Weekend Mirror 18-19 December, 2021

Harmon rapped for attempting to blame gov’t for Coalition’s incompetence 18-19 December, 2021 / Vol. 12 ‒ No. 3 / Price: $100

Email: mirror2018.gy@gmail.com

PAGE 16

Over 9,000 qualified applicants denied COVID support by APNU+AFC, hinterland regions excluded PAGE 18

Audit finds millions lost, hampers went to ‘senior officials’, donations not accounted for by Coalition ‒ Over 424M in contracts awarded without approval

PAGE 18

AFC distances self from Harmon’s hardline position on new CEO

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SEE INSIDE

CDC advancing efforts to assist flood affected PAGE 6 residents – Prime Minister

Persons failing to comply with gazetted measures will face PAGE 23 consequences – Health Minister

Maintaining democracy, building economic progress key to PPP/C Gov’t PAGE 8

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

AFC distances self from Harmon’s hardline position on new CEO

T

he new Chief Elections Officer (CEO) and Commissioner of Registration, Vishnu Persaud, was officially sworn in on Wednesday (December 14, 2021).

The country’s Elections

Chief was sworn in by the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, at the Magistrates’ Court, then by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George as Commissioner of Registration at the Supreme Court, in

accordance with the National Registration Act Cap. 19:08.

In comments to the media, Persaud assured that no stakeholder should be worried about his neutrality, nor should they worry that

he would deviate from the lawful and proper path in the execution of his duties.

He said, “Most of you in the media and most people in the public at large, would have known me for carrying

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out my duties in adhering to the laws, the policies of the commission and basically, carrying out my duties in a professional manner. In that regard, I guarantee that I will continue in that same faith. I have an extensive PR background, and this is one of things that even before I came on board, I knew would be one of the main challenges that I would be confronted with.”

Asked whether the media could expect increased engagement with GECOM by virtue of his appointment, Persaud said he will be guided by the Commission. He however, stressed that he stands for transparency and accountability, and that this viewpoint includes media relations.

Having taken up office, Persaud said his job starts right away. He said he is going to “get a feel” of what is going on in the various departments, and determine how he could engage himself. He said further, that he will be guided and advised by the Commission on how to deal with these matters, including registration and preparation for elections.

Asked how he would respond to questions about his competence for the role, the new Chief Elections Officer referred to the statement issued by the Commission, particularly the comments of the Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, on his credentials.

DECIDING VOTE The GECOM Chairperson was the tie-breaking vote on the Commission on Friday (December 10, 2021). The candidates being considered were Persaud and a Jamaican national, Leslie Harrow.

The Chair’s justification included that she considered the endorsement of GECOM’s previous Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally.

She said she was also of the view that Persaud has acquired institutional knowledge, having been employed with GECOM for 17 years.

She noted too that Persaud also held the post of Public Relations Officer, Deputy Chief Elections Officer, and has even acted as Chief Elections Officer.

Justice Singh pointed to the new Chief’s knowledge of how to manage the CEO’s office and the operational functions of the Secretariat, and his knowledge of the geography of the 10 admin-

istrative regions.

APNU AND AFC TAKE DIFFERENT POSITIONS Meanwhile, the APNU and AFC, despite being a Coalition, have taken different positions on the move to appoint a new Chief Elections Officer.

AFC in a statement said, “The Alliance For Change takes note that the Guyana Elections Commission has finally been able to identify a new Chief Elections Officer in the person of Mr. Vishnu Persaud. We thank the Commission for reaching a decision and appreciate that the task must have been arduous, and the process, divisive… it goes without saying that whoever had been chosen in this position would have received the approbation of half of the population and the suspicion and possible rejection of the other half… at the end of the day, a decision had to be made so that we can start the process of rebuilding trust and confidence in the electoral system and Guyana's democracy.”

The APNU, through leader of the APNU+AFC Coalition, Joseph Harmon, however, took a more hardline position. He said, “The appointment of Mr. Vishnu Persaud as Chief Elections Officer and Commissioner of Registration was an obvious political decision, which clearly ignored the requirements as set out by the Guyana Elections Commission, itself, in its advertisement for the position…Guyanese confidence in GECOM has been struck another blow by this political decision by the Chairman of the Elections Commission….as Leader of the Opposition, I wish to state explicitly, that the APNU+AFC Coalition strongly disapproves of the action of the Chairman in the appointment of Mr. Persaud’s appointment as GECOM’s new Chief Elections Officer as he is not the best person qualified and competent for the job.”

Notably, Persaud has replaced former CEO, Keith Lowenfield, who had come under fire for his defiance of the instructions of the Chair during the elections period, including proposing elections declarations which were not in-keeping with her directives.

The roles that Lowenfield and his former Deputy, Roxanne Myers, played during the 2020 electoral process, are under judicial scrutiny.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE

Seasonal Forecast & Advisory for the Secondary Rainfall Season RAINFALL There’s a high chance for wetter than usual (above-normal) conditions across all Administrative Regions for the period December, 2021 to January, 2022 and possibly into early February 2022. Regions 8, 9, 10 and Southern Region will experience the least amounts of rainfall during this period. Rainfall amounts and frequency are expected to increase as the season progresses.

The above normal rainfall outlook this season is being driven by the strong likelihood of a La Nina (85% confidence) phase continuing through the first quarter of 2022.

As the season progresses, water levels in conservancies, reservoirs and inland rivers in Regions 1 to 6 (north), 7 and 10 are expected reach maximum capacity. Flooding in Regions 1 to 5, 7, 10, northern 6 and 8 as a result of persistent rain is of concern during the forecast period; therefore, drainage intervention is highly recommended where and when possible.

TEMPERATURE Temperatures will be cool as usual for this time of year with slight chance for cooler conditions expected in Regions 3, 4, and 9, while other areas can expect warmer than usual conditions.

Warmer than usual day-time temperatures can be expected in the northern Regions, while Region 9 can expect cool as usual conditions.

AGRICULTURAL ADVISORIES Given the forecasted weather conditions, farmers are advised to take all precautions to secure their crops and livestock. Shade houses and appropriate containers is recommended to cultivate vegetable crops; mound agriculture is recommended for root crops to avoid root rot; plantation crops such as plantains and bananas should be stabilized using poles where possible; and livestock farmers are advised to build berms to keep cattle away from flooded conditions while identifying shrubs, rice straw where available, and other GLDA recommended available greenery, with which to feed livestock if grass becomes scarce.

Food processing techniques such as pickling, drying of fruits, dicing, packaging and freezing of vegetables and fruits can be applied to extend shelf life and avoid wastage of farm produce.

The extension staff of NAREI, GLDA, NDIA, PTCCB, GRDB, the Fisheries Department, the MMA-ADA, and the New GMC remain available to provide advice using social media, rural radio, and TV programmes. The cooperation of all will be required in order to minimize loss, ensure food availability, and security of livelihoods.

The above-average rainfall is expected to recharge reservoirs, conservancies and aquifers, limiting local concerns of drought in northern Guyana. Water accumulation in poor drainage area is expected; this can lead to localized flooding, an upsurge in mosquito breeding and other moisture related pests. Additionally, farmers are advised to keep their drains clear in order to prevent flooding on farms, especially those located in flood-prone areas. Further, special attention should be paid to short-range forecasts provided by the Hydrometeorological Service in order to plan daily farm activities such as fertilizers and pesticides applications. Consideration should also be given to planting crops that are water tolerant during the forecast period.

The Hydrometeorological Service will provide updates to its seasonal forecast as new information becomes available.

For short range forecasts and weather analyses, stakeholders are advised to follow the Daily Weather Briefs, Outlooks and Advisories produced by the National Weather Watch Centre or visit www.hydromet.gov.gy.

The forecast desk can be reached at 2612284/261-2216.

Volda Lawrence, Mingo, others return to court today

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he case against the seven person charged for electoral fraud continues today.

Already several boxes containing certified copies of Statements of Polls (SOPs) and Statements of Recount (SORs) from the March 2020 elections have been handed over to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The documents will be used as evidence against those before the court. The SOPs and SORS were accompanied by statements and video evidence, which included copies of video-recorded interviews the accused had with the Police.

At the last court session in the case, the Prosecution was granted more time to complete compilation of the copies of Statements of Polls (SOPs) and Statements of Recount (SORs) for disclosure to the court.

The seven facing court are: 1. Sacked Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo; 2. Chairperson for the People’s National Congress, Volda Lawrence; 3. APNU+AFC activist, Carol Smith-Joseph; 4. GECOM Registration Clerk, Shefern February; 5. GECOM Registration Clerk, Michelle Miller; 6. GECOM Registration Clerk, Denise Babb– Cummings; and 7. GECOM Information Technology Officer, Enrique Livan.

Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels, and Konyo Sandiford are representing Mingo, Joseph, and Lawrence; while Senior Counsel John Jeremie, and Attorneys-at-Law Eusi Anderson and Latoya Roberts are appearing for the other four defendants.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan is presiding over the matter.

Mingo, Lawrence and Joseph are facing several electoral fraud charges.

The signatures of Lawrence and Joseph were on manipulated declarations for Region 4– issued on March 5, 2020 and March 13, 2020 – that were prepared by Mingo. In both cases, the manipulated declarations increased votes for the AP-

NU+AFC and decreased the votes for the PPP/C. By the end of the recount for Region 4, the declarations were exposed as having been manipulated.

Mingo and Lawrence are facing a joint charge, which alleges that on March 5, 2020, in Georgetown, with intent to defraud the public, they uttered a certain forged document, that is to say, a report purporting to be a true declaration of all votes cast in District Four for the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections, knowing said report to be forged.

Mingo and Joseph are facing a charge alleges that on March 13, 2020, they uttered a forged document purporting to be a true report of all votes cast in the March 2, 2020 general and

regional elections, while knowing that the report was forged.

Joseph faces two individual charges, which state that on March 13, 2020, at High and Hadfield Streets, Georgetown, she conspired with Mingo and others to declare a fraudulent count of votes for District Four for both the general and regional elections.

Lawrence, Mingo, and Joseph have all pleaded not

guilty to the charges. The trio is represented by Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes.

Having appeared in court the trio was granted bail. Mingo was placed on $60,000 bail for the two charges he faced. Lawrence was placed on $30,000 bail for the joint charge. Joseph was placed on a total of $90,000 bail for the three charges she faces.

Decisions on the way forward are expected to be addressed today.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

EDITORIAL

Transformation for sustainable development he PPP/C Administration continues to demonstrate its commitment T to delivering on its manifesto promises – from major infrastructure projects already underway to advances with long-term transformation

for sustainable development.

The nexus between delivering critical goods and services to a nation’s people in a sustainable manner and development has been recognised globally. It is also aptly captured by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as detailed in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In the Guyana context, our development trajectory is captured by the draft Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, which addresses: one, the building blocks for a new low carbon economy – including forest climate services, biodiversity, water management and the ocean economy; two, how these building blocks can be used as revenue earners for Guyana; and three, how the revenues earned are channeled through the LCDS Investment Programme to develop Guyana’s human, financial and physical capital, with special emphasis on Amerindian communities. The LCDS 2030, undoubtedly, bolsters other national programmes of development, as funded by tax collection and through bilateral and multilateral partnerships. In all the global threats, including climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are addressed, as is sustainable management of Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas economy.

It is recognised that transformation requires addressing the root causes of economic, social, environmental and political problems and inequity.

At the political level, work continues to be done to bolster an inclusionary approach to democracy. Further, electoral reforms seek to close the gaps in existing legislation, as well as remove ambiguities and opportunities for mischief.

At the environmental level, work is being done to balance Guyana’s capabilities as an oil and gas producer and the maintenance of Guyana’s green credentials, being a nation that is a net carbon sink. PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, has said that Guyana will develop its oil and gas sector in a manner that is environmentally safe and not remain locked into a cycle of “low emission and low income” – a cycle that ignores the fact that Guyana is a net carbon sink, among other facts. He had said: “We have been called to leave our oil in the ground…we believe it’s totally unfair…we’ll develop our oil industry putting in place regulations for safe, low carbon operations…many have been saying that to get to a de-carbonized future to get to a net zero by 2050 there should be no further investment in oil and gas assets….we believe that is totally unfair…the people who are calling for us to not develop the industry in a small country like Guyana have to understand that we cannot remain locked into a cycle of low emission and low income…our people have a legitimate expectation of prosperity. We have a legitimate expectation to grow the per capita income….if we freeze all new investments…there is still a four trillion oil and gas industry that is producing for global demand.

What those activists are doing is advocating that this investment be locked in for the incumbent. Why should we not want to displace some of the highest cost producers? We want a share in that market too….if there is no investment in countries like Guyana where the prospects are cleaner because it is light sweet crude and production costs are less then you are lobbying for a monopoly for the existing producers.

So we believe that we can develop the industry in our country…we can do so by continuing to invest in a de-carbonized future consistent with the LCDS.” Further, billions spent on education, healthcare, care for vulnerable groups and children, workers’ welfare and access to improved services continue to be made give the importance of interventions are the social level.

At the economic level, much emphasis is being placed on improving the environment for doing business and improving stability – all of which are critical to attract more foreign direct investments. The productive sector – sugar, rice and other crops, as well as non-traditional agricultural areas – also continue to receive focus.

In all these areas, attention is given to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals: • GOAL 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere • GOAL 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture • GOAL 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages • GOAL 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all • GOAL 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls • GOAL 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all • GOAL 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all • GOAL 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all • GOAL 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation • GOAL 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries • GOAL 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable • GOAL 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns • GOAL 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts • GOAL 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development • GOAL 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss • GOAL 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels • GOAL 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

The Administration’s ‘Plan for Prosperity’, the 2020-2025 manifesto, and its comprehensive range of policies and programmes are being actioned in the interest of all Guyanese and our people can continue to expect improvements in standard of living.

Election rigging must never be allowed to happen again Dear Editor,

T

he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) will not conduct Local Government Elections (LGEs) within the statutory constitutional period this year. Chairwoman Justice (retired) Claudette Singh recently confirmed this position in a letter to the Attorney-General, publicised in several widely circulated media reports.

The main reason presented by GECOM’s Chairperson is the absence of a Chief Elections Officer (CEO). The cause of such absence is no secret, much public evidence of nefarious actions the previous CEO and staff under his supervision, highlights deep embroilment in activities egregious to GECOM’s image and mandate, resulting in electoral fraud charges. Consequently, the occurrences have not only exacerbated the hemorrhaging loss of confidence in the electoral body but now creates an overspill of national and community implications that is the source of debates and discussions concerning reforms as a corrective necessity.

Be as it may, it is absolute that GECOM must hold LGEs at the earliest time. This must, however, be advanced in full cognisance and recognition that election rigging must never be allowed to happen again in this country. This country had enough ‘gridlocks’, our people had too many woeful experiences while being on the periphery. Today, we must see swing votes as unity votes and recognise that reforms will come with further development. Hence, the imperatives required of GECOM are to ensure that all systems are in place to hold free and fair elections.

The importance of the LGEs must not be underscored given their role as a key countercheck mechanism on community development at the municipal, community, and village levels.

Importantly, it is paramount that local leaders elected at these levels also be brought to a decisive review point, held accountable by the citizens they serve for delivery of essential services; and in ensuring parallel development in partnership with the national plans. Notably, the ruling PPP/C Government has long recognised and demonstrated support in this regard and has ensured the adequacy of funding for these elections.

There have been calls for power-sharing and the outcry regarding needed constitutional reforms. Importantly, the latter requires two-thirds majority support in the National assembly and takes significant time. In the past, the process has been significantly abused by PNC representatives, and this fact is evidenced by the decades of fruitless meetings by the appointed taskforce. Our nation, therefore, should not be held at ransom under this guise before LGEs are held. The reforms that are being put in place to strengthen the Representation of the People Act (RoPA), are highly relevant in enabling GECOM to proceed with fewer risks until objective constitutional reforms are finalised.

Democracy is no longer a standalone word of optional pursuit. Rather, it is now accepted as a necessity in our global civilised relations. Elections as the key instrument of democratic approaches must be devoid of discrimination, hatred, rigging, bullying, and the likes. In the past PNC governments, the Guyanese people struggled for adult suffrage, experienced a Coaition government that failed us in 1964, and had our rights trampled under the paramountcy system of the PNC party.

This characteristic behaviour of the PNC must not be condoned and our people must never again have to flee this country begging and looking for a better place to only survive.

After decades of turmoil and suffering, it took a united people with the establishment of the Political Committee in Defense of Democracy (PCD) and the assistance of the world, particularly the Carter Center that enable our nation to experience free and fair elections in 1992.

Editor, please permit me the latitude to touch a little on the consideration of power-sharing as a starting consideration of commentators, given the experience our nation has had at the hands of the PNC when it joined with the United Force (UF) in 1964. Then again in 2015, another PNC coalition with mainly the AFC took the seat of power. The result was non-stop corruption along with no respect for inclusivity, and total disrespect for the people led to the defeat and fall of the Coalition Government.

In strong contrast, although the PPP

had a high chance of winning the 1992 elections, the party recognised the need to put an end to the winner-takes-all government and introduced the broad base inclusivity proposal of the civic component. At that time the civic component was promised a twenty per cent share in the government and there was tremendous prestige, pride, and recognition that the civic component brought to the list of candidates.

When the PPP/Civic won in 1992, the broad-minded approach of Dr. Jagan’s PPP party allowed the civic to take more than forty per cent of the government. Our economy was turned around and experienced tremendous development. It is clear to all that the PPP approach to politics in this country is more inclusive and appreciated although objectivity in models can be considered.

Notably, the youthful leadership of the PPP/C Government is certainly very proactive and very efficient. The fact that the government is governing for all the people is resulting in development across the country. The PPP/C policy is all-inclusive and our youths are benefiting from powerful education programmes and there will be further improvements leading to the all-round development of our economy and greater success.

As the PPP/C development traction gains momentum, we must guarantee the insurance of our democracy and people’s rights by putting an end to marginalisation, discrimination, and advancing free and fair elections. Hence, legislative changes to strengthen the electoral process must be our priority to ensure that we have early LGEs. The necessity for us to have a better functioning GECOM must also be our priority.

I take the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Vishnu Persaud for his appointment as the new Chief Elections Officer.

Sir, you have in your hands the opportunity of being the astute professional that will realise the change and balance required in restoring the confidence of our people in GECOM. The rigging of elections must be stopped.

Yours sincerely, Neil Kumar

APNU+AFC must explain this massive piece of corruption Dear Editor,

S

hocking and deserving of legal action is my response to the news that: “Approximately 9,284 persons out of 11,098 (83%), who gained eligibility for the COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance Voucher … did not receive anything.”

This was the finding of the Office of

Auditor General (AG). According to the report from the AG, a performance audit was conducted on the Coalition’s relief voucher programme for the period March to September 2020 and it found that only slightly over 1,000 persons received vouchers.

Let us be reminded that this programme was undertaken by the former

APNU/AFC Coalition Government (Coalition).

Now, my mind goes back to just over one year ago, when the APNU+AFC, vis Joseph Harmon, flagged the Government for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming that there seems to be no clear plan to tackle the disease, (Turn to page 5)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

Opposition must desist from pushing the false narrative Dear Editor,

T

he Opposition APNU/AFC needs to “explicitly” recognise and acknowledge the legitimacy of the PPP/C Administration, and stop creating false hope in the minds of their support base.

The question asked by many is: “How long will the Opposition APNU-AFC continue on this path, and deny themselves the truth and sell their narrative that is hopeless and filled with falsehood?

Our President’s vision is to have a Guyana that is better for the Opposition, media, sugar workers, Public Servants and every Guyanese.

This was evident during a recent comprehensive presentation on Guyana’s development agenda that pointed to key strategies to diminish disparity among the Guyanese

people as President Ali delivered the keynote address to the Harvard Business School at a virtual faculty workshop on the microeconomics of competitiveness, when he was adamant that all Guyanese would benefit from our country’s impending prosperity. He outlined essential and indispensable aspects of the PPP/C Government’s agenda that would transform Guyana into a more equitable society, one in which every Guyanese – irrespective of their ethnic/religious/political affiliations, or the region in which they live, or their background – would have an equal opportunity and stake in the development of our country.

As stated by our President, in order to achieve this plan, which will see prosperity for all, it is absolutely necessary to have the correct framework for development. The

Guyana will be self-sufficient in food Dear Editor,

T

he systematic and scientific manner in which agriculture is being competently managed is a guarantee that Guyana would never suffer from the Dutch Disease; which, simply put, is the total or partial neglect of the other sectors due to the booming oil and gas sector. This Government’s policies on agriculture are commendable and beyond any condemnation, quite unlike its predecessor’s.

The Honourable Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, at his fourth capacity-packed outreach in Region 6, made it abundantly clear that the achievements which agriculture have made in just over a year have once again catapulted Guyana as the leader in food production in Caricom. The Minister not only boasted that Guyana would close the 40% gap in food imports by 2025, but outlined carefully-crafted and achievable strategic plans.

He explained to his packed audience that new roads would be opened which would give farmers access to thousands of hectares of virgin arable lands. This is already in the making. This will boost the production of rice and other crops, such as citrus, and create employment.

He gave some examples: The backlands of #52 and #58 Villages up to the Canje Creek and Moleson Creek in Region 6. I could recall that a similar plan to build an all-weather road at 52-58 Village was given to the former Minister of Agriculture, and a discussion was held with a large-scale farmer in Berbice, but the project was unceremoniously dumped. The Coalition was simply not interested in the agriculture sector; they had a fixation on oil and gas.

This was most definitely a guaranteed recipe for the Dutch Curse. But the Coa-

lition ignored the mass condemnation and criticisms. Even today, the Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, brags about the ‘competence’ of Noel Holder. He always sees things in a distorted manner.

There are volumes which can be written about the deliberate decimation of the agriculture sector by the Coalition.

In addition, the Minister outlined the ongoing progress in the cultivation of high-value crops, such as broccoli and cauliflower, and the establishing of agro-processing plants in various regions. In this regard, there are numerous major investors who are engaging the Government.

He also emphasised the need to change the perception of agriculture, and get young people involved in the many lucrative ventures available in the sector.

He also outlined the many infrastructural development plans in the pipeline, such as the deep-water harbour, the road to Brazil, the installation of new pumps, and the building of a Hope-size canal between Adventure and #43 Villages. Like any investment, there is a timeline after which it would bear dividends, and the Minister made a commitment that his Ministry and all the others would work together with all farmers to ensure that the objectives of his Ministry, both short and long-term, would be achieved.

In conclusion, the agriculture sector was not only neglected by the Coalition, but there were deliberate acts and omissions to annihilate it, since Coalition leaders saw the sector as PPP-based and a threat which must be eliminated. The former President, David Granger, had made it clear that ‘rice farming is private business’; just read between the lines.

Yours sincerely, H. Yusuf

need to build Guyana’s human capacity through universal education was noted by the President as a centerpiece of personal empowerment.

It is clear to all that the People’s Progressive Party /Civic Government would ensure that every young Guyanese benefits from primary and secondary education by supporting attendance at school through a free uniform programme, a free feeding programme for at-risk students, and transportation allowance.

Efforts are also in place to remove the gap in the quality of education between urban and rural areas, and to improve access to tertiary-level education.

The PPP/C Government is hoping before the next three years to have free university education for Guyanese. This is a Government that has already launched its 20,000-scholarship programme with more than 6000 students studying at various universities around the world through distance and online education.

The President said that the Government of Guyana is also looking to build an oil-andgas institute. Outside of education, emphasis will be placed on delivering world-class health care to all Guyanese through a modern public healthcare system.

“Our people must be able to enjoy worldclass primary health care,” he said.

Housing was also noted as key to overall development. The President described the housing initiative, which has been prolific, as an “aggressive programme” that gives direct benefit to homeownership.

The Opposition must be aware that Guyana will be rolling out a $700M hinterland housing programme in 2022. This, combined with the Private Sector initiative to develop

$800 Jagville Housing Scheme. Additionally, the President noted that it is imperative to put measures in place to protect the vulnerable by strengthening the country’s social safety nets.

Only recently, Guyana was recognised by the World Bank as having one of the broadest cash support systems for vulnerable and at-risk people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another example of strengthening Guyana’s network is the progressive increase in old-age pension; the development of specialised programmes for persons living with disabilities, including specialised training with a view to having them engaging in meaningful economic activities.

All these initiatives represent just a sample of the kind of policies and programmes our PPP/C Government is aggressively pursuing in order to ensure that the most vulnerable in our society have an opportunity to lift themselves out of unfortunate circumstances.

The time has arrived for the Opposition Leader to do the “right thing” and desist from pushing the false narrative and trying to derail development in this country, which is being circulated on social media platforms and other fora.

What is also important to note is that Guyana is also working diligently on a regional approach to food security. Guyana is looking to enhance the Regional Community. It is very clear to all that our prosperity will be shared with the region, and that the region will benefit from a stronger Guyana in the near future.

Sincerely, David Adams

APNU+AFC must explain this... which at the time, had already infected over 3,700 persons. Harmon, the Opposition Leader, in fact, stated at that time that his party was open to working with the Government, to reduce the spread of COVID-19. I am left to wonder what he had in mind.

I recall too that Harmon was most blatant during that period of attack on the Government. He went as far as hurling racial remarks, accusing the Government of favoring its mainly Indian support base. He even explained that he had the evidence, but, as expected, when challenged to offer the proof, he went into evasive moods and behaviour.

For readers to get the gist of this deplorable behaviour from APNU+AFC, the press detailed that the unpaid persons, using an even 9,000 of the qualified and a flat $25,000 per person, amounts to GY$225 million in relief funds not handed over to cash-strapped citizens. Cruel! Hypocritical! What else can anyone say?

I add that this was no ‘goodwill’ act as this programme was funded through the allocation of funds from the budget for the financial year 2020 of the various agencies

(From page 4)

responsible for the management of the Programme. This programme was a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Finance, Communities and Social Protection, the National Data Management Authority and the Civil Defence Commission. So, in my mind, it was like a ‘national thieving’ ploy, and that is why I suggest some kind of retribution or penal measures be taken.

It will be too belabouring to go through in detail other egregious acts of dishonesty and purloining found in the report, but what I have outlined thus far is enough to get people’s attention to the reality of whom and what they were up against in the past regime.

Now the Audit Office has shared 13 recommendations to management for improvements and disclosed that through full implementation of these recommendations, future programmes will be better managed.

My hope is that these measures will be implemented, and I repeat that APNU+AFC must explain this massive piece of corruption.

Yours very truly, Anson Paul

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 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 ’

CDC advancing efforts to assist flood affected residents – Prime Minister

P

rime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Tuesday (December 14, 2021), disclosed that the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) is moving apace with its efforts to assist flood affected residents nationwide.

While the extensive flooding over the past weeks has affected some 6,500 households throughout Regions One to Six, not all are severely impacted. Based on assessments conducted, the Pomeroon in Region Two, is deemed the most affected.

“We will be making some interventions over the next 48 hours to deal with those concerns. We have some people in the Kabakaburi and Wakapau that are now in

shelters, I think six families we reported and we have dispatched a team from the CDC to do some assessment and to make some interventions,” the Prime Minister said.

To date, the CDC has received reports of 1,297 households being affected in Region Two Of that number, 552 households reported that water entered their homes.

“Notwithstanding that fact that the water has receded, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority continues with their interventions in ensuring that a lot of those outfalls, all those canals are cleared, the continue to maintain the pumps that are necessary in getting the

water off the land,” PM Phillips stated.

Through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP), some 2,000 workers were deployed throughout flood affected regions to lend support.

PM Phillips advised residents to seek medical attention immediately, should they encounter any medical challenges during the flood.

Tuesday’s task force engagement was the second meeting since the unit was activated by His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, on Monday (December 13, 2021).

300 plus Berbicians to benefit from house lots in first quarter 2022 –major infrastructural works moving apace –repairs to several schools completed this year

M

ore than 300 residents will receive affordable house lots in three housing schemes in East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), before the end of the first quarter of 2022.

Regional Chairman, David Armogan said the infrastructural works are advancing at the Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme in East Canje and the Williamsburg Housing Scheme on the Corentyne. He explained that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) is pushing to complete the road and other prominent structures ahead of the land allocation exercise. “The minister has said by the first quarter of next year we should be able to allocate house lots in these areas,” the Chairman said.

Since taking office in August, 2020, the PPP/C Government has committed

to delivering some 50,000 house lots within its first term in office.

Through the Ministry of Housing and Water’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), thousands of Guyanese can now boast ownership of lands via several housing drive hosted nationwide.

Armogan said the RDC is ready to partner with government to ensure Berbicians also enjoy the services offered by the administration. “In the Williamsburg area, what we are doing, we are building houses there which will cost about $5.2 million, so people can buy the house on the land,” the chairman relayed. He added that 12 contractors have already been selected to construct the homes.

Meanwhile, the chairman said over 50 asphaltic concrete roads were com-

pleted in 2021 across the region, some of which were financed by the Public Works Ministry and others through the RDC’s budgetary allocation. He said while all the thoroughfares which needed attention were not fixed this year, the RDC was able to address those roads which were deemed priority.

The chairman alluded to the ongoing construction of two major roads at Numbers 52 and 58 villages Corentyne, which will soon give farmers access to 50,000 acres of prime farmlands.

He also spoke about the progressing works at the $100 million Moleson Creek to El Dorado Road project.

Additionally, the RDC was able to conduct major repairs to a number of learning institutions, ensuring proper sanitary facilities are available. Among those were the Berbice High School (BHS) and the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS).

Over 4,000 women to benefit from US$1.2M empowerment fund

G

overnment, through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Empowerment Fund, is investing US$ 1.2 million to help some 4,760 female entrepreneurs across the country.

The initiative is funded by the United Nation’s World Food Programme and can be accessed through the ministry’s Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN).

Minister, Dr. Vindhya

Persaud, made the announcement on Tuesday (December 14, 2021), at WIIN’s first graduation ceremony, held at the Guyana Women’s Learning Institute, Cove and John.

Some 143 graduates each received a sum of $50,000 to help launch their business ideas.

Minister Persaud said the objective of the fund is to give women an opportunity to increase their finances.

She said, “It is our initial investment in them finan-

cially as the Government of Guyana, to empower them, to encourage them to be their own bosses, to be entrepreneurs and to give them a kickstart to starting their own business.”

Along with the business training offered by WIIN, the ministry also partnered with the Centre of Local Business Development and Women’s Chamber of Commerce to further equip women with the tools for a successful business.

Severed sugar workers begin receiving promised support

G

overnment on Saturday (December 11, 2021), commenced the distribution of its $250,000 ‘one-off’ cash grant to sugar workers who were severed by the former APNU+AFC Government.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo announced in October, that before the end of 2021, severed sugar workers would benefit from the government payout totaling approximately $1.8 billion.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha and Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, spearheaded the distribution exercise at the Enmore Administrative Office and the Wales Community Center Ground.

Mustapha in comments said, ““When we were in Opposition, we said when we returned to government, we would ensure that the sugar workers who were severed would receive some form of assistance although they already received their severance pay. We are here today, and as a party when we make promises we always deliver on those promises. Everyone here, who was severed by

the previous administration, I know that your lives were changed tremendously. You had a job and then suddenly we had the closure of four estates. With the stroke of a pen, the former government put 7500 sugar workers on the breadline. The repercussions were severe. The workers’ lives were devastated and the many village economies were destroyed. Access to utilities became a luxury for many people. Today, as I am speaking here, we are standing to the commitment made to the people.” Minister Mustapha also said that in addition to the $250,000 grant, the government is working to reopen several of the closed estates in a phased approach. He further stated that, to date, approximately 1200 workers who were severed have been reemployed with the government investing close to $12 billion to rehabilitate the industry.

Meanwhile, Minister Singh, said the decision to close the estates was one of the most callous decisions made by any government in Guyana’s history. “The decision to close the industry, the decision to padlock the gates

of sugar factories throughout the length and breadth of Guyana; that decision by the APNU+AFC government shortly after they came into office was one of the most callous, cruel, and unconscionable decisions made by any government in the history of this country. This was not just about making a profit. When they flipped the switch and padlocked the gates and said these factories were not operating anymore, they were not just closing a factory, they were putting a noose around the neck of entire communities. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out what would happen to a family if you put the primary breadwinner out of work and there were 7000 families like that across the country,” Dr. Singh said. He noted too that addition to its efforts to resuscitate the industry, the government is also working to create opportunities for citizens in other sectors. He disclosed that come 2022, the government, in collaboration with the private sector, will be hosting a series of job fairs so that persons can be made aware of the job opportunities available.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 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 ’ Tripartite committee to reconvene before discussion on national minimum wage G overnment is awaiting the reconvening of the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) to advance talks on the national minimum wage increase.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, on Wednesday (December 14, 2021), explained that while the private sector stakeholders have agreed to raising the national minimum wage to $60,000, the NTC has to meet for further discussions.

Minister Hamilton said the Committee is currently dissolved. “I instructed the Chief Labour Officer to convene the meeting. He informed me that the life of the NTC came to an end not so long ago. Therefore, I have instructed him to write the parties in the NTC, that is, the private sector entities and the umbrella union representatives,” Minister Hamilton said.

He said when the com-

mittee reconvenes and the consultation with stakeholders is complete, the matter will then be taken to cabinet for deliberations. The Minister said, “They are in agreement that we should conclude this issue about the national minimum wage raise that were agreed to a year -and -a- half ago to raise the national minimum wage to $60,000.”

Since taking office, government has reaffirmed its

commitment to ensuring private sector employees also benefit from wage increases.

Minister Hamilton had held several engagements with members of the private sector on the matter,

however, during that time many persons complained about the negative impacts of COVID-19 on business.

He said government is willing to work with the private sector stakeholders,

as the initiative will only enhance the life of Guyanese, which Minister Hamilton noted, is the all-time aim of the administration.

He hopes to complete discussions before year end.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Maintaining democracy, Gov’t will invest in army bases to building economic progress allow ranks to further education key to PPP/C gov’t P T he PPP/C Government is committed to building economic progress and social improvement, ensuring respect for human and political rights, and freedom of expression.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, made the statement Friday (December 10, 2021), during his virtual address to the United States (US) summit for democracy, where he stressed that democracy cannot be maintained nationally unless it is sustained internationally.

“Democratic enhancement and renewal, therefore, require global effort; one that takes full account of the multidimensional aspects of democracy, including the provision of conditions for economic progress,” he underscored.

The Guyanese leader reminded of the five-month long electoral impasse that engulfed the country following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional elections, which he noted, delayed and almost denied democracy.

“It was only the vigilance of the Guyanese people, supported by a watchful international community, that prevented Guyana from being plunged into a dictatorship with all its disastrous consequences,” Dr. Ali said.

To this end, he stressed

his administration’s determination to strengthen the pillars of democracy, ensuring voters enjoy free, fair, and transparent elections.

He said, “We are aware that adherence to democracy and the rule of law must be aligned with economic and social progress in conditions of non-discrimination, equity, and equal opportunities.

That is the course on which Guyana is now firmly embarked, domestically.”

Further, the President emphasised, “We have recently become an oil and gas producing nation, and

after decades of being the second poorest nation in the Americas, we are on the cusp of an economic transformation.”

Dr. Ali stated that dictatorships can become pandemics and infect political processes globally, especially vulnerable countries.

He said too, that adherence to the rule of law must be aligned with economic and social enhancement.

The PPP/C Government, according to him, is also devoted to the ambition of empowering prosperity for every Guyanese.

resident Dr Irfaan Ali said that his Government will make the necessary investments in a number of army bases around the country to improve their technological capabilities, with the aim of advancing the educational development of the ranks.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces made the pronouncement during his address to the Guyana Defence Force ranks at Camp Everard, in Mabaruma, earlier on Monday (December 13, 2021) at their annual Christmas Luncheon. He said, “Not because you are posted out here, you are divorced from the world of education. We are going to make the necessary investments in this base, and other bases that some people would say are way in the jungle. We are going to put the infrastructure in place to allow all of you to have a chance of improving your educational desires. And we want you to make use of it.”

Since becoming President last year, President Ali has been pushing tertiary-level educational development among the ranks.

In keeping with a tradition that he started in 2020,

the President also requested that the ranks nominate a male and female among themselves who they think are deserving of scholarships.

The ranks nominated Sergeant Netisha DeSantos and Corporal Ryan David, who were, on the spot, awarded scholarships to further their studies.

The Head of State complimented the ranks for the role that they play in safeguarding Guyana’s borders.

He reminded them that being posted at important bases such as Camp Everard carries additional responsibilities such as respecting the culture of the communities and being respectful to their residents. He said, “We must not allow the uniform we wear to ever be tarnished.”

MORE INVOLVED The GDF was also praised for the meaningful part that they are playing in the development of the country. He said, “Today, we have reengineered the engineering corps and they are doing infrastructure works all across the country.”

The President said that it is his aim to involve the ranks in more infrastructural

development projects in locations in which they serve.

He said, “Retired veterans speak to me with pride that they were part of the development of an airstrip, they were part of the development of a specific piece of infrastructure. This is the type of pride that you leave and the type of legacy that you leave.”

The government’s priorities, according to the President are geared towards improving the lives of every single Guyanese. He said while improving salaries and conditions of work will be done, the Government’s priorities are also about giving the ranks the opportunities to enhance their lives and develop themselves.

He also noted that as the country grows and expands and new areas of opportunities are opened, the defence strategy must also grow and expand. “All of you will see fundamental changes in your mode of operation—the use of technology, the improvement of strategies, the redevelopment of infrastructure, the improvement of your working condition, the deploying of assets, and adding assets to make your work more efficient and easier.”

GPF is the greatest asset in building ‘One Guyana’

H

is Excellency Dr. Irfaan Ali told high-level ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) that they are integral to the development of the Government’s ‘One Guyana’ policy.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces outlined the importance of the force in nation-building during his brief remarks at the GPF’s annual Christmas Breakfast at the Police Officers’ Mess in Eve Leary this week. “You are my greatest asset and ally in building this ‘One Guyana’. And we will do it. I want to assure all of you that it will come and it will come very soon.”

The lawmen were described as having attitudes and value systems that are patriotic and nationalistic.

The President said that eventually the people of Guyana will triumph above all

obstacles and barriers and will join together as ‘One Guyana’ “where all of our people will be the brothers and sisters of each other” and move forward in harmony.

UPLIFTMENT OF THE GPF The Head of State also reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to not only equip the force with the necessary tools and infrastructure to effectively fight crime but also to provide opportunities for ranks to improve their personal lives and by extension, the country.

President Ali explained that the joint forces will continue to lead by example. He also said that the Guyana Defence Force will embark on a national enhancement programme to improve the medians across the country to enhance Guyana’s over-

all standards. He said, “As Commander-in-Chief I will be leading an effort with the army and we are going to include the Police Force in going out there and lead by example in the cleaning of this city to make it a point that the city and the cleanliness of our environment… is not a political matter. It is a matter that defines us as a people, that defines us as who we are.”

Officers stationed on Main Street for the Christmas lightup were praised for their “excellent policing” by the Head of State. He said that the environment is encouraging and allows them to execute their duties with pride and respect.

GOVERNMENT’S DEVELOPMENT THRUST President Ali explained the importance of the force

understanding the development thrust of the Government. He said this will ensure that they formulate strategies in line with the country’s projected growth and execute their work with more efficiency and effectiveness. The Government will support the force in this development, by way of technological development.

He said that the new highway from Mandela Avenue to Diamond will have certain technological features, including speeding cameras that will be incorporated into the infrastructure to assist the lawmen.

Additionally, the Head of State noted that his Government would continue to equip the force with the necessary vehicles to execute their duties. He said that building on the Government’s supply of 50 new vehicles, 65 bikes and other assets to the force,

a supplementary provision has been set aside for 50 more vehicles.

A commitment was also given to replace the engines on more than 20 vehicles, which are out of service, to get them back into working condition. Ali said, “There are some areas that we have to tweak. And we have to be bold in our decision making.

We have to take a strategic look at our organisational structure or operational structure and come up with the best-suited model for a modern Guyana. That is why you are seeing legislative changes.

We’re looking at a national drone programme.”

The President said that drones have already been deployed in the Force’s crime-fighting strategies in the City and there are also plans to utilise them on the country’s waterways as the

first line of defence.

In addition to the capacity of the Force, the welfare of its officers, as it relates to working conditions and salaries, will continue to be addressed. He said, “We know that whilst you give your best, and those under your command give their best that you also have to ensure that you give your best to your families.”

President Ali said this is why education is one of the most important pillars of the Government.

He said he has already spoken to the head of the police so that every branch or division commander can be sponsored by the government to pursue their educational goals in a degree programme.

Those who already have degrees will be enrolled in a master’s programme for defence studies.

9

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

Amerindian Development…

FOCUS ON GUYANA’ S FIRST PEOPLE

Ministry kick starts toy drive in hinterland communities Children of Campbelltown, Mahdia, Potaro Siparuni, Region Eight, were all smiles, this week, after having received early Christmas presents from Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai. The activity is part of a toy drive to hinterland communities.

Amerindian leaders complete two-day mediation training F

orty (40) Amerindian leaders from Regions Four, Five, Six and Ten, have completed a two-day mediation training programme at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, said the training will enable the community leaders to resolve issues in their communities. “Our leaders and councillors from the village council, we afforded them the opportunity to participate in the mediation training. Mediation for village councils is very

important. On a daily basis they will experience various issues, problematic issues, complaints, some sensitive and some difficult ones, and so this training will aid in them addressing some of the resolution of those issues that come before them,” the minister said.

Minister Sukhai added that through the training, leaders will be prepared to find common resolution and arrive at unbiased conclusions, when resolving land titling issues and other related matters. “Ever so often, village councillors and

leaders will have to deal with issues of land as it relates to those land users, whether it’s resident or non-resident because the Amerindian Act allows for a number of engagements, both with residents, and it provides also scope for engaging non-residents in investment, in agriculture, sustainable use of the land, and whenever that happens, leaders must be prepared to address issues that come up, that may need mediation.”

Attorney at Law, Paul Bram and team conducted the successful training session.

GWI commences drilling of $10M well in Matthews Ridge T he Ministry of Housing and Water, through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), has commenced the drilling of a well at Matthews Ridge, Region One (Barima-Waini).

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, on Tuesday (December 14, 2021), visited the area to witness the commencement of the drilling, which is expected to be about 150 meters in depth.

Once completed, it will provide first time access to water for some 100 residents of Minab, a satellite village of Matthew’s Ridge. A number of residents in Matthews Ridge will also benefit from the improved access to water.

The well is being drilled at a cost of approximately $10 million, utilising a rig

owned and operated by GWI. Minister Croal said this has resulted in a significant reduction of operational cost, noting that if the project had been contracted, it would have cost the company some $20 million. He explained that the new water system will see more than 30 new connections. The drilling will be completed by the end of this month, after which auxiliary works will benefit and completed by January month end.

The housing minister stated too that the initiative is a result of the PPP/C Government’s commitment to bringing the hinterland into the mainstream of national development. The intention, according to him, is to ensure all unserved areas in

the hinterland have access to water by 2025. This will see GWI reaching its target of 95 percent coverage in those areas by the end of that period. “The Peoples Progressive Party’s plan for the people of the hinterland, is ensuring we have improved access to water across the country. It is also for the coastland but particularly, in the hinterland, where many of the communities are getting first access to water,” Minister Croal noted.

This is one of four wells scheduled to be drilled within the Matarkai sub-district, as part of GWI’s 2021 work programme. The well at Port Kaituma is complete, and the rig will be dispatched to Baramita, Arakaka shortly after.

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021 JANUARY 2021 will be a year of recovery for Guyana - President Ali APNU+AFC left empty Consolidated Fund – Finance Minister ICJ rules that it has jurisdiction in Venezuela border controversy Development opportunities for every region - President Al

Government doing all in its power to protect country’s territorial integrity Potaro-Siparuni Region receives $31 million COVID-19 allocation Patterson should recuse himself as PAC chair - Minister Teixeira Parliamentarians charged to serve Guyana, not ‘pull’ nation apart ‒ President details plans for One Guyana Commission, more

GECOM Chair denies Amna Ally’s request to meet with her ‘alone’

APNU+AFC engaging in ‘traditional misinformation campaign’ – Edghill

Groundwork being laid to tighten electoral system – Nandlall

Government earmarks US$17.4M to improve internet in 200 communities –PM

Multiple breaches of financial laws under Patterson’s watch

Coalition MPs cautioned about breaches of Standing Orders

Venezuelan decree a ‘legal nullity’

Detailed medical checks before and after COVID-19 vaccine is given - Minister Anthony

GDF, US Dept. of Defense sign logistics agreement

$383.1B National Budget presented for 2021

Agriculture has key role in govt’s diversification plan

New Production Sharing Agreement will see greater benefits for Guyana – Jagdeo tells LCP Consultation

PPP/C gov’t unsupportive of rates and taxes increases Chief Justice dismisses one election petition, second to proceed Renovations started on vaccination centres ‒ in preparation for COVID-19 vaccine roll out

Guyana condemns ‘wanton act’ of aggression by Venezuela Small parties engaged in Budget 2021 discussions Coalition loses bid to table ‘2015 version’ of bill dealing with marijuana Guyana focused on ensuring oil revenues meet development needs – Dr Ashni Singh FEBRUARY Electoral reform remains important issue of gov’t agenda – President Constructive criticism, sharing of ideas welcomed

by PPP/C gov’t Gov’t working to strengthen institutions to prevent corruption

Proposed $2B budgetary sum would ensure better performing sugar factories – Mustapha GECOM Secretariat, not the Commission, failed the nation Health, Education, Infrastructure and Human Services take lion’s share of Budget 2021 allocations Teixeira spotlights opportunistic use of issues to fan ‘racial’ tensions at UN special meeting ‒ highlights work of PPP/C gov’t

Over $1.5B budgeted for solar electricity in Amerindian communities ‒ as Government expands affordable, reliable energy

Gov’t investing in hinterland healthcare services ‒ aims to bring quality, services on par with coastland

Coalition persists with baseless claims – AG Nandlall Another AFC Member resigns, says party has ‘lost its way’ Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine gets local emergency use authorisation Fuel price reduction leaves more money in people’s pockets – Finance Minister

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021

Coalition put on blast for ‘radicalising and racialising’ budget debates

Finance Minister details agenda to strengthen and modernise government and business institutions

MARCH

APRIL

APNU+AFC Coalition Legacy: A Party willing to do anything, everything to stay in power

‘2020 US Human Rights report…

11

‒ Teixeira says nothing can whitewash, downplay this fact

APNU+AFC Coalition cited for refusing to accept Election results

Opposition missed opportunity to present development ideas to National Assembly - Minister Singh

President urges world leaders to revisit and reform the existing global debt framework

Steps would be taken to restore State lands gifted away by Coalition

COVID transmission can lessen if public acts responsibly – Health Minister

PPP/C legislative agenda detailed ‒ Gov’t to retain international consultant to draft legislation for petroleum sector

Some 200 hinterland and riverine communities stand to benefit from hinterland ICT programme

Regional Ministerial Task Force will help push agricultural development within CARICOM

Guyana’s economy will remain resilient against COVID-19 impacts – World Bank

PM calls for COVID-19 related debt write-offs at PROSUR meeting

Small businesses vital to the economy

Reform of election laws necessary to ensure fair, transparent process Coalition’s imprudent financial management leaves massive burden on taxpayers COVID-19 vaccine not mandatory, but Guyanese encouraged to get immunised Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s struggle for democracy remains relevant Harmon must acknowledge legitimacy of elected PPP/C gov’t before any talks can occur Another APNU/AFC tax measure reversed Election Report cites APNU+AFC for abuse of state media, funds

Another advance with PPP/C’s infrastructure agenda…

First step of Bartica-Timehri road project started Guyanese urged to take pandemic seriously, country not yet ahead of the curve CJ to rule on April 26 in elections petition process Students encouraged to take advantage of Government programmes – Min. Teixeira Finance Minister outlines plan to develop Human Capital – during World Bank’s Ministerial Conclave

Fixed COVID-19 vaccination sites countrywide PPP/C delivers on manifesto promise of online scholarships

‒ EU EOM formally hands over report to Foreign Affairs Minister

APNU+AFC called out for perpetrating façade to divert from failures

Coalition’s latest legal challenge dubbed ‘waste of court’s time’

Electoral fraud charges to move forward in Court on June 11

Role for private sector in climate change fight – Jagdeo

Billion-dollar farm-to-market road for Corentyne to Canje Creek

‘Aggressive engagement’ with communities on the cards – Jagdeo

‒ to unlock new agriculture lands

Guyana has ‘boundless’ economic prospects

Youths afforded apprenticeship opportunity in natural resources sector

Witch hunting claims rubbished, race-baiting by Coalition rejected

PNC-led Coalition failing in attempt to stir sense of instability – Teixeira

12

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021 Lower COVID vaccine age is push for herd immunity – Anthony

Gov’t addressing crime with forensics scholarships, expansion of Smart city programme

PPP/C demonstrating commitment to developing Guyana’s human resource capacity

Government will not be a scapegoat for City Hall’s mismanagement

DPP, Police Commissioner move to High Court to secure copies of SOP, SORs

‘We will not be bullied’

– President on Guyana’s territorial integrity

MAY

Incentives in store for public school teachers under GOAL’s initiative

Opposition has ‘no interest’ in country’s development

Chief Justice orders release of SOPs, SORs

APNU+AFC’s Election Petition 88 thrown out over lack of evidence

JUNE

‒ to assist in prosecution

ExxonMobil announces discovery at Uaru-2 offshore Guyana

Stakeholders welcome move to hold ‘recalcitrant’ GECOM officers accountable

Constitutional, electoral reforms high on agenda – President Ali

Regional Disaster Risk Management Systems activated

Gov’t leading national civil society campaign to boost vaccination against COVID

‒ following High Court ruling

Kamwatta and Whitewater to get electricity before the end of 2021 – PM Regional Health Training Centre in Barima-Waini commissioned

SOPs handed over to the Police NGSA mock exams set for June 9, 10 BIT investing $40M in training programmes in Region Six ‒ Over 400 to benefit Coalition called out for only investing in ‘strongholds’

APNU+AFC ‘seem scared’ of electoral reform – Gunraj

Farmers assured of gov’t support during rebuilding phase

Vaccination is our best option to save lives, exit pandemic—President Ali

$10B supplementary funding for flood relief – Jagdeo

WIN to focus on financial independence via training

APNU+AFC objects to SOPs, SORs being handed over to court

Stopping misinformation about COVID vaccines starts with you – Anthony Mingo given house lot a month before March 2020 Elections ‒ application dated three days after house lot given to him

Election Petition 88 appeal…

Walter Rodney to be ‘properly’ honoured, wrongs rectified – Nandlall ExxonMobil announces discovery at Longtail-3 Crucial GECOM meeting cancelled

Lowenfield attempting to block prosecution from securing evidence against him – Nandlall

‒ Absence of Coalition-nominated Commissioners results in lack of quorum

40,500 ‘pink slip’ recipients for second phase COVID-19 relief grant

Teixeira rubbishes Ferguson’s ‘fiction

Guyana re-establishes leadership on the environment

Wales Development Authority to be ‘industrial centre of Caribbean’

Guyana tops Caribbean at CSEC, CAPE

Patterson removed as PAC Chairman after National Assembly vote

– APNU+AFC continues their misinformation and lies

Granger’s leadership of PNCR being challenged

‒ Says it is intended to ‘spread fear’

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021 National Emergency Operating Centre activated

Delivering for Guyanese: Job Creation….

─ for better coordination, response to floodin

More CEWs to be employed in Mocha /Arcadia

Coalition called out for causing loss of billions owing to bad deal

Trio remanded for arson at GECOM’s Linden office

Harmon’s ‘malicious’ attempt to derail COVID vaccination programme rejected

AUGUST

APNU+AFC’s characteristic ‘negativity’ puts Guyanese at risk – Nandlall Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo sent on leave Pandemic impacts on cost of living…

‒ alleged mastermind also arrested

PPP/C’s job creation initiatives gaining ‘rapid momentum’ Plans for small hydropower plants moving apace Black Entrepreneurs Association indicate support for ‘One Guyana’ Commission

Gov’t committing to brining Guyanese relief – Singh

Ali on Local Government Elections…

Operation Tradewinds 2021’s tactical training important for Guyana

Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo terminated

NEOC officially fully operationalized

Coalition MPs argue ‘Christian values’ to block PPP/C effort to address discrimination

Bridging the digital divide in Guyana…

Youths provided with ICT training Farmers assured of gov’t support JULY All Guyanese will benefit from country’s wealth – Teixeira Coalition’s Ferguson arrested for cyber bullying PSC promotion list rejected as ‘unlawful, illegal’ Unvaccinated persons at higher risk of catching Delta variant – Min Anthony Harmon faces No-Confidence Motion

‒ call made for his immediate resignation as Opposition Leader GECOM Chair rules…

Motions seeking dismissal of Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo to be debated Gov’t committed to sustainable development of indigenous communities Hinterland ICT programme progressing smoothly – Sukhai Coalition’s spending of millions under scrutiny at PAC Charges recommended for Ferguson

13

‘Be assured we are ready’

Guyanese must not allow PNC/APNU/AFC to influence another missed opportunity – Teixeira

‒ House Majority vote clears way for strengthening of democratic institutions, more

PNC-led Coalition’s ‘racist rally’ is latest anti-national action – Teixeira Allegations of racism against PPP/C in road project proven false Edghill Nandlall alerts US delegation to ‘reckless, fringe elements’ threatening peace, stability Guyana cannot be locked into cycle of ‘low emission and low income’ ‒ Jagdeo assures that oil and gas development will be environmentally safe

Over $151M in SBB grants disbursed for 2021 Rollout of ‘Because We Care’ grant continues in Amerindian communities Over $2.6B in relief for pensioners, public assistance recipients, GPL low-kilowatt consumers PPP/C will not allow anti-national behaviour of Coalition to ‘stop’ development trajectory

PPP/C gov’t to resume Amerindian language revival project

Coalition unable to substantiate talk of public service terminations

Private Sector stakeholders engaged by top gov’t officials

Trial for Mingo, Lawrence, Joseph to start today

14

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021 Guyana ready to collaborate with UAE on climate change SEPTEMBER APNU+AFC Coalition condemned again for reckless statements Harmon confirms Granger on ‘leave of absence from PNCR’ Efforts moving apace to advance electoral reform – Nandlall Former APNU+AFC Coalition Ministers facing multimillion-dollar lawsuits Guyana rejects Venezuela’s latest claim to Essequibo Herbal medicine as treatment for COVID-19 not scientifically proven PPP/C gov’t approach to governance demonstrably participatory, responsive – Teixeira After arrest…

Agri sector set for rapid take-off, foreign investments increasing –Mustapha Guyana’s records economic growth of 14.5 percent in first half of 2021 October 13 set as date for ruling on appeal in case of sacked DCEO ‒ Seven others set to return to court on Monday

PPP/C gov’t moving forward to deliver on promise of 50,000 jobs Manifesto promise delivered on….

$1.8B payout for severed sugar workers Guyana now has 3rd largest oil reserves in Latin America and Caribbean Region ‒ 24th oil find recorded bridge

Coalition’s Winston Jordan implicated in ‘nefarious’ transactions ‒ to face criminal probe

PNCR’s Aubrey Norton disavows protestors involved in action to ‘shut down’ Georgetown

Volda Lawrence, Mingo, others to return to court on December 17

Lowenfield secures employment of his assistant within GECOM Secretariat before being fired

APNU+AFC reps put on blast for disrupting national consultation on NDCs

MoE takes over management of scholarships, duty free concessions for teachers

‒ Ahead of major global climate conference

‒ Rejects threats made to teachers who choose not to strike

Almost $500M in tax dollars spent on laptops by APNU+AFC goes ‘down the drain’

PPP/C gov’t working to replenish Guyana’s gold reserves

Three new schools commissioned in Region Nine

‒ Account depleted by APNU+AFC

Electoral reform, support for territorial integrity key focus of Guyana-OAS engagement PPP/C delivers on promise to upskill Guyanese

‒ Offers over a dozen post-graduate scholarship programmes for oil, energy sectors

Renewed global effort needed to fight climate change

‒‘Big Emitters’ called on to commit to larger cuts in emission at AOSIS Leaders’ Summit

OCTOBER Guyanese urged to maximise on investment opportunities GECOM commences advertising to fill key senior positions Highest number of deaths, daily COVID-19 cases reported in September Hinterland housing project to be rolled out soon

Harmon admits PNCR losing support, dismisses supporters’ concerns as ‘not real’ ‒ PPP’s Mustapha says focus remains on power not people

Coalition’s raucous behaviour in House spilling over to Parliamentary Committees – Teixeira ExxonMobil to triple Guyana’s oil production next year ‒ Liza Unity arrives early

NOVEMBER Leadership contest heats up…

Aubrey Norton discredits Coalition MPs …Massive infighting in the PNCR

Lack of documentation for billion dollar settlement

by Coalition in question by PAC Former SOCU Head wanted for questioning about fraud, more

15

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

PARLIAMENT HAPPENINGS UNDER REVIEW THE PPP/C’ S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, MORE

Evidence Amendment Bill passed Police Amendment Bill 2021 passed to ease tension T between police, civilian T here is expected to be less tension between the members Guyana Police Force (GPF) and civilians with amendments to the Police Amendment Bill 2021, receiving the nod in the National Assembly on Monday (December 13, 2021).

Presenting the Bill, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn said the amendment is intended to have police recourse to less-lethal force whenever there is an engagement between police and civilians. “In the first instance, we want to, by the insertion, immediately after the definition of ‘aircraft’ to include arms which includes less lethal weapons by amending section two of the principal Act,” the Minister said.

In this instance, less-lethal weapons include nightsticks, chemical irritants, conducted electrical weapons, kinetic projectiles and water cannon. This is to

expressly provide the type of weapons that may be issued to the police force in the discharge of their functions under the Act. Minister Benn said that with the insertion of those terms, “we identify that we want to avoid situations in which the engagement moves from a scuffle because we have seen these instances on Facebook and other places, where persons have taken the resort of scuffling and even fighting with the police, resisting arrest and unfortunately in some instances the police may have to go to what is described as lethal force.” “We want to avoid that we want to avoid the result of having to go to the use of firearms. We want to be able to go through a staged response in respect in the use of force by our police,” Minister Benn stated.

The Minister noted that the proposed amendments are not unique to Guyana

or any part of the world. He said it will go a long way in reducing the tension and friction between police and persons who may come in contact with the police for arrest and reduce the possibility of injury or even death. Benn said, “I think each one of us should welcome our ability to move in a stage towards a position where we can bring calm to a situation, where we can have arrest which are less tendentious… I think everyone should take the position that these amendments were long in coming, and should be properly placed in the police act so that any resort which should have been made would be properly identified in law.”

The Amendment to the Bill also sees the removal of Section 25 of the principal Bill. This section sought to make provision for the use of DNA information for the purpose of identification.

he Evidence (Amendment) Bill 2021, has been passed with alterations during the 32nd sitting of the National Assembly of the Twelfth Parliament, on Monday (December 13, 2021).

The Bill, which was presented by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, amends Section 42 of the Evidence Act, Chapter 5:03, to better provide for the role of the officers of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory and other analysts when required to provide evidence in matters before the courts.

Minister Benn said Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to modify Section 43 of the Principal Act to include the report of an ‘evidence officer’ as receivable by the court.

He added that the clause also amends subsection (4) to expand the list of objects that can be examined by an analyst to include ‘hair.’

Additionally, amendments were also made to make receiv-

able as evidence certificates or laboratory examination forms issued by the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory or any other accredited forensic science laboratory, as prescribed by the minister, by order, after consultation with the Director of the Forensic Science laboratory.

Further, subsection (5) was amended to include a ‘science officer of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory’ and to remove ‘scientific officer of the Guyana Police Force.’ while, there was the insertion of subsection (6) to include the definition of an ‘evidence officer.’

“The Evidence Act has some weakness in relation to chain and custody…and so, we propose the insertions of appropriate language to make the legislation more secure so people could proceed with proper handling of evidence,” Minister Benn said.

He reiterated that the intention is to tighten the legislation, taking into account the

appropriate use of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory so that issues relating to crime, and evidence relating could be dealt with aptly at the level of the courts.

Supporting the Bill was Government Member of Parliament, Sanjeev Datadin, who noted that the forensic laboratory was established in keeping with an evolving legislative framework to meet the needs of the country. The laboratory, according to him, is mandated to perform certain duties. However, in order to perform those duties, the personnel must be authorised to do so in accordance with the legislation. Simultaneously, as science advances and technology improves, changes must be made to the legislation.

Therefore, the amended legislation is timely and must be commended.

Following the one-hour debate, the Bill was passed with support from the Parliamentary Opposition.

Big boost to crime fighting….

Ballistic analysts can now be Synthetic drugs now captured in hired with passage of Firearms Guyana’s laws Amendment Bill 2021 F P ─ Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Amendment Bill passed

ersons found with synthetic drugs that were not before captured under Guyana’s laws, will now be charged and placed before the courts, as the National Assembly on Monday passed the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control Amendment) Bill No.2 Some of the new synthetic drugs according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime are; methamphetamine, non-medical use of ketamine, fentanyl, new ‘ecstasy’ and crystalline MDMA. Presented by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, the Bill received the blessings of the Parliamentary Opposition. He said, “This is an intention to bring into the realm of law, the realm of prosecutorial offences to synthetics and all

those other substances which are narcotics, psychotropic substances and stimulants which were previously not captured in our legislation.”

Section two of the Principal Act has been amended by the insertion immediately after the definition of coca leaves, control substance analogue. This means, “a substance that is structurally chemically similar to the substances set out in the first schedule and second schedule and produces a stimulant, depressant, hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system that is substantially comparable to or greater than the stimulant, depressant, hallucinogenic effect of the substances set out in the first and second schedule.”

The amendment further inserts, ‘control substance analogue’ under the definition of narcotics.

Supporting the Bill was Government Member of Parliament and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, who noted that the issue of synthetic drugs used by young people, is a worldwide phenomenon. As all the new types of drugs will be captured under this Bill and possession and trafficking will attract penalties, Minister Ramson said the government is “looking out for the protection of young people of the country.” He also lambasted the main opposition party in the House for failing to realise the importance of placing such a preventative measure against the rampant use of these drugs.

Meanwhile, all speakers in the opposition benches supported the amendment of the Bill, dubbing it necessary.

irearm analysts who are not licenced to possess a firearm will now be able to work along with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, to conduct ballistic tests on arms and ammunition, with the passage of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, Chapter 16:05.

The Bill, which was presented by Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, was passed in the National Assembly, on Monday (December 13, 2021) with support from the Parliamentary opposition.

The amendment gives forensic analysts working at the Forensic Lab, the authority to possess a firearm in their line of duty without being the bearer of a firearm licence.

Minister Benn told the House the passage of the Bill will ensure the analysts are

not surprise defence in court, with claims that the evidence was compiled illegally by unauthorised persons. He said, “It is to assure a safe chain of custody in relation to the examining and testing of firearms and ammunition for the work of forensic occupations.

We have a forensic laboratory for some time now and we need to ensure that each person is allowed to handle, examine and test firearms and ammunition, as part of an investigation to ensure there are no opportunity for surprises when it comes to examinations in courts.”

The Bill, with the amendment to the Principal Act at Section 20, after Paragraph Eight, now reads, “An analyst of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory may without a licence, have a firearm or ammunition in their possession during, and

for the purpose of executing their duties in the area of ballistic.”

Government Parliamentarian, Sanjeev Datadin told the National Assembly that the Bill allows the hiring of qualified staff to conduct forensic tests on weapons that may have been used in the commissioning of a crime. Currently, members of the GPF are conducting the ballistic tests of arms and ammunition suspected to have been used illegally.

Datadin said, “They are of course only allowed to handle a firearm in the conduct of their duties. So, it’s not to be taken home, it’s not to go around with. All the Minister is seeking, is to amend the law so that the forensic laboratory can better perform its functions.”

The Bill was passed without an opposing vote.

16

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

PARLIAMENT HAPPENINGS UNDER REVIEW THE PPP/C’ S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, MORE

Harmon rapped for attempting to blame gov’t for Coalition’s incompetence O

pposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, was rapped by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, for his attempt to blame the PPP/C administration for the fact that the APNU+AFC Coalition has no business on the agenda on Monday (December 13, 2021), which was Private Members’ Day. On Private Members’ Day or Opposition day, matters that the parliamentary opposition brings to the House takes precedence and is addressed. However, Monday’s (December 13, 2021) agenda had nothing substantial from the APNU+AFC Coalition.

Prior to the sitting on Monday, Harmon had said, “What the PPP has done is to ensure that our main business be placed on the shelf…. the PPP have reduced the Private Members’ sitting to

receiving written responses to questions that were asked of the Ministers by members of the Opposition.”

In response, Teixeira noted that the state of affairs relates to the Coalition’s “lethargy, unpreparedness and disorganisation” when it comes to preparation for the National Assembly.

The Minister explained that the Parliamentary Opposition failed to bring any new motions or bills to the National Assembly, despite Parliament being in recess since August, the Speaker went ahead with the government’s business, as is customary. She said, “Every fourth sitting is the time for the private members’ business. As normal, according to the Standing Orders, you have to submit questions, motions, an adjournment motion on urgent public matters; you can raise questions with-

out notice with the approval of the Speaker. There are procedures that cover both days when government business is precedent and when private members’ business is precedent.”

She said the APNU+AFC has been “delinquent” about submission dates. “When we were in opposition, we tried as much as possible on private members’ day to have motions and questions in advance submitted. We were very proactive as an opposition to utilise the day to our advantage…Harmon is using this Sitting to try to whip up supporters’ sympathy… we in government are doing our business. This is what government does. If they are incompetent, ineffective and inept at doing their job, then we cannot do it for them, nor can the Speaker or the Clerk,” Teixeira said.

Meanwhile, Speaker of

“Harmon is using this Sitting to try to whip up supporters’ sympathy…we in government are doing our business. This is what government does. If they are incompetent, ineffective and inept at doing their job, then we cannot do it for them, nor can the Speaker or the Clerk.” – Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, also clashed with Harmon on the matter.

Nadir said, “This is to educate members on the Standing Orders. There has been some criticism by the honourable member of today’s sittings. And I want to draw your attention to Standing Order 24.2.

And we can go to school if we want. And 24.2 reads, subject to the provision of these standing orders, Government business shall have precedence on every day except every fourth sitting, when private mem-

bers business shall have precedence…and private members business includes any business outside Government, be it committees.

And the Opposition in our Parliament is not one party. Private business can come from any Opposition member. (And) 24.3 says Government business shall consist of motions proposed and bills sponsored by Government, Ministers of parliamentary secretaries and shall be set down in such order as the Government sees fit.”

Further, the House

Speaker stressed that private members business shall be set down on the order paper by the Clerk, in the order in which they qualify. “In particular I am accused of not putting certain things on the order paper or reducing this particular sitting, to written replies. Again, I will say, a member decides whether a question will be oral or written. And I, yes, do have some amount of authority to moving questions from oral to written,” he said.

The next sitting of the House is scheduled for December 29, 2021.

Promise delivered…

Local Content Policy, Natural Resource Fund Bills tabled in House

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he much anticipated Natural Resources Fund Bill 2021 and the Local Content Bill 2021 were tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday (December 16, 2021) by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.

The two bills were read for the first time.

The Local Content Bill 2021 is an act to: provide for the implementation of local content obligations on persons engaged in petroleum operations or related activities in the petroleum sector; to priorities Guyanese nationals and companies in the procurement of goods and services for the enhancement of the value chain of the petroleum sector; to provide for the investigation, supervision, coordination, monitoring and evaluation or, and participation in, local content in Guyana; to promote competitiveness and encourage the creation of related industries that will sustain the social and economic development of Guyana.

Further, the Natural Resources Fund Bill 2021 is an

act to establish the Natural Resource Fund to manage the natural resources wealth of Guyana for the present and future benefit of the people and for the sustainable development of the country.

STRONG FRAMEWORK Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, on Wednesday (December 15, 2021) promised a duo of bills, for local content and the natural resource fund, which will set a strong framework for managing the oil and gas sector.

“We look forward to these two critical bills being tabled in Parliament tomorrow. We look forward to a rich and lively debate in the Parliament. We hope that good sense will prevail and that the Bills will be seen for their merits, and that they will enjoy smooth and unanimous passage through the Parliament. That is my fervent wish because we need these pieces of legislation critically in place,” Dr. Singh said.

He said despite the “occasional rancour” of Guyana’s political environment, the government made a conscious effort to preserve some of what the previous administration intended to do. He hopes the opposition would recognise this virtue. The minister was referring to the Natural Resource Fund Bill, which will be an amendment of the current Act. NATURAL RESOURCE FUND Dr. Singh said the government had questioned whether the new Natural Resource Fund Bill should be amended, repealed and replaced. This is because of the legally unsound footing of the Bill, given that it was passed in January 2019 after the David Granger administration was defeated in the National Assembly by a vote of no confidence on December 21, 2018.

The minister said the Act has a fundamental flaw, which questions its legitimacy and constitutionality.

In addition to this issue, Dr.

Singh revealed that the government could find no record that the Act was brought into operation by the issuance of a commencement order. This order, he said, is required by Section 1 of the Act. The government also believes that there are issues with the contents of the Act. First, Dr. Singh pointed out that critical governance structures are missing from the Act, which has alternate governance structures that seek to create a smokescreen that there is some form of governance.

There is no board of directors for the Fund, in its current configuration. “Instead, all of the powers that would traditionally be vested in a board of directors, all of those powers are vested in a Minister,” said Dr. Singh.

He described those powers as vast.

The smokescreen the minister referred to is the public accountability and oversight committee which draws its members with a wide cast net from all across Guyana. Minister Singh said

such a committee cannot substitute for a board and perform day-to-day oversight of the Fund, including approval of operational policies and assessment of performance.

Singh said, “That’s the role of a professional board of directors. It’s not the role of a multi-stakeholder committee. We would be the first to champion multi-stakeholder committees from the standpoint of access to information, performance of non-governmental oversight functions, accountability arrangements and so on…so what you have here – you have no board of directors.

You have a 22-member multi-stakeholder committee, which basically means that you have no real oversight of the management and operation of the Fund, and of the performance of the Fund, which really means that the only person performing that function is the Minister.”

Dr. Singh explained that this is why Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo expressed such concern about the over-excessive reach by the

Minister. The Government intends for a board of directors to manage the Fund.

The Government also takes issue with the elaborate mechanism used to determine transfers from the Fund, which he described as smokescreens. He said, “A very elaborate macro-economic committee is established. That macro-economic committee is expected to recommend an economically sustainable amount and then the Finance Minister determines a fiscally sustainable amount and then there is an elaborate formula that looks at the economically sustainable amount and the fiscally sustainable amount, looks at benchmark petroleum revenue and looks at production constraints, petroleum revenue – a very elaborate mechanism.”

Dr. Singh pointed out that it is the Minister who appoints the committee responsible for determining the economically sustainable amount, as well as himself determining the fiscally sus(Turn to page 20)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

PARLIAMENT HAPPENINGS UNDER REVIEW THE PPP/C’ S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, MORE

‘Because we care’ cash House approves $3.8B for GuySuCo T grant not a political gimmick – Manickchand ─ House approves $285.1M for grant to private schools

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he Parliamentary Opposition was taken to task for insinuations that the ‘Because We Care’ cash grant is a “slush fund” and “political gimmick” Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, on Thursday (December 16, 2021), reiterated the Government’s vision of ensuring every school aged child is provided with the necessary resources to access a sound education. She stressed that government’s “Because we care” cash grant and school uniform voucher programme for students in both the public and private school systems is “not a political gimmick.”

“We made a promise, our promise is that we would restore the cash grant for students once we got into office, and in the midst of an election crisis that should have never happened, that caused

a lot of economic strain, in the midst of a pandemic, in the midst of giving every household $25,000, in the midst of the biggest flood we have seen in this country, we thought it was a priority we kept our promise to give every child $19,000,” she said as she rebutted claims from the Parliamentary Opposition that the programme was being used to score political points.

Some $285,119,100 was approved for the provision of cash grants for students in the private school system.

Initially, money was budgeted for the programme only for students in public schools. It was later extended to include private school students.

Minister Manickchand told the Committee of Supply that significant sums were distributed to students registered in public schools

across the country, while some $323M was disbursed to 17,000 students in the public school system. She said, “This will not stop under the PPP/C. It will continue until it reaches at least $50,000.”

The “Because we care” cash grant and school uniforms voucher is the brainchild of the PPP/C administration and was introduced in 2014. The programme was discontinued by the previous APNU+AFC Administration.

The reintroduction and increase in the grant, is a manifesto promise fulfilled by the PPP/C Administration within their first year in office.

This sum formed part of a $5.112B supplementary financial paper, which addressed several issues, and was approved at the Thursday (December 16, 2021) sitting.

Following arson at North West Secondary…

Over $9M for increased security services in Region 1

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he blaze that damaged the North West Secondary School, Mabaruma on September 24, 2021 was deemed to be an arson attack by the Guyana Fire Service in early October 2021.

And the PPP/C government has responded by increasing security services at government buildings and other regional installations in Region 1.

A sum of $9.69M was approved by the National Assembly at its Thursday (December 16, 2021).

The Parliamentary Opposition was out-voted in their opposition to the allocation.

This sum formed part of a $5.112B supplementary financial paper, which addressed several issues, and was approved at the Thursday (December 16, 2021) sitting.

GECOM to meet again in January 2022 to finalise decisions on new DCEO, LGE

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he seven-member Guyana Elections Commission met on Tuesday (December 14, 2021) and agreed to meet in the new year to finalise its decisions on a number of critical issues including the hiring of a new Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), among other vacant posts, as well as the hosting of Local Government Elections.

GECOM is currently

shortlisting applicants to fill the posts of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Assistant Chief Elections Officer (ACEO), Chief Accountant, Legal Officer, Logistics Manager, Civic and Voter Education Manager.

To date, four persons have been shortlisted for the post of Deputy Chief Elections Officer – Deodat Persaud, Neil Bacchus, Melanie Marshall and Mohammed Arjoon, while

applications for the five other critical posts are being considered.

GECOM Commissioner Bibi Shadick explained that these matters will be dealt with in the first week of January, when the Commission is expected to meet again.

Further, the new Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud was also officially introduced to the Commission.

he National Assembly on Thursday (December 16, 2021) approved a whopping $3.88B for the sugar sector.

Rising in the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly and championing the cause of the sugar workers, was Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, who said majority of the money is to cater for persons who were made redundant by the former administration, when they closed sugar estates and factories.

He disclosed that some 5,263 severed workers have received $250,000 from the government, to help cushion the effects of the loss of income. This means over $1.3B have been issued directly to sugar workers, immediately giving them more disposable income.

“We also gave $2,355,800,000 for out-ofcrop support to the Guyana Sugar Corporation. An additional $236,989, 261

has been allocated to D&I (Drainage and Irrigation) to provide services to the farmers of our country, to enhance food security and enhance our D&I system,” the Minister said.

Money has also been procured to cover the purchase of fuel and lubricants, for pensions and essential parts and materials for the underserviced sugar factories.

Mustapha said, “When we took over last year, GuySuCo was in need of critical support both capital and in the field. Because the capacity of GuySuCo was just around 40 per cent we have since re-capitalised a number of areas in GuySuCo including factories and fields. And as it stands today, we are over 50 per cent of that work and that will continue over the years to ensure that we bring GuySuCo to a break-even point or eventually bring it to profitability.”

According to him, the

government recognises the importance of GuySuCo being the single largest employer in the country and the economic benefits to the country.

One of the first decisions the PPP/C took upon returning to government, was to reopen the shuttered estates and factories, breathing life into communities that became depressed after their closure.

However, Wales Sugar Estate remains closed due to the factory being defunct, resulting from poor management.

With the reopening of the estates, 1,200 persons were able to return to work.

Earlier in June, $1.5 billion in supplementary funds was allocated to GuySuCo for critical capital works.

This sum formed part of a $5.112B supplementary financial paper, which addressed several issues, and was approved at the Thursday (December 16, 2021) sitting.

$265M supplementary budget approved for GLSC

T

he National Assembly on Thursday (December 16, 2021) approved the supplementary budget of $265M, which caters for the operational expenses to Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, said government’s intervention to reverse and reduce land rental fees, has seen a significant reduction of revenue inflows to the lands commission.

She explained that the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the unprecedented nationwide flooding earlier this year, brought on severe challenges for land occupants, who found it difficult to pay their rates and taxes on time.

“The massive programmes of the government have increased the workload of GLCS, in terms of surveying new lands for housing.

Over 7,000 house lots distributed. More is being done with new lands being opened

up; not just for housing, but economic investments and transformation programmes of the government. These funds are well-deserved and (are) part of government’s policy of its transformative agenda that we will see enfolding within 2022,” Minister Teixeira said.

This sum formed part of a $5.112B supplementary financial paper, which addressed several issues, and was approved at the Thursday (December 16, 2021) sitting.

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Over 9,000 qualified applicants denied COVID support by APNU+AFC, hinterland regions excluded A

report from the Auditor General’s office on the COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance Voucher programme under the former APNU+AFC Coalition government was presented to the National Assembly on Monday (December 13, 2021).

And the report exposed that over 9,000 out of 11,000 qualified applicants did not receive vouchers, and officials have not explained why. “The programme excluded persons in the hinterland regions. Instead, they were promised hampers,” the report said. In total, over 26,000 applications were submitted, of which 11,000 were listed as qualified applicants. The Auditor General’s office noted too that less than 2,000 applications were listed for verification. The report underscored too that the verification officers hired by the Coalition were supposed to be trained, but this did not take place in all cases.

It added that vouchers totalling $56M were not checked before paying suppliers. The report said, “This weakness could have resulted in overpayment to suppliers and eligible persons not given much needed relief.”

Also, the Auditor General’s office found that vouchers not used were left unsecured. “Over 3,000 unused vouchers valued at least $90M were unsecured on a desk. As a result, the vouchers could have been easily accessed and used to obtain items from suppliers,” the report said.

Importantly too it was found that the information system was not fully protected. “Lack of standard controls put the information system at risk. Therefore, unauthorized persons could have changed or deleted information. In addition, there were no yearly security

checks and business continuity and disaster recovery plans prepared,” the report said.

The Auditor General’s office said, “All applications were not processed and vouchers were not distributed in accordance with established criteria and guidelines of the Programme. Significant gaps were seen where controls were weak, which caused duplicate applications to go undetected and processed. Also, vouchers were distributed to persons in Regions not identified for vouchers. We must conclude that established criteria and guidelines were not always followed to ensure that only eligible individuals received vouchers.”

The Government of Guyana provided economic relief to citizens during the pandemic via the COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance Voucher Programme. Persons received toiletries, food and sanitary supplies, by way of a voucher valued between $25,000 and $32,000. The Auditor General’s office conducted a performance

audit for the period March to September 2020 to assess how well the programme was managed. The Programme had targeted single-parents, senior citizens, disabled persons, and persons who suffered a loss of income due to the pandemic. Persons interested in benefiting from the Programme were required to register online. Those without internet access were required to contact either the Ministry of Social Protection or the Ministry of Communities to have their application forms completed. Applicants were then shortlisted based on eligibility criteria approved by the Ministry of Finance. Eligible applicants’ information was verified and approved.

The former Coalition government brought the programme into operation in April 2020 – a month after it has lost the March 2020 General and Regional elections. The distribution process started on June 29, 2020.

The Auditor General’s report was prepared in accordance with Part V Section 24 (1) (b) of the Audit Act 2004.

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

Audit finds millions lost, hampers went to ‘senior officials’, donations not accounted for by Coalition ‒ Over 424M in contracts awarded without approval

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performance audit into the procurement, storage and distribution of COVID-19 supplies by the former APNU+AFC Coalition government, during the period March 2020 to August 2020, revealed damning findings.

The Ministry of Public Health and the Civil Defence Commission spent over $1 billion to buy equipment, food, drugs, and medical supplies to fight the coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

As well, donations were received from organizations to help in the fight. An audit conducted by the Auditor General’s office focused on how both agencies procured, stored, and distributed the items.

The Auditor General’s office, in its report, found that contracts were lacking key details. “The Ministry had no protection against late suppliers because the contracts did not have start and end dates and penalty clauses. Suppliers delivered close to $400M in supplies a month late, but the Ministry could not act against them.

The Ministry lost money by not inserting penalty clauses in contracts, and vulnerable persons waited for supplies.”

The report, on page 2, said, “A penalty clause serves as a deterrent to prevent parties from breaching the terms and conditions of a contract….we found that the Ministry had no protection against late suppliers because many of the contracts did not have penalty clauses… in one instance where the clause was included, the Ministry did not deduct penalty fees of close to $5M. This saving could have been used to purchase additional supplies to help fight the disease.”

Additionally, the reported noted that over $400M in contracts was handed out without the necessary approvals. Page 3 of the report said, “A total of eighteen (18) contracts valued at over $424M were awarded before approval was received from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.” The report on page 6 added that, “There was no monitoring of the performance of contracts, which resulted in millions of dollars of supplies being delivered close to a month after the delivery dates had expired. In addition, the entities prepared Purchase Orders after receiving supplies.

These findings made us conclude that the entities did not procure COVID-19 supplies in an efficient manner.”

Hampers, according to the report, were not reaching intended recipients. “The Civil Defence Commission did not explain how it chose the recipients for more than 6,000 food hampers, valued at over $124M. The hampers may have gone to ineligible persons and organizations.

Further, the hampers were left at the entrance of homes, risking theft. Hampers were stored for months. More than 100 food hampers were in the Civil Defence Commission stores for over three months awaiting distribution. This delay denied citizens much needed assistance during the pandemic.” The report on page 12 said, “We concluded that the hampers may have gone to ineligible persons and organisations…. there was a lack of accountability for the more than 6,000 hampers distributed.

There was no evidence of acknowledgement from the recipients of the hampers…. as it relates to Government

Ministries and Regions, the hampers were delivered to senior officials. We were unable to determine whether the distribution process was transparent and only eligible persons received the hampers.”

Notably too, the report pointed out that donations were not always tracked.

“The agencies did not always keep track of donations received in kind. Such poor practice could have resulted in the misuse of the items and citizens not receiving needed items.” The report on page 7 added that, “We noted that donations were received by the Ministry at its main office, the Materials Management Unit and the Kingston Bond. The Ministry’s main office was the only non-compliant unit that did not keep a gift register. Rather, bin cards were used to account for the items received. At the Kingston Bond, we found that there were delays in updating the gift register. We noted that the register at the Materials Management Unit was last updated on 2 January 2019.”

The Audit Office charged that these poor practices could have resulted in the misuse of items and resulted in citizens not receiving the needed items. The donations were also not valued by the receiving agencies.

The Audit office noted that in conducting Performance and Value-for-Money Audits, the Auditor General examines the extent to which a public entity is applying its resources and carrying out its activities economically, efficiently and effectively with due regard to ensuring effective internal management control.

This report has been prepared in accordance with Part V Section 24 (1) (b) of the Audit Act 2004.

Close to 500 pension books valued over $100M left unsecured by former gov’t

A

performance audit into the old age pension programme, as managed by the former APNU+AFC Coalition government, turned up worrying findings.

The report noted that payments to hinterland pensioners were poorly controlled. “The Ministry has no control in place to prevent payments to the wrong persons. As a result, the Ministry could be losing millions from improper payments to ineligible, deceased, or non-existent

individuals.”

It stated too that pension books were left unsecured.

“Staff left pension books and stickers unsecured overnight in bags, vehicles, and residences during the distribution of new pension books. Also, for the years 2015 to 2017, close to 500 books valued at over $100M were still in the custody of staff. The books could be stolen or damaged,” the report said.

According to the Audit Office, another worrying find-

ing was that payments were not in the database. “Even after acquiring a new Old Age Pension database, monthly pension payments were still not recorded. Also, the database could not produce a list of immobile pensioners for verification. As a result, the Ministry could not rely on the database for up-to-date details of pensioners,” the report said.

This report was prepared in accordance with Part V Section 24 (1) (b) of the Audit Act 2004.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

APNU+AFC COALITION’ S MISCONDUCT EXPOSED IN 2020 AUDITOR GENERAL’ S REPORT [The 2020 Auditor General’s Report was presented to the National Assembly on December 13, 2021]

Election saga, ongoing pandemic among reasons for GRA’s low tax collection T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) received some $3.7 billion in taxes for the year 2020, representing an overall performance rate of 101.76 per cent.

The statistics was provided in the 2020 Auditor General’s report, which was laid in the National Assembly on Monday (December

13, 2021), by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.

The report shows that the collection of customs and trade taxes have been declining over the past three years. In 2020, the performance rate for customs and trade taxes was at 94.04 per cent, compared to 100.9 per

cent in 2019.

GRA said its corporation taxes fell by 11.1 per cent, since there was a slowdown in business activities due to the prolonged elections episode and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The tax authority noted that its internal revenue collections have been consistently surpassing the bud-

geted amounts for the last three years.

A shortfall was also recorded in the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) for the same period. The record shows a deterioration of 13.17 per cent over the prior year and reflected an overall shortfall of 1.06 per cent against the authority’s budgeted amounts.

It must be noted however, that effective March 26, 2020, the authority zero-rated VAT on all medical supplies for the testing, prevention and treatment of Covid-19.

Further, the report said some $21.3 billion in revenue collections was paid into the consolidated fund, even though it projected to

generate about $22.6 billion from customs duties, trade and other taxes, fees, fines and licences in 2020. The amount represents a negative variance of six per cent equivalent to $1.3 billion.

Notwithstanding the negative performance, there were increases in the collections for four of the 11 tax types, totalling $26.580 million.

YEAR IN REVIEW 2021 Ali makes case for carbon market at global climate conference

$700M hinterland housing programme to be rolled out in 2022- Minister Croal

UN called on to urge Venezuela to ‘fully participate’ in ICJ process

Call Center aims to employ 1000 Lindeners by next year

Coalition opposed stiff penalties for election riggers

DECEMBER Winston Jordan arrested

GECOM shortlisting applicants for CEO

‒ Expected to be charged for misconduct in public office

Ramjattan bashes sugar workers

Former APNU+AFC gov't sold $8B property to BK Tiwari for $20M

Paramakatoi to benefit from Smart Hospital Initiative Almost 9,000 house lots distributed in just over a year

‒ purchase price reduced, only 10% paid

Resignations, motion to suspend Amna Ally rock PNCR ahead of Congress

7% salary increase for all public servants, ‘special pay out’ for health workers

Decision on Election Petition 99 set for December 21st

Granger effectively booted from post

Land titles, extension for eight Amerindian communities

‒ fails to attract a single nomination to return as PNCR leader

Shortlists for post of Chief Elections Officer, Deputy CEO submitted PPP/C gov’t will continue to pursue measures to improve cost of living ‒ Ali warns about profiteering with Gov’t subsidies

First on-grid solar farm for Berbice by 2023 No substantive response from Parliamentary Opposition on proposed electoral reform –Teixeira

GECOM Chair informs about postponement of LGE 2021 Shuman rapped for ‘unfair, erroneous’ comments Wanted bulletin issued for Coalition-aligned Rickfork Burke Elections Commission deliberates on employment of new CEO today Silica City, airport enhancement and Corentyne River bridge discussed with investors 500 lots being developed at new Charity Housing Scheme

20

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

Local Content Policy, Natural Resource Fund... tainable amount. He said, “When you peel aside all of these elaborate layers, what you have really is a mechanism where the Minister completely controls how much is going to be transferred into the Fund.”

Moreover, the Minister said the structure is elaborate and complicated, so much that the man in the street cannot understand it. The

Inter-American Development Bank has also criticised this feature of the Act. He said the new formula will be very simple, linking the amount that will be flowing into the Fund in one year and the transfers to the budget in the next year.

Dr. Singh said the government intends to remedy these issues, in addition to establishing a provision which

will require the Minister to publish, within three months, every deposit into the Fund, and to notify the National Assembly. The Minister would be held criminally liable for failure to do so.

LOCAL CONTENT Putting good local content provisions in place, based on consultations with all stakeholders, means striking a proper balance between two opposing viewpoints – those of the industry and those of local non-oil businesses.

While the industry would want the freedom to operate without binding control over their expenditures, Dr. Singh said, the domestic non-oil economy rightly wants a large share of the pie from the oil and gas sector.

“In each of those extrem-

ities, there are constraints and issues that need to be considered,” he said.

While oil companies may want complete freedom, the Finance Minister said government has a responsibility to ensure Guyanese nationals get as much of the business as they possibly can.

The bill puts in place minimum requirements and timeframes for oil companies to meet, in their use of Guyanese goods, services and employees. Singh said, “We can’t stipulate percentages that will put the oil companies where it will be impossible to comply, or where they will be buying things where there simply isn’t capacity to supply them…we have to take account of domestic capacity to produce the goods and services at a scale that is required, with the level of timeliness, at the level of quality…I think we’ve struck a good balance between ensuring a viable and competitive oil and gas sector, and also ensuring that the level of inputs from the domestic private sector is optimised.”

To ensure compliance, the Minister said the Bill sets forth an architecture for mon-

(From page 16)

itoring of implementation by a local content secretariat.

In the event that progress is not being met for monitoring of compliance, appropriate action is being provided for in the Bill.

The Government also intends to keep a close eye on the compliance side to ensure locals do have the capacity to deliver at the required levels of inputs. In some cases, the government may need to reassess capacity on the supplier side and consider whether the targets should be reconsidered to make them more realistic, Dr. Singh explained. He also referred to relevant provisions if companies are found not to be making the best efforts to meet their targets.

LONG OVERDUE Dr. Singh said Guyana knew with certainty that there was oil offshore Guyana in 2015, and that concerted effort should have followed at the time to set a proper legislative framework in place.

“On the local content side, there is nothing on the law books. It causes one to wonder whether there was no concern whatsoever about

local content, whether they were only paying lip service but had no interest in local content, whether they were more preoccupied with other things… It is tragically unfortunate. In relation to the NRF, it’s extremely unfortunate that nothing was done while there was an active Parliament from 2015 shortly after the election and the Parliament was called, until December 2018. There was a very active Parliament.

There was ample opportunity for an NRF Act to be taken to Parliament and be passed, but one was not, and instead one was forced through the Parliament in 2019. Most unfortunate, considering the importance of the legislation.”

The Finance Minister said the new Government committed to putting these laws in place as soon as it came into office, and that it has been working hard to take stock of what existed, while addressing the immediate imperatives of the country.

Both bills are expected to be subject to debate at the next sitting of the National Assembly, which is scheduled before the end of the year.

21

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

Volda Lawrence backs PNCR heads into Congress without down as PNCR Chair incumbent leader, controversy ‒ Says ‘I don’t want to be in this’

T

he Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Volda Lawrence, has dropped out of the race to return to the post.

Lawrence, during a press briefing on Thursday (December 16, 2021), said, “I don’t want to be in this, I’m tired…I want to do me and come out of the fray.”

According to her, the reason for leaving related to needing “need time for myself and family” and being at a different stage in life.

Lawrence is currently before the court on election fraud charges.

The appearance of the signature of Volda Lawrence, Chairperson of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), on the fraudulent declaration of results of Region 4 from the March 2, 2020 Elections has raised several questions – ones that have still not been answered.

On all the Form 24 declarations there is only one signature, that of the Return-

ing Officers. However, on the first of the two fraudulent declarations made by the now sacked former Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, Lawrence’s signature appeared.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in comments on the issue had said, “The fact remains that in ALL nine other Regions, only the stamp and signature of the Returning Officer was on the official declarations of election results in those areas.”

The completed recount of votes from Region 4, which were cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, exposed the fact that the Returning Officer, did, in fact, manipulate the results he presented on March 13, 2020. Mingo manipulated over 22,000 votes in Region 4 – inflating the APNU+AFC Coalition voted by over 19,000 and decreasing the PPP/C votes by over 3,000.

Implementation of ‘transformation agenda’...

(From back page)

sured that no effort will be spared to ensure an effective response. “Your government will spare no expenditure in keeping you safe,” he said.

ONE GUYANA Moving forward, the Head of State appealed to Guyanese to continue supporting the effort to advance the transformation that has begun – recognizing that “we are stronger together” as a people.

In February 2021, President Ali announced the establishment of a ‘One Guyana Commission’, which will be spearheaded by Prime Minister, (rtd) Brigadier, Mark Phillips. Ali had said, “An essential part of my Government is inclusion. Stop being defined by race; stop being defined by politics. Start being defined by our one nationality and by our common love for our one country, let us lift it up together and by doing so, let us lift each other and ourselves, one people, one nation, one destiny…I propose to give meaning to my call for one Guyana by requesting the leader of Government business in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Brig-

adier, Hon. Mark Phillips to introduce the adoption of an Act of Parliament establishing a One Guyana Commission which he will head…. we must move our nation building from abstraction to action and lose not one more moment in doing it. Let us stand up for our one nation, our one Guyana, let us stand up for what we know in our hearts and in our minds to be right. Let us stand up for one identity, the Guyanese identity.” President Ali had said the work of the Commission will be undertaken countrywide to encapsulate the free expressions of all voices, respecting the diversity “from which our oneness springs.”

The Commission will also address education concerning Guyana’s history, religion, ensuring equal opportunity, employment and entrepreneurship and institutional strengthening of the Ethnic Relations Commission.

“Let us come together.

Let us rally together. Let us embrace each other in building one Guyana – strong and united, resolute in our collective aspiration for a more prosperous Guyana for all of us,” Ali charged.

I

ncumbent leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), David Granger, will not be present for the 21st Biennial Congress – a gathering that is considered the most important for the future of the embattled party.

A terse statement from Central Executive Committee of the PNCR said only that Granger travelled to Cuba on Tuesday (December 14, 2021).

Granger, has essentially been booted from his post – having received not a single nomination to return to the post – four persons are now in the race to officially replace him as PNCR leader.

Granger, in August 2021, announced that he has taken a leave of absence from the Party effective September 1, 2020. However, he did not indicate for how long.

Meanwhile, one of the four contenders for PNCR Leader, Basil Williams, this week, dropped out of the race. Williams in a brief statement said, “I have examined all the circumstances and my team and I have decided that we will not engage in the contest at this time.”

He gave no specific reason for his decision.

Earlier this month, another candidate for PNCR Leader, Aubrey Norton, moved a motion to have Amna Ally removed as General Secretary of the PNCR. Norton reportedly move to present an “on the spot motion” for Ally’s suspension. The PNCR has not commented on this matter.

Further, the PNCR was hit by resignations of members of its 21st Biennial Delegates Congress Accreditation Committee – namely:

Carol Smith-Joseph, Anette Ferguson and Ganesh Mahipaul. This was followed by report about problems with the accreditation process – or registration of persons to vote – including that it is a one-man show being run by Mortimer Mingo. These were not addressed by the PNCR. The increasingly controversial 21st Biennial Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform was postponed last week to December 18, 2021. The recommendation to postpone reportedly came from the Chief Elections Officer for the Biennial Delegates Congress, Vincent Alexander, who submitted a report to the CEC, pointing to a lack of preparedness. Alexander was quoted in other sections of the media as saying: “With those documents and information at my disposal and

the knowledge of what is necessary for the successful holding of the elections on December 11, 2021, I have come to the conclusion that pertinent materials are still not available…I cannot recommend nor undertake the holding of the elections on December 11, 2021.”

Notably, the other contenders for PNCR leader are Joseph Harmon and Richard Van-West Charles. Elections will also be held for a new PNCR Chairperson – the incumbent Chair being Volda Lawrence – and a new 15-member Central Executive Committee (CEC), among other posts.

The voting, reportedly, is expected to be done virtually.

The PNCR’s last biennial congress was in 2018. The latest update is that the overdue 21st Biennial Congress is set for December 11, 2021.

22

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

COM M ENTARY

Progress in 2021 validates election of Irfaan Ali-led PPP/C government

By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

T

here is a construction boom in Guyana. It is so rapid that construction companies are running out of material, such as stones, and workers.

CARICOM’s most ambitious and unprecedented housing program promises to achieve housing for every Guyanese family by 2030 and create thousands of new jobs, while forever changing the landscape of our country.

Factories and businesses are sprouting up everywhere in Guyana. New roads and highways, new bridges, new pump stations and sluices, new drainage structures are either already started or about to start. New international quality hotels are springing up across the country. Old schools are being upgraded and new schools are being constructed. In 2021, so far, the number of people arriving at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport has already broken a record.

Yet, the transformation within the health sector that the Irfaan Ali-PPP Government is today pursuing is perhaps the most ambitious ever envisaged in Guyana and CARICOM. By 2025, all existing hospitals and health facilities will be upgraded and at least six new hospitals will be built in communities that never had hospitals. In 2021, a new health sector vision has emerged such that by

2025 spanking new hospitals will dot the landscape of our country.

The development agenda that was kicked-off on August 2, 2020 has taken shape in 2021.

Forever, we will remember 2021 when Guyana under President Irfaan Ali took the mantle from a previous PPP government that set the stage for expansion and modernization of Guyana’s physical infrastructure to an entirely new level. Cheddi Jagan in 1992 had the difficult task of bringing Guyana out of the morass of the Burnham and PNC dictatorship and stopping Guyana’s 19th century infrastructure from totally crumbling. He had a band-aiding job to complete and he accomplished that by 1997. Bharat Jagdeo began expanding and modernizing Guyana’s infrastructure, bringing Guyana into the 21st century. He did so by managing Guyana’s debt crisis and ensuring our highways and bridges, schools and hospitals are at least what we expect in a low middle-income country.

Today, because Guyana’s economy has been catapulted into the number 1 economy in CARICOM, President Irfaan Ali is not just finishing the work started by President Bharat Jagdeo, he is ensuring that Guyana’s infrastructure develops into one that any high middle-income country would be proud of. When

President Irfaan Ali passes the baton to the next President in ten years from now, not only will Guyanese look back with awe at the transformation, but we will reflect on 2021 as the year the stage was set for the complete physical transformation of Guyana.

The flagship for the physical and social transformation taking place in Guyana continues to be one that started with the PPP government and that was fully developed under a young Housing Minister named Irfaan Ali. By 2015, more than 100,000 Guyanese families benefitted from house lots developed by a previous PPP administration. That stopped in 2015 when the PNC took over government. Today as President, Irfaan Ali is redefining what a Housing Program means.

During the election campaign in 2020, the PPP promised the distribution of at least 50,000 new house lots.

APNU/AFC/PNC accused the PPP of making false promises. Even good-intentioned commentators doubted the PPP could deliver on such an ambitious promise. But the PPP, in 2021 alone, developed and distributed house lots to more than 10,000 families across Guyana. This adds to the almost 4,000 house lots the PPP distributed in 2020. These are early days in the Irfaan Ali’s Presidency, but it appears that the 50,000 house lots is no longer

such an outlandish promise.

Even the naysayers now in awe admit that the 50,000 house lots promise is very achievable.

The PNC’s Forbes Burnham, the dictator that destroyed our dreams, once promised that his government will house every Guyanese family. For twenty-eight years, only a handful of persons benefited from any new house lot in any new housing scheme. By the time the dictators were thrown out, Guyana had become the squatting capital of CARICOM. Like most promises in the PNC’s twenty-eight years between 1964 and 1992 and between 2015 and 2020, every single promise they made have barely or have never been delivered.

But Irfaan Ali as a PPP Minister of Housing and now as Guyana’s President has spearheaded the most ambitious housing program in Guyana’s history and in CARICOM’s history. There was never or there is nothing like a Diamond or Parfaite Harmony or a Tuschen Housing scheme before in Guyana or anywhere in CARICOM. Many more such housing schemes are now being developed. The PPP’s housing program is unprecedented anywhere in CARICOM and most of this has been directly under Irfaan Ali as Minister and now as President. If there is a Best Practice anywhere, Guyana’s housing program is one of them.

For all of 2021, like the rest of the world, Guyana has had to confront COVID-19. Between March 2020 and August 2020 when COVID-19 wildly spread across Guyana and when the government shut down the country, the then Granger government had no care and no compassion. Shamed into doing something, Granger announced in June 2020 that Guyanese families who could not cope with the shutdown could apply for support. Twenty-five thousand Guyanese families took up the offer. The APNU/AFC government declared that 11,500 Guyanese families met criteria for benefiting

from the cash and hampers valued between $25,00 and $32,000. But it was always a scam, they had no intention to help people. Now the Auditor General has confirmed that more than 9,200 of those persons never received a cent.

The PPP immediately ensured that every Guyanese family received a $25,000 cash relief grant in 2020, in addition to hundreds of thousands of hampers. In 2021, the government of Guyana, under President Irfaan Ali granted more than $25B in cash transfers from government into the pockets of the Guyanese people. This is more than $US120M, the largest direct cash transfer from government directly into people’s pockets ever in the history of Guyana and CARICOM. Some of the direct cash transfer was related to COVID-19. But the direct cash transfer was for many other reasons. Senior citizens whose old-age pension increased from $19,000 to $25,000 per month received another $25,000 as an extra month payment this year.

Every family in Guyana received a $19,000 payment for every child in school.

Families who suffered from flood damage, farmers who suffered losses of their crops, from small cash crop and livestock farmers to rice farmers, miners who suffered from losses because of floods, all benefited from cash relief the government provided. People on public assistance and persons living with disabilities also received a $25,000 grant this year, outside of the $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant.

Health workers received a bonus. On top of all of this, the government, just before Christmas, granted the sugar workers who had been fired

by Granger’s APNU/AFC a $250,000 relief package.

These cash transfers amount to more than $25B. At the same time, the PPP government in 2020/2021 eliminated every single one of the more than 200 tax increase the APNU/AFC government had introduced

between 2015 and 2020.

The APNU/AFC government had introduced VAT on water, electricity, medicines, agriculture supplies and equipment, computers, telephone data. These are now gone. Annually, the APNU/AFC government had raised almost $100B from these increased taxes. They had claimed that without these increased taxes the country would be bankrupt and that is why they could not provide direct cash transfer to people. They did not only increase taxes, they took away the cash transfer for school children and the water and electricity subsidies the PPP had granted to senior citizens before 2015. The question then is how come the PPP eliminated those taxes, giving up more than $100B in revenues, and still be able to provide more than $25B in direct cash transfers.

As we end 2021, construction of a new bridge spanning the Demerara River, a new highway linking Linden to Mababura, finally linking Georgetown directly to Brazil, the extension of the West Demerara Highway along the East Bank Essequibo River, the Amaila Hydro Project, a bridge across the Corentyne Rive linking Guyana and Suriname and French Guyana, at least five new hotels are all set to start construction. Early in 2022, new linkages to Georgetown from Eccles and from Ogle will be completed. A massive transformation is already visible. The PPP government under President Ali has truly made believers of everyone that Guyana is no longer the basket case of CARICOM, but Guyana is now ready to take its place as CARICOM’s leader, truly the bread-basket of CARICOM. For the naysayers, they stand in awe as they acknowledge the truth – the PPP made the right choice for President.

The people did the right thing when they elected Irfaan Ali as Guyana’s President 20202025. They will ensure in 2025 that President Ali serves until 2030.

Merry Christmas and a blessed 2022.

23

WEEKEND MIRROR 18-19 DECEMBER, 2021

Persons failing to comply with gazetted measures will face consequences – Health Minister

W

ith the Christmas season fully underway, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, is again reminding persons to stay vigilant and protect themselves against COVID-19.

This call comes after several business entities have advertised parties to usher in the new year.

Anthony stated that those who fail to comply with the gazetted COVID-19 measures will have to face the conse-

quences. The guidelines state that no person shall host or attend any gathering or promote a private party.

He said, “If they don’t get permission from the task force, the police will have to deal with the matter, simple.”

Even as the country continues to record a decline in COVID-19 cases, persons still need to adhere to preventative measures such as frequent handwashing, sanitising, wearing masks

and social distancing.

Persons are also encouraged to get vaccinated to better protect themselves against COVID-19.

To date, over 406,000 adults have received a first dose while over 286,000 are fully vaccinated. Also, over 29,000 adolescents have received their first shot while over 21,000 are fully inoculated.

Vaccines are available at any of the ministry’s vaccination sites countrywide.

Omicron variant inevitable, take all precautions – Anthony

G

uyanese are being encouraged to take all precautions against the COVID-19 virus especially now that health systems around the world are facing a new challenge with the Omicron variant.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said, with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recent announcement that the variant is already present in more than 67 countries, it’s only a matter of time before it reaches here. He said, “Obviously on a daily basis this is going to increase because people are travelling, people are moving around and therefore we have to be attentive, for most countries, it’s going to be difficult to prevent omicron from coming to your country, it’s just a matter of when.”

The health minister noted that with the high rate of transmission, scientists predict that the omicron variant will be the dominant variant worldwide. “Therefore, we have to start preparing, we have to start taking the precautions. Christmas is upon us and I know a lot of people want to go shopping and socialising and unfortunately, if they do that and they are exposed to people with whether its delta or omicron or whatever variant there is circulating, they are going to spread it and when people socialise especially if they are drinking, they obviously are not wearing masks they will be in close proximity to each other and these are ideal conditions for spread,” Dr Anthony said.

The minister noted that persons should not be complacent as there is still more to know about the variant, and trends are still emerging.

“What the scientists are telling us, this particular variant has about 50 mutations and about 32 of those mutations

are located on the spike protein and most vaccines have used the spike protein as the antigen, for the human body to react to it and to be able to produce antibodies. So, a variation with so many mutations, with about 32 mutations can, of course, create problems in the human body identifying, or the antibodies that you would have developed, to identify this new variant,” he noted.

Thus far, the omicron variant has been observed, by scientists, to be more transmissible, with cases doubling every two to three days, so the scientists have estimated that there is a three-fold higher transmission than the delta variant.

Another characteristic of the omicron variant is that even with two doses of a covid-19 vaccine persons can still be affected. “Persons who would have had two doses of vaccine, they have shown a reduced efficacy in fighting the omicron variant, so what is being recommended in many countries across the world, those countries who would have completed their two-dose vaccination, is for those persons to come and get a booster dose, because with the booster dose, your antibody levels go up and you are more prepared to fight this variant,” Dr Anthony said.

The Health Minister noted too, that there is also the possibility of reinfection for persons who already had the disease and the possibility is three to eight times more than the delta variant.

In terms of the severity of the disease, Dr. Anthony noted, that vaccinated persons mostly experience milder forms of the disease. He explained, “Yesterday the UK reported that one person died from the omicron variant, but we haven’t seen a lot of deaths as yet, but again, re-

member that this variant only became known to the world around the 24th of November, so we’ll see more people getting sick with it and we’ll probably see hospitalisation but at this point in time, we haven’t seen many persons who would have had the severe disease and not many deaths as yet, so hopefully it stays that way.”

The minister is adamant that booster doses work and the ministry will need to increase vaccination numbers as there are still many persons unvaccinated or partially vaccinated in Guyana.

He reiterated that persons 18 years and older are eligible for the booster shots locally.

“We have some work to do in encouraging those who are unvaccinated to get vaccinated, and those who are partially vaccinated to become fully vaccinated, and we want to move these numbers because a lot of the scientists would have predicted with the Delta variant circulating, that we need to move the numbers up between somewhere 80 to 85 per cent second dose coverage, so that we can contain the virus. We have a different challenge now that omicron is emerging, and with that omicron is more transmissible, so we’ll require a higher number if we are going to meet herd immunity,” Dr. Anthony said.

According to him, the good news is that persons can protect themselves with existing protocols. He noted that it is preferred that medical grade masks are worn.

“These masks they’re specially designed, in the case of an N95 they have five layers, in the case of a surgical or a procedural mask they have like three layers, so it helps to filter out viral particles,” he said.

So far, no cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in Guyana.

Implementation of ‘transformation agenda’ to be further advanced in 2022 – Ali T

he year 2021 has been challenging, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who referred to the state of affairs his PPP/C government inherited from the former APNU+AFC Coalition.

However, he charged that despite this steady progress had been made in advance of the PPP/C’s transformational

agenda for Guyana and the Guyanese people.

Ali said, “The last year has presented many challenges. We inherited an empty treasury, shredded records and all sorts of shady dealings. We were challenged with hopelessness in our society – many Guyanese out of work – an electricity and

water sector that lack maintenance and could not provide for the need of our people.

“Over the last year, we have made steady progress in the transformation of Guyana. A new bridge across the Demerara River, new fourlane highways linking the East Coast and East Bank, a new four-lane highway on

the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara, the Linden to Mabura Hill road, new hinterland access roads, deep water facilities, a bridge across the Corentyne River and many more infrastructural advances. These will not only modernise our country, but will also open up new opportunities for the people

of Guyana.”

INVESTING IN GUYANESE The Head of State made clear that his Administration is working to ensure that Guyanese are prepared to take advantage of the coming opportunities. “This is why we have launched the 20,000 scholarship programme,” he said.

The award of scholarships handed out by government through the Guyana Online Academy for Learning (GOAL) were announced in August 2021. The 20,000 GOAL scholarship programme was conceptualized

by President Ali as part of his commitment to invest in human development through academic advancement.

Of the 6,000 awardees 69% are females, while 31% are males. Of the 6,000 scholarships awarded this year, 1,645 students will be enrolled at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India; 2,909 students will study at JAIN University, India; 217 scholarships to students desirous of pursuing programmes at the University of Southern Caribbean (USC) Trinidad; 176 applicants were qualified to study at the International University of Applied Sciences (IU) in Germany, while 173 students were awarded academic scholarships at the University of the West Indies Open Campus in Barbados and 880 students will study vocational programmes at UWI as well. Meanwhile, 1,436 applicants, who only have Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects were awarded sixmonth scholarships at JAIN University. Upon successful completion of this programme, these applicants will be qualified for admissions into bachelor’s degree programmes in Business and Commerce.

The Ministers of Education (MoE) and Public Service (MoPS) have overall responsibility for the GOAL initiative and the Ministers credited the significant and overwhelming application responses to countrywide outreaches to promote the GOAL online programme.

The rollout application process for 2022 is expected to be announced soon.

WEALTH CREATION Addressing the ability of

Guyanese to create wealth for themselves he acknowledged the need to put money back into their pockets and pointed to initiatives that will reduce costs of living. “We are aware that we must put more money back into the pockets of our people. We will be able to cut your electricity in half,” he said, referring to the planned Amaila Falls Hydropower project, as well as other renewable energy projects.

On the same subject, Ali noted that homeownership is another major priority for his government. “We promised 50,000 new house lots and we are well on our way in achieving this target with the young professional homes, low income, middle income (lots). Every single Guyanese family will have the opportunity of owning their own home,” he assured.

The PPP/C Government has invested some $12 billion in infrastructural development in 22 new and existing housing schemes across the country.

These areas include Little Diamond/Great Diamond, Prospect and Providence, East Bank Demerara; Cummings Lodge, Mon Repos, Vigilance, Bladen Hall and Strathspey, East Coast Demerara; Experiment in Region Five; and Number 79 Village, Ordinance Fortland and Hampshire/Williamsburg in Region Six. The Ministry’s current mandate is to provide 50,000 housing allocations to Guyanese over the next five years.

To this end, the Ministry has held several house lot distribution exercises across the country and has met its target of providing 10,000 house lots to citizens during the PPP/C’s first year in office.

INVESTMENT IN HEALTHCARE The President addressed, also, the PPP/C Government’s investments in other social sectors, including healthcare. “We are investing in a new state of the art children and maternity hospital,” he pointed out.

Already, billions have been invested to correct the problem of chronic shortages of drugs and medical supplies, improving access to quality healthcare and more.

Noting that the global COVID-19 pandemic remains a challenge, Ali as(Turn to page 21)

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