Parliament, adopting a policy of "critical support" after extensive consultations with Party's rank and file.

The Party continued its

the UF, were catapulted into office in a coalition after the 1964 elections, brought one year beforehand and introducing proportional representation, which was aimed at removing our Party from government. Even though our Party won the largest number of votes of any party, the forced marriage of the PNC and UF kept us out of office.

Thus began 28 years of misrule and electoral fraud.

Our members were harassed, imprisoned, searched, tortured, persecuted and suffered discrimination at all levels, bringing on the great exodus from Guyana. We experienced an economic downturn which created

exposure of electoral fraud, gradually bringing wider support for the restoration of democracy and the formation of the PCD after the 1985 elections.

Our General Secretary was successful in widening international support for our struggle to end electoral fraud, bringing in the Carter Centre, which gave such substantial help in changing the rules of the electoral process and in bringing free andfair elections to Guyana on October 5, 1992.

Our Party's role in the history of Guyana is uncontested, we helped form all the important changes in our country during the past 45 years.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND WORK OF FORMER PRESIDENT MRS. JANET JAGAN ON HER 101ST BIRTH ANNIVERSARY Biographical summary on Janet Jagan 8

WEEKEND MIRROR 17-18 OCTOBER, 2020

Biographical summary on Janet Jagan

Born: Janet Rosenberg - October 20, 1920.

Died: March 28, 2009 Place: Chicago, Illinois, USA. Education: University of Detroit; Wayne University; Michigan State College; Cook County School of Nursing.

Personal Details: Married Cheddi Jagan, August 5, 1943; two children and five grand-children.

LABOUR/POLITICAL DETAILS Janet Jagan came to British Guiana in December 1943, and worked for 10 years as a Dental Nurse in Dr Cheddi Jagan's clinic.

She almost immediately became involved in the labour struggle and was a member of the colony's first-ever union, the British Guiana Labour Union. She worked with labour hero, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, to organise domestics.

1953: • One of the three women to enter the house of assembly, as a representative of the Essequibo constituency.

• First woman to become Deputy Speaker of the Legislature.

1954: Following suspension of the Constitution and the ouster of PPP Government by the British colonialists, she was jailed for six months. Restricted after release to the city of Georgetown. She had to report to the police weekly.

1957-1961: • Janet Jagan was returned by the constituency of Essequibo to the Legislature.

• Appointed Minister of Labour, Health and Housing.

1946: With other women, founded the Women's Political and Economic Organisation (later called W.P.O.) One of the founders of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC). Edited the PAC Bulletin.

1947: Contested the general elections under limited franchise in Central Georgetown, but lost.

1948: Took part in fund raising for the East Coast Demerara sugar strike which was put down by colonial police. She was acquainted with the men who were to become the Enmore Martyrs. Their struggle was to become hers.

1950: • One of the founders of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), and was Elected party's General Secretary and held that post between 1950-1970.

Up until her death she was a Member of the Central Committee and Executive Committee of the People’s Progressive Party.

She has served as International Secretary and Executive Secretary.

• Appointed first editor of Thunder, PPP’s official organ.

• Became the first elected woman to the Georgetown City Council.

1953: A founder of the Women's Progressive Organisation (WPO), she continued to hold the post of President of this premier women's association until her death.

1963: On the death of the Minister of Home Affairs, Claude Christian, she became Minister of Home Affairs and a member of the Senate.

1964: Resigned as Minister in protest over incidents in Wismar.

1967: Opposition member on the Elections Commission. She warned the nation about elections rigging.

1970 - 1997: Mrs. Jagan along with fellow journalists at the "Mirror" - Clinton Collymore, Moses Nagamotoo and Kellawan Lall, founded the Union of Guyanese Journalists (UGJ) and she became its first President.

1973 - 1997: • Editor of the Mirror Newspaper.

• After PPP ended a boycott of Parliament to protest against the rigging of the elections in 1973, she returned to the House as an opposition MP. • She served in the House continuously, and was returned in 1980, 1985 and 1992. In April 1997 she was the longest serving member of Parliament.

1992: • After Guyana's first free and fair elections in post -independent Guyana, she was designated First Lady of the Republic.

• She continued her work as Editor of Mirror.

1993: • Three-month stint as Ambassador to the United Nations when Guyana's Permanent Representative, Dr Rudy Insanally was elected President of the General Assembly.

• Appointed Chairperson of Castellani House Committee of Management - home of the National Art Gallery Collection • Chairperson of National Commission on the Rights of the Child from 1992-1997.

Mar. 17, 1997: Janet Jagan was sworn in as Guyana's first woman Prime Minister and First Vice-President.

Dec. 19, 1997: Janet Jagan was sworn in as the first woman President of the Republic of Guyana and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. She resigned on August 8, 1999 due to ill health.

March 2000: she poured her energy into the establishment of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.

PUBLICATIONS: Author of several publications including works on the history of the PPP and Rigged Elections in Guyana; and 5 children's story books among which are "When Grandpa Cheddi was a Boy", "Children's Stories of Guyana's Freedom Struggles" and "Alligator Ferry Service".

HONOURS: • Janet Jagan is recipient of the Nation's (Guyana's) highest honour - Order of Excellence (O.E.) • Woman of Achievement award from the University of Guyana • In 1997 was awarded the Gandhi Gold Medal for Peace, Democracy and Women's Rights by UNECSO.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

PPP/C gov’t secures financing from Islamic bank for hydropower projects T

he Government of Guyana has secured funding from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for renewable energy projects, as its efforts to reduce Guyana’s dependency on heavy fuel oil continue.

According to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), funding has been secured from the Bank for the cost of the “Small Hydropower Project”, and some of that money will go towards consultancy services. The GEA has started tendering for consultants, issuing a notice inviting bids from firms for “Design Review and Construction Supervision of two hydropower

plants”. One project entails the construction of a new 0.5 megawatt (MW) hydropower plant at Kumu in the Rupununi and the other, the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Moco Moco hydropower facility, to 0.7 MW. The GEA notice said, “The consultancy services will be carried out over a period of 33 months from March 2022 to December 2024. The Guyana Energy Agency, the executing agency, now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing the services…. interested consultants must provide specific information which demonstrates

that they are qualified to perform the services (including brochures, description of similar assignments completed and/or ongoing, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, proof of legal status, company profile and contact details for authorised contact person(s) and financial status including audited financial statements for the last three years).”

Notably, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, has addressed Guyana’s move to more renewable energy sources. He said, “The gas-to-energy project will, hopefully, by 2024, 2025,

cut our emissions by 50 per cent. And then with solar, we hope to do between 30 to 50 megawatts of solar.

And with the hydro, we’ve just opened the tender for hydro. We’re hoping that by 2027, we will probably achieve a 70 per cent cut in emissions.” According to him, Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is currently supplying approximately 140 megawatts of power, but the added capacity will see an additional 500 megawatts of new power from renewable sources, which will severely cut emissions.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration is looking

to have the gas-to-shore project done by 2023, and in an effort to further push this initiative, it has stipulated stiff fines and penalties in the Payara Licence against flaring of excess natural gas – something which Exxon has been flagged for doing in the Stabroek Block. Exxon itself has said that the gas that would be required for the gas-to-shore project is available. Estimates have put the figure required for the gas-to-shore project at 30 to 35 million cubic feet of natural gas.

Further, in addition to hydropower projects at Kumu Falls and Moco

Moco, the Government is also bringing back the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP). Bidding was recently opened for the construction of the project, as well as supporting infrastructure to transmit the power to the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). The project entails the construction of a 165 MW installed hydro dam, plant and related works, as well as transmission lines and structures from Amaila Falls in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) to Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Efforts are being made also to address the construction of solar farms.

Agreement with Int’l Solar Alliance to advance solar energy T he Guyana Government has signed a Grant Agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for a solar demonstration project at the Orealla Health Centre, Region Six, with the ultimate aim of spreading solar power countrywide,

particularly when it comes to Government services.

This is according to Minister within the Public Works Ministry Deodat Indar, who attended a virtual side event of the Fourth Assembly of the ISA on Tuesday (October 19, 2021) where the signing

ceremony was held. During the ceremony, Minister Indar thanked the ISA and highlighted that the implementation of this project will go a long way in making sure that citizens at the grassroots level gain access to clean energy to make their lives easier.

Indar said, “With the solarisation of health facilities being done in Guyana through funding provided by the ISA, the Government hope to see a similar impact in the lives of Guyanese.

It is the Government’s aim to replicate the work being done in many different parts of the country so that we could broaden the scale of impact. This project adds to the efforts the Government of Guyana is already undertaking to deploy solar energy

solutions as a means of providing access to clean energy, ensuring energy security for all Guyanese and businesses, and driving a just transition away from primitive sources of energy.”

The Minister also expressed the hope that Guyana will see many more such initiatives from the ISA, which would aid in moving the country towards its strategic objectives of a clean and green energy future for the country.

He stressed the importance of Guyana building capacity to customise these renewable energy technologies to the needs of the populace, without having to outsource such services According to a statement that was released, the objective of the agreement is for ISA to provide technical and financial support to countries who sign on, such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as increase (Turn to page 20)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

Two Linden nurses charged with issuing fake vaccination cards

T

wo registered nurses of Linden, Region 10, were arraigned on Monday (Oc-

tober 18, 2021) on fraud charges for issuing counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination

From left, Sandrene Chapman and Anastasia Mckenzie

cards.

Sandrene Chapman, 33, and Anastasia Mckenzie, 27,

both employed at the One Mile Health Centre in Wismar, Linden, appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune via Zoom in the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

The charges were based on the offence of forgery contrary to Section 277 of

the Criminal Law Offences Act. After being read the charges, the nurses were not required to enter a plea and were placed on $200,000 bail each on the condition that they report to the Mackenzie Police Station every first Monday until the matter is

concluded.

The matter was adjourned to November 23, 2021.

The Health Ministry has been upping efforts to address the issue of fake COVID-19 vaccination records. [SEE RELATED COVID-19 REPORTING ON PAGE 23]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Government aiming to provide quality first world health services

T

he Government of Guyana is aiming to trans-

form the country’s health sector to ensure that citizens

nationwide have access to quality, first world health

services.

During his address at the

recommissioning of the Lethem Regional Hospital as a SMART health facility, President Dr Irfaan Ali stated that he has charged Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, along with the rest of the Cabinet, to ensure this happens. He stated that healthcare is divided into three main categories.

He said, “We have healthcare community level, we have health care, the sub regional level, health care, the regional level and health care at the national level.”

Healthcare at the national level is further divided into two categories -primary healthcare and private healthcare. Primary health care, he said, is supported by the Government while private healthcare will be supported through Government incentives. “In the private healthcare system, we want to build a health care system that is part of our economy, that will be part of health tourism, will be part of an international structure that will provide health services globally. So, you will see us giving the private health care provided a lot of incentives in the next five years to improve and ramp up their development.”

The Head of State disclosed that engagements are being held with investors to make this a reality. He reemphasised his Government’s commitment to investing heavily in the healthcare sector not only in infrastructure and equipment, but in human capital as well.

Part of the Government’s plan is to decentralise access to basic services and ensure that the quality of the services offered is up to standard countrywide.

“We want to go into all the health centers and we want to bring the standards up so that they can provide basic primary health care one, but most importantly, they can provide proper health education to the community,” Ali said.

The investments and developments being made are all part of the PPP/C Administration’s 2020 to 2025 manifesto to improve the delivery of healthcare services countrywide. This includes the upgrading of health facilities such as hospitals and health centers to ensure there is an adequate supply of pharmaceuticals, along with expanding primary and tertiary health care.

Agreement with Int’l Solar... (From page 18) their market access to solar technology. ISA will provide support for resilience building in sectors such as agriculture and health, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and will “foster innovation in business model, finance, technology and implementation modalities.”

Guyana, it was explained, had submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the installation of a 9kWp Gridtie Solar Photovoltaic System at the Orealla Health Centre, Region Six. This application was approved by the

ISA. The solar PV system will have an accompanying Battery Energy Storage System of 37kWh to facilitate back-up storage at the health centre for periods of power outage or cloud cover. This intervention is geared at fostering improvement in the provision of health services and an overall increase in socio-economic development within the community.

Since the return of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to Government, there has been a concerted push towards renewable energy.

WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

COM M ENTARY

Guyana is setting itself on a realistic path to ending fossil fuel dependency Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

G

uyana’s Parliamentary Opposition party is clueless, bereft of any idea for development, incapable of constructively engaging the Irfaan Ali-led PPP government on the development agenda for our country.

There are others who fall into the category of detractors, although most of them seem obsessed with being anti-Bharat Jagdeo. For the opposition and for detractors of the PPP government, finding fault with anything and everything has become their strategy to holding government accountable. It has descended into absurdity as they find fault with anything and everything, without even an iota of sense.

Take for instance Guyana’s presence in Dubai.

From all indication, Guyana has one of the most talked-about, positive presence in Dubai. Guyana’s technical team, led by the President himself who is as technically qualified as any of the technical persons on the Guyana team, presented a sound case for investors and investment to come to Guyana. Everyone sees Guyana as an investment destination these days and the Guyanese Team in

Dubai did not disappoint our citizens in any way. The youth that accompanied the Guyanese Team did Guyana proud. The presentation was top-notch, showing that Guyanese artistes are ready for the World Stage.

The Opposition has resorted to pettiness and absurdities. For Guyana’s presence in Dubai, they focused on the President’s attire, the First Lady’s clothing and accessories, our youthful artistes dressing, the coverage of the different Guyanese cultural elements. Because they ignore all the good things, all the things that make sense, they pick on things that border stupidity. Presently, one detractor, while conceding Guyana did fabulous in Dubai this week, insisted it would have been better for the President to wear a shirt jack since that is Guyana’s national dress. Would they have also wanted the first lady to wear a sari or an African dress or an Amerindian head dress? One detractor did not see anything in the cultural show that recognized East Indian or Amerindian culture. Some people are so intent on finding fault they deliberately do not see, do not hear or they fool themselves into believing they

heard what was not said or saw what did not exist.

For the Opposition, when all fail, they always resort to their favorite bogeyman – Bharat Jagdeo. Two weeks ago, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo led a consultation session on Guyana’s commitments at the Paris Agreement. One of Guyana’s commitments at the Paris Agreement in 2015, under the former David Granger-led APNU+AFC Coalition government, was that Guyana would reduce dependency on fossil fuel-sourced energy by 100% by 2025.

This was an explicit commitment. The following is a verbatim wording of Guyana’s commitment in 2015 on the utilization of fossil fuel: “Guyana is committed to eliminating our near complete dependence on fossil fuels. Given our solar, wind and hydropower potential and relatively small national demand, we believe that with adequate and timely financial support, Guyana can develop a 100% renewable power supply by 2025.” It is very simple, there ought to be no confusion, Guyana made an unequivocal commitment, an iron-clad promise, we will eliminate the use of OIL as a fuel for the generation of

energy. There is no “ands, ifs or buts” about this promise.

The commitment to eliminate fossil fuel as our energy source by 100% was not a new commitment in 2015.

That commitment was a major plank in Guyana’s LCDS that was enshrined as part of Guyana’s medium and longterm development agenda under the Bharat Jagdeo-led PPP government between 1999 and 2011. But what was new in 2015 was that the 100% elimination would be achieved by 2025. At the time, we had given ourselves 10 years and it was a goal that was very achievable.

But in the same breath that the then APNU/AFC government promised 100% elimination of fossil fuel by 2025, they also abandoned the Amaila Hydroelectric power plant. They also ended the solar distribution program to families in Guyana’s hinterland. By closing four sugar estates, they also abandoned the biomass energy program.

In effect, even as the then government promised 100% fossil fuel elimination, they also increased Guyana’s dependency on fossil fuel. It was a great example of their cluelessness. Now with barely four years to go to 2025, 100% elimination of fossil

fuel energy is nothing but a pipedream.

Vice-President Bharat Jagdeo during the consultation reaffirmed Guyana’s promise to totally replaced OIL and to eliminate the use of fossil fuel for energy in Guyana. Having reaffirmed this commitment, a commitment that represents a rare instance in which every political party agrees, the VP conceded that the 100% elimination by 2025, at this point, is an unrealistic goal. At no point did the VP back-peddled, as some of his detractors are claiming.

In fact, he provided a strong reaffirmation of the 100% elimination of fossil fuel as Guyana’s energy source.

But with 2025 just around the corner, with absolutely nothing in the pipeline at this time to reduce the use of fossil fuel, it is impossible to achieve 100% reduction by 2025.

The Granger government in making the commitment in 2015 asserted that: “Our goal is to develop a mix of wind, solar, biomass and hydropower to supply both the demand of the national grid and the energy requirements for towns and villages in Guyana’s hinterland.” But other than talk, no meaningful plan was put in place for wind energy, biomass or hydropower. There was a project in Region 1 for a solar farm. More than $250M was spent for this solar farm. But it remained a white elephant today. So, with four years to the deadline, Guyana made no meaningful step forward to reduce the use of fossil fuel. With energy demand increasing today, Guyana, more than six years after our commitment to reduce the use of fossil fuel, is today using more fossil fuel to generate energy than at any time in our history. As of this time, Guyana has failed miserably in meeting our own commitments made in the Paris Agreement in 2015.

This is the context in which VP Bharat Jagdeo made his remarks that the 100% commitment to eliminate fossil fuel as a source of energy generation in Guyana is not achievable by 2025.

Sensible people do not need VP Jagdeo to tell us this is an impossible goal at this time.

When it was defined in 2015, the goal was realistic. But given nothing has been done in over six years towards meeting that commitment, from where we presently stand, it is impossible to achieve a 100% elimination of fossil fuel in Guyana’s national energy grid. VP Jagdeo made sense.

The most potent way to make any reduction in the use of fossil fuel is the construction of hydroelectric plants. In 2014, Guyana was well on the way towards a hydroelectric plant. The Amaila Falls Hydropower Plant was already on its way.

But the Granger administration in one of its’ many follies decided to scrap the project. Even as it made the 100% commitment, the Granger government signaled it was on a path to scrapping the project. In 2016 when they scrapped the Amaila, they also killed any chance Guyana had to meet the 100% fossil fuel elimination commitment.

But they also ended a chance for Guyana’s businesses and households to benefit from cheap energy. Our households are burdened with high energy costs. Our businesses are burdened and cannot compete fairly with manufacturing companies in the rest of CARICOM because of heavy energy costs.

Vice President Bharat Jagdeo, therefore, did not back-peddle in Guyana’s commitment to end dependency on fossil fuel. In fact, he reiterated Guyana’s commitment to this goal, it is just that Guyana has to outline a more realistic timeline. The PPP government is hoping that it would introduce a mix of non-fossil fuel energy options, including wind power, solar power and hydro power to achieve this goal.

It is hoped that by 2025, with the gas-to-shore project, we could achieve a 50% reduction and by 2027, with Amaila hydropower, a 70% reduction of fossil fuel energy.

As we approached the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26), Guyana is setting itself on a realistic path to ending fossil fuel dependency. This is what a competent, effective government can do.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 23-24 OCTOBER, 2021

Coalition blasted for more false claims

M

inister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has dismissed claims by members of the opposition, that they have been excluded from the National COVID-19 Task Force.

Headed by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, the task force leads the fight against COVID-19 in Guyana.

Dr. Anthony said the national body includes Chairmen of all Regional Democratic Councils (RDC). He said, “The Regions where the opposition would have the chairmanship, they are an integral part of the task force. Region Four, for example, has been one of the Regions where the chairman would be attending very often. Region Ten, the chairman has been on and off, so these are examples.

So, the point I’m making is that the opposition is on the national task force and they

take part in the decision making.”

Meanwhile, as the countrywide vaccination drive continues, the Ministry of Health has reported that over 26,000 children between the ages 12 and 18 have received their jabs amounting to 36.4 per cent of the adolescent population. Also, over 16,800teens or 23 per cent of that population have received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

With the administration of the Pfizer vaccine first dose numbers growing, Dr. Anthony is urging parents and teens to take their second dose to fully benefit from the vaccine. He said, “There’s still a lot of people who took the first dose, but didn’t come back as yet for a second dose.

So, we want to encourage those persons to make sure that they do so because if you were partially vaccinated, you wouldn’t get the full

benefits of the vaccination.

And therefore, we really want to encourage parents to bring out their children and to get vaccinated. The important thing here is that I think everybody would like to see schools reopen, I think everybody would like some level of normalcy with the education system.”

The health minister also reported that over 60 persons are currently at the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, with over 20 persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Overall, over 90 persons are hospitalised with COVID-19. Of that number, three are expectant mothers.

Further, over 374,000 persons have received their first dose of the COVID vaccine, amounting to 73 per cent of the adult population.

Also, over 233,000 persons have received their second dose amounting to 45.5 per cent of the adult population.

Electronic vaccination card to be introduced soon

G HIV positive persons urged to get vaccinated against COVID-19

P

ersons living with HIV are being urged to be vaccinated in order to protect themselves against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.

Health Minister Anthony noted that this is important because the immune system of a person living with HIV is more susceptible to the virus, especially if that person is not on medication. He said, “It is recommended that persons with HIV take the Covid -19 vaccine because it’s going to protect them. The benefits of being vaccinated, far outweigh the risk of being vaccinated, and in some cases, persons whose immune systems are compromised, some of those patients it’s also recommended that they get a third dose of the vac-

cine or a booster shot,” Dr Anthony said.

According to him, persons can use any of the vaccines available in Guyana which are being used for the adult population. These include the Johnson and Johnson, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, or Astra Zeneca.

The Minister noted that persons currently taking ARVs (antiretrovirals) or PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) should not worry about adverse effects of the vaccine, as these work differently in the body. “The mechanism of action are totally different, vaccines help to stimulate the immune system so that your body can produce anti bodies that can fight off Covid-19 virus. Antiretrovirals -they work differently, they inter-

rupt the life cycle of the HIV and therefore their actions are totally different, and there is no interaction between the two,” Dr. Anthony explained.

Persons with HIV are advised to follow the recommended protocols as the general population, to guard against contracting the disease. These include wearing of masks, proper hand sanitisation and social distancing.

“There are lots of hesitancy among the HIV population, they probably have various myths about why they shouldn’t be vaccinated, but all the evidence is pointing that they need to be vaccinated,” the minister said.

Up to 2019, the estimated number of people living with HIV in Guyana numbered over eight thousand.

uyana is moving closer to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of India that will see the Guyana accessing the COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network (COWIN) software, to produce electronic vaccination cards.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, made the disclosure on Wednesday (October 20, 2021), during the COVID-19 update.

The new electronic type vaccination cards will curb the forging of vaccination documents.

He said, “During this week, we’ll be signing off

the Memorandum of Understanding, which will allow us to now get the COWIN software. Once we get that COVID software, that’s going to be what we will be using. So, we will migrate the electronic data that we have into that software, and then we’ll be able to produce the new cards that people would have.”

The minister said the manual registers of vaccine distribution and vaccination booklets are currently being converted into digital format. “We have recruited staff for that purpose. We have designated special areas where we are doing

all that, with the equipment and so forth, to make sure that that is happening. So that is an ongoing process,” the minister noted.

Meanwhile, Dr. An thony said it is still important for persons to keep their current vaccination cards, as the COVID-19 measures stipulate that persons must produce those cards to transact business at government ministries and agencies.

Persons who operate public transport must also produce their cards if asked by a police officer, or by anyone working on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

Defiance of Standing Orders at PAC…

Teixeira says PPP/C has no ‘qualms’ about moving to National Assembly to remove Coalition’s Figueira T he “typical, duplicitous” behaviour of the APNU+AFC Coalition has yet again been displayed by its Members of Parliament; this time at the level of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), according to Minister of

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira.

“This is the typical duplicitous behaviour of the APNU+AFC and their Members of Parliament; nothing new, except that once again, we have a demonstration of the lack

of integrity and the lack of trust…the APNU+AFC cannot be trusted with anything; nothing in this country ever again,” she said.

The Minster he contends that the Coalition’s continuous violation of standing orders of the Public Accounts

Committee (PAC), could result in another motion to oust the current Chair of the Committee, Jermaine Figueira.

Figueira, took over in July after the previous Chairman, David Patterson, was removed. The Nation-

al Assembly, on June 15, 2021, passed a motion to remove the Patterson as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. The motion was tabled by Teixeira.

During the sixth meeting of the committee on February 1, 2021, following the exposure of findings of the Auditor General’s Report of 2016, Minister Teixeira had moved a motion calling for Mr. Patterson to resign as the PAC Chairman. Cognizant of those findings, Minister Teixeira said it was “inappropriate” for Patterson to continue as the Chairman. But despite numerous instances of guidance from Mr. Sherlock Issacs, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Patterson refused to resign from the Committee.

To compound matters, he had refused to allow the motion to be put to the vote and PAC meetings were cancelled as a result of the ensuing stalemate.

Teixeira charged that Figueira seems to be following in the footsteps of Patterson. “I’d hoped that Mr. Figueira would have been a man in his own right, but, clearly, he is a clone of Mr. Patterson,” she said.

According to her, the events that played out at this week’s meeting of the Public Accounts Committee saw willful attempts to defy the Standing Orders (rules) that govern the work of the PAC. She said, “A decision was made on October 11 in the Committee, without any

discussion or any attempt to reach consensus on having meetings twice weekly… they attempted this before and they knew the Government was not in support, neither the constitutional body heads. I brought a motion to rescind the motion of October 11, in keeping with the Standing Orders. And although hotly debated in the beginning, Figueira did agree he needed more time to review it…regrettably, when we came near to the end, Mr Figueira shut off the live stream, told the media to leave and proceeded to adjourn until Friday, October 22, 2021. Despite him being reminded he had made a commitment to October 25, the statutory meeting on Monday. He proceeded to walk out the meeting.

This is reminiscent of what we went through in the PAC with Patterson as the Chair.

Once again, APNU+AFC cannot be trusted with anything, even a simple motion to rescind a decision… so we will now start down a road that is familiar and if this behaviour continues, we have no qualms of going to the House once again to remove the Chairman of the PAC.” According to her, no trampling of the rules will be tolerated.

In addition to Teixeira, the PPP/C government is also represented by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, Dharamkumar Seeraj, and Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin on the Public Accounts Committee.

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