Weekend Mirror 11-12

GECOM Chair informs about postponement of LGE 2021 11-12 December, 2021 / Vol. 12 ‒ No. 2 / Price: $100

Email: mirror2018.gy@gmail.com

PAGE 15

Shuman rapped for ‘unfair, erroneous’ comments

PAGE 20

Wanted bulletin issued for Coalition-aligned Rickfork Burke BACK PAGE

Elections Commission to deliberate on employment of new CEO today PAGE 2

SEE INSIDE

Silica City, airport PAGE 14 enhancement and Corentyne River bridge discussed with investors 500 lots being developed at new PAGE 6 Charity Housing Scheme

Gov’t flood relief cash grant taken to Region Eight communities

PAGE 10

2

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

Elections Commission to deliberate on employment of new CEO today T

he seven-member election commission on Monday completed interviews of the two candidates

who are being considered for the post of Chief Elections Officer (CEO) – former GECOM Deputy Chief

Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud, and former Jamaican electoral official Leslie Harrow.

In comments on the matter, GECOM Commissioner, Sase Gunraj, said, “Both candidates have been inter-

It’s

UR TRY O

IOUS

Time!

DELIC

Y P S I CR NCHY CRU N

KE C I H C

We do Chicken Better STABROEK

CAMP ST

SHERIFF ST

Another great option on our menu!

PICKUP AND DELIVERY ALSO AVAILABLE! Opening Hours: 7:00hrs - 21:00hrs

MAIN ST

226-3935 227-7070 223-5236 225-4387

NEW AMSTERDAM

333-3477

Vishnu Persaud

Leslie Harrow

viewed. It was agreed they are both qualified, based on the advertisement. It was agreed that they both had the requisite experience. It is now up to the Commission to discuss and make a decision.”

He explained that the Commission will meet again to “hopefully” conclude the recruitment process for the Chief Elections Officer.

According to media reports in Jamaica, Harrow up until May 2021 was employed as Head of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica.

He previously served in several junior and senior positions at the Electoral Commission of Jamaica over his 18-year tenure there.

Persaud, who was employed as GECOM’s DCEO from 2014 to 2017, was overlooked for appointment when he sought to return to the position in 2018. The matter was the subject of an investigation by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).

In 2019, a report from the Ethnic Relations Commission on its probe into the hiring practices of the GECOM was considered by the full Commission and calls were made for the former Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO), Vishnu Persaud, to be reengaged.

The ERC was tasked with probing the hiring practices of GECOM following a complaint lodged by the three GECOM Commissioners – Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn. The call for an investigation came after the

top-ranked candidate applying for the post of Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) – Persaud – was passed over for the post.

Instead, GECOM hired the second-ranked candidate Roxanne Meyers, after now former GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson broke the deadlock and voted in favour of her.

Myers has since been fired from GECOM for her role in the March 2020 election debacle. The three GECOM Commissioners, in a joint complaint letter, had called for a full investigation on the hiring practices at GECOM last year. The GECOM Commissioners charged that the state of affairs is “clearly indicative of a larger issue at the Guyana Elections Commission, which has an adverse effect on ethnic relations and harmony in Guyana.”

The investigation’s main finding was that Persaud was the most qualified person for the job. According to the report, on Page 29, Persaud was the most “suitable candidate for appointment to the post of DCEO” of GECOM. It adds that, “Nothing has been presented to us which, at least on paper, reveals any attributes in Ms. Myers that were capable of offsetting the clear paper advantage which Mr, Persaud enjoyed.” Notably, the ERC committee dealing with the investigation met with Persaud twice – on August 14, 2018 and on August 24, 2018.

The Commission meets at 10AM today, Friday, December 10, 2021, to continue deliberations.

3

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

GECOM Chair informs about postponement of LGE 2021 T

he lack of readiness by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), including the need to have critical vacant posts filled, has resulted in the postponement of the 2021 Local Government Elections (LGE).

Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Justice Claudette Singh has written to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, confirming that Local Government Elections cannot be held this year.

In her letter, Singh said, “Please be informed that the Guyana Elections Commission is cognizant of the legal requirement that Local Government Elections should be held in 2021. However, since the agency is without a Chief Election Officer who is required by law to manage the operations of the conduct of elections in Guyana; the Commission is unable to have those elections held at this point in time. “…as you are aware, the Commission is currently working to conclude the hiring process of the Chief Election Officer and other senior management staff.

Please be assured that as Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission, I will communicate with you on the timeline at which Local Government Elections could be held when the Chief Election Officer is hired. I thank

you for your understanding and patience as we work to resolve this challenge within the shortest time possible.”

The GECOM Chair’s letter was in response to a correspondence dispatched by Nandlall who was seeking information on the electoral body’s readiness to host the polls. Nandlall had said, “Please confirm, soonest, that it is impracticable for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to comply with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28-05, Laws of Guyana, regarding the holding of an election to elect members of a Local Democratic Organ due in the year 2021, in order for the Minister to take the necessary actions required to postpone the said elections and to perform all acts and do all things consequential thereto as are required by law.”

Meanwhile, in comments on the matter, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, explained that the PPP/C government has recognised that GECOM does not have the mechanisms in place to proceed with elections at this time.

“GECOM conducts the elections, but they are not in a position to conduct any election until such time that they have a functioning secretariat. They also have quite

a number of things to do as part of the election process, which includes voter education, training of polling staff and even getting the list in order and the printing of ballots. So, none of those things happened at GECOM in the last 12 months,” he explained.

He stressed that despite these minor setbacks, the government will continue to provide the necessary support needed to allow the administration to fulfil its commitment to democracy.

Dharamlall said, “The possibility for Local Government Elections (LGE) will have to be determined based on how GECOM prepares itself. So as soon as they are in a state of readiness, we’d be happy to nominate a date but we would like the elections to be held as soon as it is practical… And so, we had budgeted for the hosting of the elections and we will continue to budget for it next year as well.”

Dharamlall has since informed municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils across the country that Local Government Elections will not be held this year.

In August last year, the Guyana Police Force launched an investigation into the role of Deputy Chief Election Officer of GECOM, Ms. Roxanne Myers, Chief Election Officer, Mr. Keith

Lowenfield, and Returning Officer of Region Four, Mr. Clairmont Mingo, during the protracted period following the March 2, General and Regional Elections. Those individuals have since been removed from the elections body and the Commission is currently securing new officers to fill the posts.

Further, Government, through the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Gov-

ernance is currently facilitating a countrywide consultation on its proposed amendments to the Representation of the Peoples Act (ROPA).

The proposed amendments seek to avoid the occurrences of the five-month electoral saga of 2020, which was characterised by multiple unlawful elections declarations, lengthy court battles and repeated attacks on the integrity of the electoral

process.

The Local Government Ministry was allocated $1.1 billion in the 2021 national budget to facilitate the election. From this amount, $237.7 million was slated to offset the costs of printing 500,000 ballots, among other materials. Some $285.7 million was budgeted for voter education, and $135.7M, for the training of elections staff.

4

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

EDITORIAL Active efforts being advanced to undermine ‘One Guyana’ effort

T

he anti-PPP/C rhetoric coming from APNU+AFC Coalition quarters continues to be tainted by talk that is unapologetically misleading, divisive and amounts race-baiting.

Most recently, Guyanese were exposed to the vilest rhetoric to date from embattled United States-based, Rickford Burke. On December 2, 2021, Burke said: “I hope the international community is taking stock of what we are saying because when black people start to respond – and I question whether Bharrat Jagdeo, Anil Nandlall, Irfaan Ali and all these people who are working hard to incite a civil war; I wonder if they think they will survive…I don’t think we should mince words anymore...I think we must seriously start examining whether we should divide the country….I think, this a time right now for militancy and a revolution in Guyana. We are not going to sit back and allow the PPP to enslave black people. It is time black people rise up and fight back…I think we should enter a period of non-cooperation with the PPP – do not cooperate with them. They should be no Service Commission. I think the members of the Guyana Elections Commission from the Coalition should resign… bring everything to a halt. Grind government to a halt. Create an international incident…bring this government to its knees…they must understand that they are not the only bad people or gangsters in the country. The PPP must understand that. So until somebody get run off the road or something to compensate for the things they have been doing, they gonna keep doing it. And I am not afraid to say, I’m not afraid to say, this is a time we gotta challenge them back.”

This comes on the heels of comments from David Hinds, who on November 22, 2021, said: “I think the time has come to defend ourselves…it is time for action…I am also repeating my call to undermine the government. I said that in August and I am saying it again. A leader does not have to tell you how to undermine the government. There are many ways… undermine the government and continue to do so.” At the same forum, Hinds went further to call for Indian-owned businesses to be boycotted. He said, “They were enablers and they are enablers….it is your money that is spending on Regent Street that they does take and give to the PPP as contributions for elections so they can get into government… undermine the economic partners of the PPP.” Prior to that, while addressing a small group of protestors at Victoria, East Coast Demerara in August 2021, Hinds said: “In whatever way you can undermine this (PPP/C) government. Undermine this government in whatever way you can. I can’t tell you how to do it, but ‘hint to Baniba mek Quashiba tek notice’ (Old African-Guyanese proverb meaning actions to hint something will result in awareness). Undermine this government!”

The Parliamentary Opposition, the APNU+AFC Coalition, has, notably, hitched their wagon to these personalities – making clear their support for them.

Further, the bravado that accompanies false and misleading statements is shocking.

Irresponsible elements aligned to the APNU+AFC Coalition continue to make claims about an installed PPP/C regime, about discriminatory access to government services, such as house lots, etc. These lies have been debunked repeatedly.

Notably, however, the most repeated lie by the PNC/ APNU/AFC is that 400 young Afro-Guyanese men having died as a result of extra-judicial killings under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government prior to May 2015. This is despite the fact that in November 2019, a Stabroek News investigative report was published and said: “For more than 15 years, the number of persons who died in the violence that followed the February 23, 2002 Camp Street jailbreak and the circumstances of their deaths have been the sources of heated disputation….according to Stabroek News’ record some 420 persons were killed between February 2002 and September 2006 – 30 security officers, 151 persons murdered by bandits and another 239 persons killed during confrontations with members of the joint services.”

The danger with such rhetoric is that it stirs up sentiments that Guyana as a developing nation is working to move past – work on building a ‘One Guyana’ that continues to be undermined.

The question is why? And the answer is simple – the APNU+AFC Coalition, which has been exposed for being solely focused on power not the Guyanese people, stand to benefit from a divided nation.

As a people, we are reminded that we are stronger together.

Racist and divisive rhetoric from Rickford Burke must be condemned Dear Editor,

I

was appalled and taken back by the racist and divisive rhetoric from overseas-based Guyanese, Rickford Burke.

Burke conjured up the fictitious and fabricated story of the ‘PPP murdering 1500 black people or more’ to justify his senseless appeal to Guyanese to break the law and engage in riotous acts.

I am glad that the Guyana Police Force is investigating this matter and has issued a wanted bulletin for him for crimes he committed here in breach of the law of Guyana.

I hope that serious consequences follow him for spewing that racist and divisive garbage about the so-called and alleged intimidation, discrimination, and racism that Guyanese of African descent face from the PPP Government. This allegation is false

and meritless.

I want to urge the police and government to investigate Burke's links to criminals in Guyana as his talk that the PPP might not survive the alleged war that they are allegedly starting is most troubling. He is now a fugitive from justice if he does not turn himself over to the police here for further investigation. Does he honestly think that he should be allowed to sit from the comfort of his home in the US and incite violence and ethnic conflict in Guyana without facing the consequence?

The silence of the Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity, and the Alliance for Change is deafening and it signals their support as by their own actions they too have sought to divide Guyanese along ethnic lines. If I am wrong, let Joseph Harmon and Khemraj Ramjattan condemn Burke’s statement and distance their parties from the vio-

lence and disorder preached by him. I challenge ANY other opposition politician to say that they do not support Burke's racist and divisive rhetoric. It does not suit the opposition narrative against the PPP to do so at this point.

Burke's statement is enough for the government to look closely at all developments in the crime and security sector from this day onwards. Look at the remittances and aid from the CGID and Burke to Guyana to see if he is funding domestic terrorism against the state.

Finally, I want to say that right-thinking Guyanese, like me, who are up to date about political developments and what is happening in Guyana ought to reject and condemn this latest attempt to incite violence and divide us along ethnic lines by Rickford Burke.

Yours Truly, Alvin Hamilton

Guyana needs builders and not destroyers or detractors Dear Editor,

W

hen politically aligned groups utilize incendiary rhetoric and make subliminal and even open calls for violence and revolution, such moves reflect desperation over their inability to secure state power through the ballot box. It also reveals a lack of vision, as well as their contempt for the democratic tradition of free and fair elections. Every democratic society has become a marketplace of free ideas. Freedom of speech, buttressed by ready access to social media has expanded the Guyanese people’s appetite for politics and world affairs.

There are signs that Guyanese are moving, though not rapidly, towards an issue-oriented approach to politics and discarding gradually an emotion-driven based political system. The Amerindians had heavily supported the United Force but have now moved progressively towards the PPP/C, and to a lesser extent the PNCR. The Amerindian based GAP (Guyana Amerindian Party) and the LJP (Liberty and Justice Party) have not been able to secure a Parliamentary seat by themselves.

Recent history also offers a guide.

At the 2011 regional and general elections, a substantial number of traditional PPP/C supporters (mostly Indo-Guyanese) voted across party line for the APNU and AFC parties, based on issues and promises, and not on race preference. This resulted in the PPP/C losing their Parliamentary majority to the APNU+AFC parties.

This trend of voting by a segment of traditional PPP/C voters continued onto 2015, when an estimated 11% of Indo-Guyanese cast their votes for

the APNU+ AFC coalition which won state power. However, at the 2020 polls, most of those voters returned to the PPP/C because the coalition did not carry out their promises (closed the sugar estates, laid off 7,000 workers, failed to offer $9,000 per bag of paddy, etc.). Contrary to belief held by some political pundits, this example shows that PPPC supporters understand the force of issues around which they could be mobilized. PNCR and other political leaders, as well as their supporters, could not afford to ignore this development but to study it carefully in plotting their future political viability.

With no race group in the majority, securing state power has become extremely competitive, a process accentuated by the increasing emphasis on issues and the whittling away of race preference. But there are opposition elements that do not seem to understand the nature of political evolution of Guyana, and still adhere to vile ideas of violence and revolution to secure state power. In addition, some political opposition operatives cannot come to grip with their party’s loss of the 2020 regional and national elections and continue their rumination. Beyond these, there have been repeated allegations of race discrimination and state murders perpetrated under the PPP/C government during the so-called “troubled period.” These allegations have been rejected by the PPP/C. With respect to job discrimination, the reality is that 70% of public service workers are Afro-Guyanese, 90% of the army personnel are Afro-Guyanese, 75% of the Police Force are Afro Guyanese, 70%

of nurses are Afro Guyanese, 65% of teachers are Afro-Guyanese, and 80% of the academic staff at the University of Guyana are Afro-Guyanese. The proportion of the Afro-Guyanese in the general population is 29%. How could anyone make out a compelling case for race discrimination, particularly institutional racism?

As to the killings, those were murders committed during the PPP/C’s governance in the early 2000s. The Stabroek News did an analysis of the murders and published the results for public consumption. First, not all the listed 420 persons killed were Black men; 119 were Indo-Guyanese. Second, many of those murders took place because of confrontation between the police and criminal gangs; others were killed by gang members in gang warfare; many were killed during family/ domestic problems; while a few were killed when they tried to topple the PPP/C government.

In a democratic system there are socially acceptable ways to channel grievances. Under the “One Guyana” initiative, Guyanese must collectively continue to build upon its success and should not allow anyone or group to derail the path to a good life for all, irrespective of race, religion, gender of disability.

The ascendancy of issues in the political arena and the corresponding relegation of race-based politics, should allow for the creation of a new culture of inclusivity and accountability. Guyana needs builders and not destroyers or detractors.

Sincerely, Dr. Tara Singh

5

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

Electoral reforms are mandatory

GECOM must win the trust of our people through its G exercise of transparent and accountable policies

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

A

n abundance of evidence from the March 2020 Elections supports the overwhelming and imbued negative impact of contaminated electoral staff on our democratic process.

Indeed, Justice (retd) Claudette Singh, the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), has had a baptism of fire at the helm of the organisation during the period leading up to, and when these elections were held. Notwithstanding, as the Chairperson of the Commission, her principal role is to ensure the organisation’s mandate of delivering free and fair elections.

From the myriad occurrences related to major fraudulent attempts at the last General and Regional Elections, our nation almost collapsed under the deliberately created and associated stress fractures. As such, the Chairperson must now ensure all systems are in place to clean up all the rogue elements in the employment of GECOM, or be called out for being less than radical enough to address some of the core problems.

The need to employ men and women of integrity, who will be held accountable for ensuring free and fair elections, cannot be over-emphasised. The Commission must therefore improve on, or follow, the established principles for recruiting staff with clean and unblemished records, which would remove risks and suspicion.

The political situation in Guyana has for decades been characterised by ethnic sensitivities, which emphasise the need for strong, transparent procedures and oversight for acceptable results. It is not easy to win the trust of our people, and decades of flagrant bullish frauds at the hands of the Peoples National Congress still serve to realise much apprehension about another round of perpetuated thievery. Without any doubt, it is at elections time that demonic manifestations normally show their ugly faces. One must admit, however, that there were a few strong and genuine Chairpersons, such as Rudy Collins, Doodnauth Singh and Joseph Singh, whose real effort and assertiveness made a positive difference.

Admittedly, the present Chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh, was appointed to control a moving train, and made an effort to complete and provide this country with free and fair Elections. Her efforts were not without major fault lines and criticisms of management at the various levels of the organisation. The experiences learned demand radical and urgent overhaul of the organization, since history confirms that it took the steely leadership along with the will of the staff who exercise strong levels of integrity, to produce free and fair elections.

The failure of GECOM has to be aligned to the failure of the leadership, where too many things were taken for granted. The appointed APNU/PNC Commissioners also proved their intolerable indecency by attempting to stretch the applicable laws beyond their implicit elasticity threshold,

while realising unacceptable delays. In so doing, corruptly targeted imbalances contributed to the one-man show in the Secretariat, breakdown in the system that allowed the balanced hiring of staff, key operations and administration monitoring oversight of the staff, and the loss of control by the Commission. It was here that the wicked operators of the Secretariat were allowed an almost free lease to manipulate and put in place their rigging plans for the elections.

The hemorrhaging started after the 2006 National and Regional Elections. The hiring of staff, the purchasing/procurement of items for GECOM went out of control. The then GECOM Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally allowed the role of the Commission and the Secretariat to be one of the same. The Commission at that time allowed the Secretariat to assume powers to train and employ staff, and exercise almost sole control of purchasing. The situation led to exacerbated financial non-accountability as well as strong calls for Police investigations by the Auditor General from 2015 to 2018.

For these fiscal periods as well as 2020, the audited financial statements seem in a special place that this nation is waiting to see.

Our citizens suffered billions of dollars in losses during the memorable five months, March to August 2020 elections’ hiatus. This massive loss was contributed to by the corrupt dictates that could have been avoided.

It is the reason why GECOM now is in search of a Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Deputy CEO, Assistant CEO, Chief Accountant, Legal Officer, Logistics Manager, Civic and Voter Education Manager, along with many more vacancies after persons ran away from their employment in fear of being exposed for corruption.

This nation must be fully cognisant of the reality and role play when former President David Granger took on himself to employ his unilateral choice, the unfit and improper James Patterson, as the Chairman of GECOM. It was indeed another glaring attempt to fully take over, while the partisan and imposed staff selections made all the mischief-makers feel that they were untouchable.

This country must put an end to rigging, and ensure the March 2020 debacle never recurs. The proposed legislative amendment of the RoPA is an incremental approach to deterring some of the glaring fraudulent practices. The Chairperson and Commission should recognise the support and work to improve GECOM’s image and citizens’ confidence. As for Electoral Reform, this will only come with the willingness of the politicians to appreciate that we have to work together to win the trust of this nation.

Let us wait and see the results of the PNC congress. The rigging must stop there. And we must have a better opposition that has the interest of this nation for a better Guyana.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

iven the well-known circumstances that exist in Guyana – let’s say the “peculiar situation” in which one political party keeps bullying its way past laws and established norms to win an election – electoral reform becomes a mandatory issue. Ever since the institution of self-government in Guyana, it is a well-established fact that the PNC Party has always tampered with elections to forge a victory for itself. Burnham, for 28 years, practised this disgraceful act, to the point where the present lot believes we are compelled to accept it.

Well, I am happy to disappoint them that this shockingly despicable act is no longer a part of our political landscape. Rigging is dead; we have to rush into the emancipated modernity of free and fair elections! For too long, this nation has been mired in the mud of fraudulent elections and in being a country governed by installed personalities. We must embrace a future of freshness and the newness of hope!

Electoral reform is not a new word to us.

This term was first coined somewhere before 1990, when the international community was called in to reorganise our electoral machinery. After some stout resistance from the ruling PNC regime, it finally gave in when it realised that the international community was not going to back away from electoral reform.

This ushered in the elections of 1992, held under a new electoral reform charter.

Electoral reform did two things: it ushered in an era of ‘one man one vote’ and it put an end to that despicable system of rigging. We thereafter enjoyed the freedom of electoral reform, up until 2011, when there was again the discussion of fraud creeping its way back into the system. Election 2015 was no different, when there was again evidence of fraudulent SOPs being found. By this time, the system of rigging was reintroduction as a well- thought-out, well-fortified strategy.

By this time too, it was too late to contest

that reinstituted fraud, so the Coalition came to power.

The APNU/AFC Coalition was so full of itself, thinking that it had an airtight system in place, that its members were brazen enough to change the results of the 2020 elections.

This shameful act was allowed to drag on for 5 long months, carried out before an international audience; indeed, it shocked us to the core!

This essentially taught us the lesson that we have to review our electoral laws. We must strengthen that which exists, while instituting stringent penalties for those who run afoul of the law. One of the areas that need urgent attention is the revision of the laws governing the conduct of the Chief Elections Officer, to determine what he can and cannot do. All CEOs, whether it is a local person or foreign person chosen, must be cognisant of the fact that there would be severe consequences for electoral fraud, and the certainty that it would not be tolerated here.

Installed Governments are a hindrance to progress. It is for these well-known reasons that our country has been denied progress these many years. Our Caribbean neighbours, where a free and transparent system is the norm, are way ahead of us in the developmental trajectory.

With our newfound oil wealth, we must get into that very same stretch of development.

Fraudulent or installed Governments, a terminology frequently used by the APNU Opposition, are a hindrance to progress, and this foolishness of fraudulent elections must stop now! We will have the strengthening of our electoral laws, so that we get back on to the beaten path of free, fair and transparent elections. This means that we will also have the institution of a Government that is of and for the people. Long live a free and united Guyana!

Respectfully, N. Adams

6

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

In face of global hardships PPP/C has put right measures in place

Disappointed T in Shuman

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

I

cannot believe that according to Deputy Speaker, Lenox Shuman, the ‘PPP has no respect for Amerindians.” So, I will seek to prove the opposite, and hopefully ‘jog the memory’ of this leader and politician, who is very influential and therefore, must be mindful of his utterances.

I go back to February 2021 when Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, informed the nation that “The long-delayed Amerindian Land Titling project will be expedited through the budgetary allocation of $630 million.”

He detailed at that time, that “We spent the last few months of 2020, preparing the groundwork for re-energising the Amerindian Land Titling programme to achieve its aim of providing titles to 68 villages.” Now, I am hoping this suffices to show that there is no ‘disrespecting of Guyana’s Indigenous peoples by the PPP Government. But it gets even more convincing that Shuman’s accusations are unfounded.

I remind all that the Amerindian Land Titling Project, which is about securing lands and natural resources for Amerindians, actually began under the previous PPP/C administration and was funded by a $2.2 billion (US$11M) United Nations Development

Programme grant. However, this project was insensitively terminated in 2016, just a mere one year into the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change Coalition (APNU+AFC) Administration, leaving several communities without their titles.

So, as expected, my question rings loud as regards Lenox Shuman and his fulminations that the PPP/C Administration has no respect for Indigenous peoples.

Shuman recently had to remove his Facebook post that accused the PPP/C of promising a 50 % salary increase to public servants, when this was never so, and he has not yet apologized. Now he adds to his unsavoury rhetoric even further.

He surmises that “In the supposedly “re-invented” PPP post 2020 elections, it was my sincere belief that the PPP was a transformed organisation and that they were open to dialogue on issues surrounding Indigenous peoples. I can say with absolute conviction, nothing is further from the truth.” Wow! I ask that Shuman check-up on recent history and do the comparison with the recent APNU+AFC era. It is clear that under the PPP/C Guyana's first people are always treated better.

Yours truly, Attiya Baksh

I support calls for GHRA to provide information to the public Dear Editor,

I

have noted the calls from many persons, particularly the recent one by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, for the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) to make known to the public information regarding its membership (aside from Mike McCormack), its funding, and what mechanisms are employed to select its leadership.

I support this call and I think it should be extended to all of the other civil society organisations whose pronouncements of late on matters of national importance have dominated a particular section of the media sphere and are thus given much weight.

In the interest of transparency, the public needs to know who these organisations speak for, who their membership consists of, how they obtain their funding and how it is spent,

how one becomes a member, and how their leadership is selected.

We need to know their expertise on the particular subject matter which they are speaking on and whether or not they have the support of those whom they claim to speak on behalf of, and are not merely driven by self-interest.

It cannot just be a case where any Tom, Dick, or Harry can issue a press release which is then elevated as expert opinion or the views of a large cross-section of the Guyanese society by special interest media enablers.

Guyanese have to demand from these civil society groups the same type of transparency as it relates to their own operations, that they demand from the Government and others.

Sincerely, Thomas Cole

he increase in prices for commodities and services is a global phenomenon, and is not peculiar to Guyana.

Worldwide, the demand for goods and services has increased, but supply has contracted. What is rarely understood by all is the fact that world production of commodities is very much integrated, making the world more vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.

Therefore, this means that parts may be produced in different countries, but the assembly of the final product may be done in an entirely different country. The pandemic has created issues at nearly every aspect of the supply chain: a lack of materials, ingredients, equipment, speedy trucking and shipping.

There is an acute labour shortage of truckers and longshoremen to offload ships, thus creating a buildup, and there are shipping delays that have never been witnessed before. This effect of the disruptions of the supply chain has not only pushed costs up, but has created a decrease in supply, which again resulted in the prices of commodities spiralling.

Another factor is higher oil prices. This situation is beyond the control of any Government, but measures can be put in place to alleviate the climbing cost of living. This is exactly what the PPP/C Government has been doing for more than 16 months now.

Some progressive measures which have been put in place are outlined as follows.

There was a drastic reduction in the excise tax on fuel, which is in keeping with President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to “ensuring that Guyanese consumers continue to be protected from escalation in fuel prices on the world market as far as possible.” This reduction happened in February and October this year. This would have resulted in reduced transportation and production costs.

In its very first Budget, this Government did not give itself a salary increase, but gave immediate relief to the citizens. It reversed the punitive tax measures implemented by the APNU/AFC, and drastically cut licence fees. VAT was removed from many essential items, such as water, electricity, medical supplies and medicines, private education, cellphone data, farming machinery and equipment, etc. This is a Government which saw the collapse of the entire socio-economic fabric of this nation, and immediately began the Herculean task of reviving the economy.

The Coalition had bankrupted the country in less than 5 years, and it became imperative that the rebuilding process begin immediately. This brought immediate relief, and ensured that more disposal income became available.

Next, the Government ensured that the disposal income was given a boost by direct cash injection, since the COVID-19 and the flood began wreaking havoc on the economy. It gave COVID-19 cash reliefs to every household. According to a study conducted by the World Bank, titled ‘An Uneven Recovery: Taking The Pulse Of Latin America And The Caribbean Following The Pandemic’, Guyana is one of the leading countries in the Caribbean and Latin America that have been assisting their people through the hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, the Government has disbursed to every Guyanese, including the vulnerable groups, cash reliefs amounted to nearly $10 billion. The World Bank noted that this assistance was pertinent, since many households suffer from food insecurity.

In addition, our students were given $3.6 billion to help them get back to school, and our farmers were given flood reliefs which amounted to $7.8 billion. Moreover, the year-end bonus given, the 2 weeks’ bonus to the disciplinary service, the $400 million to frontline workers, the 7% across-the-board increase to Public Servants, and I am sure that more cash relief is in the making.

We must not lose sight of the Government’s sacrifice to save the lives of Guyanese from the virus, and of the huge cost it bore to ensure not only that the Infectious Diseases Hospital is brought into operation, but the acquisition of vaccines and making them available to all in a timely and efficient manner.

As we take notice of the many investments which are taking place, and as we await these to bear dividends, we must applaud the Government, which has ensured that the multiplier effect from the many cash injections, which increased the disposable incomes of every Guyanese, has kept the economy buoyant and progressive. In these times of hardships across the world, this Government has done wonders for its people, and we must show our appreciation in a tangible manner.

Yours sincerely, H. Yusuf

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 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 ’

Tourism Ministry invites $45.3M Health Centre proposals for development commissioned at Supply of eco lodges, resorts M

T

he Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce is seeking proposals for the development of eco lodges and resorts in various regions countrywide.

The ministry said “Guyana has been recognised as a premier eco-tourism destination with much potential for further development.”

According to a statement by the ministry, the government, “is prepared to offer attractive incentives for the development of the eco lodge and the resort industry, including fiscal incentives.”

In a recent interview with members of the media minister Oneidge Walrond had noted that there is need for upgraded facilities. “To have facilities that cater to different taste, different needs, different budgets, depending on what you would like to spend and what we found is that there

has been a gap in luxury rooms. Some people just like to come with their hammocks and throw and camp, some people like air-conditioned experience. We have invited people in the private sector to come and develop the different areas, the falls, there are many falls there are many places that eco lodges would work in terms of being economically viable, will be a thriving business. We’ve seen a lot of Amerindian villages that would like to have their guest houses restored. So, there are lots of opportunities for eco lodges.”

The minister said there is currently no large eco-friendly resort in Guyana. “We don’t just want to put down a mass hotel or a mass development, it has to be… that’s why we coined it the eco lodge, because there are certain requirements and stipulations that have to go into

it when you (are) building an eco-lodge. So, it remains sustainable, it remains beneficial to the environment and it does not harm the environment and also takes into account the community which it’s being built in, but it’s still a lovely comfortable experience,” Minister Walrond said.

The ministry said the objective of the project is to generate employment by engaging the local communities, create business opportunities through collaboration and partnership by engaging local communities, to expand the country’s accommodation selection and room stock and to encourage the participation of the private sector to have co ownership of the tourism product.

The request for proposal can be downloaded from the ministry’s website. Deadline for submission is January 30, 2022.

NOTICE Ministry of Education

establishes a Resolution Desk The Ministry of Education wishes to advise that it has established a Resolution Desk. This desk will accept complaints, queries, and grievances.

This desk will also provide information on the services offered by the Ministry of Education. This desk is open to students, teachers and parents and all other stakeholders in education.

This initiative will allow the Ministry of Education to promote and value feedback. It will also allow the MOE to manage complaints, to improve performance, systems, and service delivery. The Resolution Desk aims to: • Resolve the problems encountered by students, teachers, and parents in the education sector • Provide an avenue for students, teachers, and parents to record their dissatisfaction with the services offered in the education sector • Ensure an open, accessible, and transparent complaint management system • Ensure feedback, suggestions and complaints are managed effectively, fairly, confidentially, and objectively • Inform and identify where service improvements can be made The Resolution Desk is managed by the Office of the Inspectorate by School Inspector, Ms. Shaharazade Atkinson. The desk can be contacted through the following medium: • Tel: 225-7000 • WhatsApp: 652-9145 • Email: inspectorate@moe.gov.gy The Ministry of Education wishes to assure that all complaints will be addressed within a 24-hour window.

inister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony on Friday, commissioned a stateof-the-art health centre at Supply, East Bank Demerara in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica).

Constructed for $45.3 million, the fully equipped facility will service approximately 6500 residents in the Supply and other neighbouring villages on the East Bank.

Dr. Anthony said the facility was opened to deliver

primary health care services and rehabilitation services within the environs of the Supply area.

“This is just another step in the journey that we will be taking as we improve health across the country and for all Guyanese”, he said during his brief remarks.

The Minister said the Ministry of Health (MOH) is working on improving the standard of health care across Guyana and in the coming month’s various

health facilities will undergo infrastructural upgrades under the SMART hospital initiative.

The newly commissioned health centre will also assist in the fight against chronic and non-communicable diseases by treating patients or making referrals for tertiary care where necessary.

A Family Medicine Resident and a General Medical Officer have been assigned to the newly built health facility.

Hospitality Institute to be bigger than initially planned

T

he construction of the hospitality institute in Guyana will now be bigger than initially thought, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond, said Sunday (November 28, 2021).

The minister said that the project had to be rescoped because of the tremendous interest in Guyana. “So, we have realised that we have need for more rooms, that our hospitality sector has expanded far beyond what we would have thought eight or nine years ago, and so the project does not cater for the vision that we see for the hospitality sector in Guyana right now, it’s going to be bigger and far more expansive than we had envisioned. Certainly, the project, as it was when we came into government, did not cater for that vision, for a large vision. So, we’ve had

to rescope it and so that is what has caused the delay.

So, it’s not been able to start right now but we are in that rescoping phase and the consultants are now looking at a bigger, better, more state-of-the art facility,” the minister said.

She said government will also have to move the institute to Ogle, East Coast Demerara. Waldron said, “We would have had to move the location to someplace bigger. We are looking at putting the hospitality institute in the area that was identified for hotel development, because the hospitality institute will work hand in hand with the branded hotels. So, the persons going to the institute will use the hotels as an in-service, kind of training.”

Minister Walrond noted that the sod has been turned for several branded hotels expected to be completed

by 2023-2024, which will see an additional 1000-1200 rooms. “That means we will need people to run the facilities, from the lowest level employee to managerial staff. So, there is an immediate need for trained hospitality staff and so that is the gap that Barbados is willing to fill right now, so that we could start training people for the hospitality sector, before the hospitality institute comes on board because by the time it comes on board and we develop a curriculum and start training people, the need will already be upon us,” she said.

Notably, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced recently that Barbados has agreed to train 6000 Guyanese in the hospitality sector.

Persons from all regions of Guyana are expected to benefit from the bilateral agreement.

Education Ministry eyes implementation of TVET programme at St. Ignatius Secondary

S

tudents of the St. Ignatius Secondary School, Region Nine, could soon benefit from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, as the education ministry seeks to advance the learning capacity there.

The aggressive intervention is being strategically considered, as the nation transforms into a more skillbased, manpower-driven economy.

Recommendations for

TVET to be introduced into the school’s learning curriculum, as one of the main areas of study, have been made to the Ministry of Education. Further, technical officers recently wrapped up a series of inspections at several learning facilities in the Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo district.

At the St. Ignatius Secondary School, the team carried out assessments to ensure the curriculum is properly delivered and all

School Based Assessments (SBAs) meet the deadline.

The dorms were also inspected to ensure students are protected and their sleeping conditions are favourable.

The school is currently battling the learning lost, due to the advent of COVID-19.

Of recent, the learning facility received equipment which boosted its ability for children to access information from the Guyana Learning Channel.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 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 ’ GWI Surveys Land to Replace Legislation on the cards to tackle domestic, sexual Fyrish Well violence – Attorney General G A slew of legislation will be laid before the National Assembly in 2022, to address domestic and sexual violence.

This was disclosed Friday (December 3, 2021)

by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, as he commissioned several domestic violence interview and virtual hearing rooms in the East Berbice-Corentyne and Mahaica- Berbice regions.

Rooms were commissioned at the New Amsterdam, Weldaad, Blairmont, Whim, Reliance, Springlands and No. 51 Magistrates Courts. The initiative is a collaboration between the Supreme Court of Guyana and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF.)

The Attorney General said government is committed to stamping out domestic violence which it has recognised to be a destructive social problem. He said the administration will continue to explore new initiatives that will have a curative effect on domestic violence.

“Speaking from the position of legislation, I can indicate here that in the year 2022 the Domestic Violence Act will undergo a complete overhaul.

Revamping the Domestic Violence Act would be a small measure only, but that will be done. A new Trafficking in Persons Act will also be tabled shortly in the National Assembly. Our Sexual Offences Act will be subjected to an overhaul in 2022. A Restorative Justice Bill will be tabled in the National As-

sembly very shortly in 2022,” the Attorney General stated.

Minister Nandlall said that restorative justice will address the root cause of problems and will be influenced by rehabilitative and reformative factors rather than punitive sentiments.

The legal affairs minister said government will also table a sexual harassment law and will strengthen the country’s anti-discriminatory laws.

Further, the legal affairs ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, will be launching a unit that will offer a range of services targeting domestic and sexual violence victims. The unit will provide 24-hour medical, legal and counselling services, among others.

uyana Water Incorporated (GWI) said approximately 10,000 residents between Albion and Number One village, Corentyne, will soon see improvement in their water service as the water company moves to drill a new well in the East Berbice-Corentyne region.

GWI’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shaik Baksh, Executive Director of Operations, Mr. Jawaharall Ramjug and other GWI technical and regional officials on Friday, December 3, conducted several site visits to identify a location for the new well.

The current well at Fyrish is close to 50 years old and has started to deteriorate, GWI said in a press release Friday. According to Mr. Baksh, this has resulted in the well producing murky water, particularly when the well recommences pumping after a power outage.

GWI is currently seeking

financial provision from the Government of Guyana for the new well, as it aims to begin drilling as early as this month (December).

“So, it is imperative that GWI quickly endeavors to drill a new well for the residents, to give them a good quality of water. We want to do this expeditiously”, the GWI CEO stated.

The team looked at a number of plots of land within the Kilcoy/Chesney and Fyrish areas, with Chesney showing more potential for drilling.

Also accompanying the GWI officials was Mr. Davanand Kasinath, a councilor of the Kilcoy/Hampshire Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and Mr. Evern Marks of the Fryish/ Gibraltar NDC. Mr. Baksh pointed out that GWI is working closely with the NDC officials to acquire the necessary approval

to drill on the land. A design is also in place for the well already.

As a more immediate solution, GWI has started to flush the water prior to distribution, in addition to the installation of a soft starter for the motor.

Mr. Baksh explained that, “when there’s a blackout, we can start without interrupting or shaking up the casing of the well and this seems to be working right now and over the last two days the water has improved and we’re hoping to hold this position within the next two to three months.”

Following the site visits, Mr. Baksh spoke with a number of residents who said they have already seen improvements in the quality of their water since the temporary interventions.

Drilling is expected to last for a period of three months.

500 lots being developed at new Baseline environmental studies for oil and gas activities underway Charity Housing Scheme

S

ome 500 lots are being developed in the new Charity Housing Scheme, Region Two, 400 of which will be for homeowners and 100 for commercial and industrial purposes.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President Dr. Ashni Singh, during a recent visit to the scheme, had a first-hand look at the area. He said, “This is going to be an incredibly exciting development because ultimately it is going to lead to 400 families being able to have their own home in this area. There is tremendous demand of house lots in the region. For this year, we have distributed 700 house lots just in Region Two alone.”

He relayed that the PPP/C

Administration’s housing programme has been exceptional, with thousands of young people being able to become homeowners. This he said, can be seen by examining communities such as La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara and Diamond/Grove East Bank Demerara. “We intend to continue rolling out this housing programme aggressively and as you know, we have committed to distributing 10,000 house lots per annum. You have seen the energy and vigour in which the Ministry of Housing has already set about implementing His Excellency’s mandate in this regard,” the Minister stated.

Dr. Singh said government has implemented a

number of measures to incentivise homeownership and home construction. These include the removal of Value Added Tax on construction materials, increasing of the ceiling for low-income loans, increased ceiling on mortgages by the New Building Society and increasing the ceiling for loan eligible for mortgage interest relief.

He noted that those measures are geared at making homeownership affordable for the ordinary Guyanese.

To date, the Ministry of Housing and Water has distributed over 9,000 house lots countrywide. The commitment by the PPP/C Administration is to deliver 50,000 house lots by the end of its first term in office.

Lima Sand access road to be completed ahead of schedule ‒ 1500 households to benefit

T

he upgrade of the Lima Sand access road in Region Two, could be completed ahead of schedule, as the contractor has been working overtime.

Some 1,500 households will benefit from the upgraded road, which is initially slated to be completed in May 2022 following a September signing.

Contractor, S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc. has been working around the clock to deliver the project on time.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, assessed the$136.7 million project, recently. “We have been

pressing very hard for all projects to move forward in a timely manner, because we want citizens to get the benefit of the services that will become available,” Minister Singh stated.

The Finance Minister spoke of the recent meeting President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, had with contractors, where he urged them (Turn to page 20)

T

he Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Natural Resources has received bids from several international firms to conduct the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) baseline studies.

According to last Thursday’s minutes at the National Procurement Tender and Administration Board (NPTAB), four companies submitted Expressions of Interest for the project. They include Asian Consulting Engineering; Institute of Environmental Bay Phase (Portugal); Strategic WW Consortium and Nemus.

The successful consultant will be tasked with completing studies to identify the direct, indirect, short and long-term social and environmental impacts which could be generated by the oil and gas development in Guyana, as well as evaluating the scope and probability of the impacts due to increased activities offshore and onshore supporting facilities.

The facilities include ports/ wharves, logistical shore bases, chemical storage warehouses, bulking and liquid mud plants, heavy duty machining workshop for drilling bits, gas transfer pipelines, processing and power generation facilities, and the industrial site developments around the gas

processing facility, among others.

Further, the consultant will have to identify the gaps between Guyana’s Health, Safety, Environmental and Social (HSES) Safeguards and the World Bank’s protections, therefore helping to identify areas for capacity building and training of government officials in the management of the impacts arising from the oil and gas sector.

Recommendations to avoid, manage and/or lessen these impacts, and facilitate the integration of mitigation measures into a coherent set of legal and regulatory proposals and implementation measures will also have to be developed.

In addition, the consultant will provide environmental and social input to capacity building activities, discuss recommendations and facilitate coordination among the various government sectors and develop a Prioritised Action Plan, in coordination with other government stakeholders to provide for the transfer of knowledge, including on the job training and review workshops for selected personnel of government organisations.

Furthermore, the government is looking to have the consultant develop the SESA in line with the requirements

of the World Bank environmental and social policies in five phases: scoping; description of the regulatory and institutional framework and assessment of capacity; identification of HSES issues and risks; propose recommended mitigation and monitoring; support the implementation of priority mitigation measures, and final consultations, review and approval.

On the whole, considering the ongoing and proposed development and capacity building activities for the oil and gas sectors, the SESA will provide a comprehensive sector-wide examination of potential impacts, both positive and negative,and identify gaps in regulations, institutional capacity, and public consultation mechanisms.

The SESA aims at being a strategic framework for strengthening environmental and social sustainability of the oil and gas sector in Guyana, strengthening the country’s ability to address health and safety issues in this sector, and prepare an Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF).

In the process, the SESA will contribute to a more transparent understanding of environmental and social regulations, creating a more level playing field for private investors.

9

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

Guyana, Ghana deepen cooperation V

ice President, Hon. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday (December 7, 2021) participated at the signing of several agreements intended to further

cement relations between Guyana and Ghana.

The three agreements signed are: a Framework Agreement on Cooperation between the Government of

the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and Government of the Republic of Ghana; a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Natural Re-

sources of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Petroleum Commission, Ghana on Cooperation in the Petroleum Sector of the Cooperative Republic

of Guyana; and a Memorandum of Understanding On Mutual Cooperation In Investment Promotion Between Guyana Office For Investment and Gha-

na Investment Promotion Center.

The activity culminated the four-day visit by the Ghanaian Vice President and his delegation.

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

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

PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATION TO BETTER HELP FAMERS, OTHERS U N D P G u y a n a P r o g r a m m e C y c le t o in c lu d e C lim a t e S m a r t A g r ic u lt u r e , E a r ly W a r n in g S y s t e m s f o r f lo o d in g , f in a n c ia l m a n a g e m e n t f o r f a r m e r s

W

ith December 2021 marking the end of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) current five-year programming cycle, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Tuesday (December 7, 2021) met virtually with the organisation’s Resident Representative, Jairo Valverde to discuss areas of interest for Guyana, particularly for the agriculture sector, for the upcoming programming cycle.

The UNDP is currently developing its 2022-2026 country programme for Guyana, and has since engaged the government for its input based on what was outlined and prioritised in its developmental agenda, in which agriculture plays a major role.

Minster Mustapha said it was evident that the UNDP’s proposed country programme was in line with what the government has been doing since it took office. “As a government, it is very important for us to move the agriculture sector forward and we will look to our partners for assistance to further advance what we’ve started. For instance, you mentioned climate-smart agriculture.

Last year, in the 2020 Emergency Budget, the government had set aside $18.5 million to procure shadehouse materials to promote smart agriculture but we’ll need help to push it and extend it to more farmers and farming groups. By the end of the year, we’ll see approximately 100 shadehouses being constructed under that programme. In addition to smart agriculture, the ministry will also be introducing a programme that involves promoting the cultivation of high-value crops like carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower among the younger population,” Minister Mustapha said.

Furthermore, the subject minister

noted that the ministry, through the Pesticide and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) has also been engaging farmers about the harmful effects of chemicals in farming. Over the years Guyana was able to ensure that 70% of the chemicals used in Guyana’s agriculture sector are classified as moderately rather than hazardous of extremely hazardous.

Minister Mustapha said the ministry has also been promoting integrated pest management (IPM) and organic farming through the use of organic manure and natural pesticides.

While addressing Guyana’s vulnerability to flooding, Minister Mustapha said that it was critical for Guyana to improve its early warning capacities. Noting that Guyana is still recovering from what is considered the most devastating flood ever experienced in recent history, Minister Mustapha said that effective early warning systems would help policymakers and citizens to prepare for flooding. “We are now in the process of distributing flood relief grants for the floods that we experienced earlier this year. That flood devastated Guyana’s entire agriculture sector. The early warning system will play a very critical role in ensuring things are put in place to prepare for varying weather conditions. Although the government has invested in improving the infrastructure to combat flooding and other weather-related occurrences, Guyana’s geographical position still puts us in a very vulnerable position.

We are below sea level and depend on low tides before we can drain our lands on the coast. With 90% of the population living on the coast it is very difficult to avoid flooding but with an effective early warning system, we can be prepared to an extent,” Minister Mustapha said.

G S A e n g a g e s in u p d a t in g t r a in in g o f E x t e n s io n O ff ic e r s

T

he Ministry of Agriculture, in an effort to revamp the operations of the extension arm of its agencies, will, in 2022, introduce a curriculum designed to improve the effectiveness of its extension officers.

Through the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), extension officers attached to the ministry will receive training on how to properly carry out their functions to better cater to the needs of the nation’s farmers.

This was disclosed by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha during a commissioning exercise at the New Guyana Marketing Corporation’s (New GCM) Central Packaging Facility at the Sophia Exhibition Center last Wednesday.

Minister Mustapha said, since taking office, the government has been working to improve the services being offered to the farmers and agro-processors across the country. He further stated that officials from the Ministry and the Guyana School of Agriculture have been advised to develop a curriculum offering additional training to the ministry’s extension officers.

“Our senior officers were already informed and very soon they will commence working on a curriculum to offer training to our extension officers. This programme should be ready before mid-next year.

Extension officers will be able to receive training through the GSA to improve the services offered to our farmers and agro-processors. This is one of the steps we are taking to

revamp the sector so that quality service can be delivered. Agriculture is once again at the forefront of our economy and we have to ensure that our extension personnel are well equipped and informed on how to deliver the caliber of services that were promised to citizens during our 2020 elections campaign trail,” Minister Mustapha said.

Since taking office, Minister Mustapha has been meeting with farmers across the country who aired concerns about the quality of services being offered by the extension arm of several agencies which form part of the ministry.

After receiving similar complaints at a number of outreaches, Minister Mustapha disclosed that the entire extension arm of the ministry would soon be revamped. He also said that extension officers who were not willing to work to execute the mandate of the present government will be relieved of their services.

As it relates to the courses that will be offered to the extension officers, Minister Mustapha said that the curriculum will serve as both a refresher course and teach officers about updated methods of services as Guyana moves towards more technologically advanced approaches to doing agriculture. The courses are expected to include best practices for proper animal husbandry, artificial insemination techniques, shadehouse development, ‘sixpoint’ method for rice cultivation, post-harvest handling of perishable produce, and smart agriculture practices just to name a few.

11

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

Amerindian Development…

FOCUS ON GUYANA’ S FIRST PEOPLE Gov’t 'preparing the ground' for human resource development in hinterland – Minister Sukhai

M

inister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, said the government is working to develop its human resources in hinterland communities, which will enable village leaders to align their communities with the developments taking place countrywide.

The minister was speaking at the commencement ceremony of a two-day mediation training programme for village leaders from Regions Four, Five, Six and Ten, at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia.

“We have to train our people to ensure that they

are adequately equipped to take on the task of village building. If you build your village in a sustainable way, you’ll be able to contribute also to nation building. So, we are preparing the ground for development of the human resource in the hinterland, to take up the challenge of moving your community and your location forward as we progress,” Minister Sukhai said.

She said she is pleased that hinterland leaders now have opportunities for training, especially on how to better manage and resolve is-

sues in their villages. Sukhai said, “To see leaders who have been elected to serve the village from which they come having access not only to training, but you’ll be having access to information in a much more tangible and sustained way in the near future.”

Some 40 hinterland leaders have participated in the training. Minister Sukhai is encouraging them to share the knowledge gained with members of their community.

She said they will now be able to better solve issues in their villages, in an unbiased and fair manner.

Five Miles, Bartica to get first time access to potable water by month end – Croal − $30 M booster pump to arrive in two weeks

R

esidents of Five Miles, Bartica, Region Seven, will soon access potable water in their homes for the first time. The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is procuring a $30 million water booster pump to provide water to the community.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, gave the assurance during an outreach in the Bartica township recently. He subsequently visited the area where the pump will be installed at Four Miles.

Minister Croal said the booster pump will arrive in the country within two weeks, after which, it will be installed and over 800 residents will have access to water through their taps.

He said, “We have the civil works component which will see us putting the pipe system, the housing in the area where we will put the

booster pumps, as well as for the electro mechanical system to function. So, everything is in place, all we are waiting for now is the arrival of the pumps.”

The minister had visited the community last year and committed to expanding the water distribution system in Bartica so water could be accessed in Five Miles.

However, there were some challenges with pumping the water from the Bartica Water Treatment Plant to that community, which is located on a hill with an 83-metre elevation.

The water treatment plant can only pump water to an elevation of 45 feet, which covers up to Four Miles.

The minister subsequently visited in April this year and announced the procurement of a booster pump. The Minister explained that there were

some delays with the shipment of that pump. He said, “I would like to apologise on behalf of us from the management level and GWI and this government for the delay…but, I want to assure you that by the end of the year, once the pumps are here, Five Miles will definitely get their water.”

Over $120 million has been spent to expand water distribution and drill new wells in Region Seven this year. Apart from the expansion of the Bartica distribution system, a new water supply system was completed in Kamarang to provide service to more than 600 residents.

Additionally, a new water system is being constructed in Jawalla and Kaikan to provide service to more than 1,000 people.

An expanded water system was also commissioned at River’s View, which is close to Region Seven, but located in Region 10.

Gov’t flood relief cash grant taken to Region Eight communities Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai, MP, along with village leaders and other officials

US$3.9M Kumu hydropower plant to last 30 years T he proposed 1.5-megawatt (MW) hydropower plant at the Kumu River in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), is expected to last 30 years, once a rigid maintenance programme is employed.

This will allow the plant, together with the 0.7 MW Moco Moco hydropower plant, to provide clean energy to residents of Lethem

and surrounding villages.

It will generate 9,700 MWh annually, and is expected to provide employment to about 10 persons on a permanent basis during operation.

According to a non-technical summary from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US$3.9 million project is a runof-the-river plant which is

Projected Benefits of Kumu hydropower plant

technically and economically feasible.

Key considerations in determining the feasibility of this project were the current cost of power using diesel, at US$0.49 per kwH. The annual production costs stand at US$2.45 million per year. After government subsidies of US$500,000 a year, the power will be sold (Turn to page 20)

T

he PPP/C Government’s flood relief cash grant distribution exercise was taken to a number of villages in the South Pakaraima, Region Eight, recently.

Approximately 500 farmers and households from the villages of Kaibarupai, Sand Hill, Waipa, Kamana, Kopinang and Maikwak benefitted from grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.

The residents of these Patamona Amerindian villages are mostly involved in cash crop farming of fruits, vegetables, ground provision, and cattle rearing. They were forced to abandon their farmlands during the prolonged May-June rainy period.

During his address to the residents, Minister Colin Croal said that the cash grant is not compensation, but rather a support mechanism that will allow them return to their farming activities.

“I want to encourage you to utilise the money for the

purpose it is intended…get back to the clearing of your lands, buy your seeds and start planting. We want to see persons back into their farmlands because you have very fertile land in these areas,” he said.

The Minister also reminded the residents of some of the other measures implemented by the PPP/C Government since it got into office, to safeguard the livelihoods of citizens.

As part of efforts to stimulate hinterland village economies, a one-off COVID-19 relief grant was disbursed to communities to embark on economic ventures and construct community ICT hubs.

The $25,000 COVID-19 cash grant per household also had a significant impact on the lives of citizens, as well as the one-off cash grants for pensioners and persons living with disabilities. Students also benefited from the $19,000 ‘Because

we care’ cash grant programme.

Minister Croal noted that the PPP/C Administration continues to invest billions of dollars into all sectors in communities across the country. “Everywhere you go in Region Eight now, you can see development taking place, whether it is a school, health centre, roads, bridges, new water systems development is taking place,” he asserted.

In July, His Excellency, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali announced a $7.8 Billion relief package for farmers and households affected by the unprecedented May/June floods.

Meanwhile, Ministers of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, Amerindian Affairs, Pauline, and Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, spearheaded distribution exercises in other communities within the region.

12

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

POSITIONS FROM

“Strategic discussions” on regional Silica City, airport energy corridor set for January 2022 enhancement and Corentyne River bridge P discussed with investors

P

resident Dr. Irfaan Ali recently highlighted the need for investment opportunities in Silica City and spoke about the building of the Corentyne River bridge with three investors from Mexico and their Guyanese partner.

The meeting, which involved several Ministers of Government and other key Government officials, also saw pitches by the investors in areas such as housing, road and hospital construction and oil and gas.

After pitching their uniquely designed, cost affordable, modern concrete houses, the President put the investors on to his team from the Ministry of Housing, including the Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, the Honourable Susan Rodrigues and CEO of the Central Housing and Planning Authority Sherwyn Greaves for further discussions and a guided tour of communities currently being

developed.

The investors, led by CEO of Grupo Industrial Omega, Andres Holzer, also highlighted several other areas of interest, including an oil refinery and a new terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

He said that the group of investors also have the resources to pave the road from Lethem and Linden to enhance travel and investments between Guyana and Brazil.

The President listened to all the ideas, discussed their possibilities and then spoke about his Government’s plan to develop Guyana’s secondary city—Silica City.

The Head of State also asked the investors about their potential to build the Corentyne River bridge, which will link Guyana and Suriname by road. He reminded them that the planned bridge will use the design, finance, build and own model.

President Ali used the opportunity to express to

Mr Holzer his desire to see Guyanese products sold in duty-free shops in airports worldwide. Discussions will continue in this regard between Holzer and Ramesh Ghir, CEO of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation.

The businessman manages duty-free stores in 64 countries across the globe.

The other investors were CEO of Grupo TCO Federico Martinez, CEO of Cometa Javier Vazquez and local partner Dean Hassan, CEO of Star 10.

The meeting which took place at the Office of the President was also attended

by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh; Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony; Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd; Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and Minister Rodrigues.

resident Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that the “strategic discussions” amongst Guyana, Suriname, Brazil and French Guiana regarding the regional energy corridor are set to happen in January, 2022. The President shared this in his key note address to the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association’s (GMSA) 25th annual presentation and award ceremony, held at the Princess Hotel, on December 3, 2021 evening.

The Head of State also shared that the French Republic has asked to be a part of these discussions. He went on to add that the development of the Corentyne River Bridge that Guyana and Suriname are pursuing makes way for massive opportunities. Already, the Guyana and Suriname governments have taken steps to procure a sophisticated contractor to construct this crossing. “In the energy corridor, we want to have the development of the Corentyne River frontier,

and that includes the Corentyne River bridge. On our side, we have tremendous opportunities because of one of the largest deposits of A-grade bauxite is here.

With the energy from natural gas, we are talking about the development of aluminum, linking the deep-water harbour. Now, overnight a project that was not viable becomes viable.

The deep-water harbour by itself could not be viable, but the deep-water with this becomes extremely viable and lucrative,” the President articulated.

Recent hydrocarbon discoveries in the Guyana-Suriname basin include significant gas reserves that have renewed interest in the corridor. Guyana intends to pipe gas to shore from the Liza field to substitute its current oil-fired power generation. The Liza field was the first significant oil find offshore Guyana.

The Government is also operationalising plans for renewable energy projects

to support its intention of creating a cleaner energy mix. The energy corridor would see the countries teaming-up to share power based on a collective understanding of their needs and ability to supply. President Ali had said that the operationalisation of this plan would require development of local knowledge and capacity in the area of logistics.

The project had been under discussion for several years, as the Inter-American Development Bank conducted baseline and pre-feasibility studies in 2016 and 2017 on what it calls the ‘Arco Norte Electrical Interconnection.’

The Bank had stated that the main benefits of such a project would be lower-cost generation for all countries involved; potentially lowered electricity prices for consumers in Guyana and Suriname; more secure supply; reduced carbon dioxide emissions and export earnings, especially for Guyana.

Nonsensical regional trade barriers can be withdrawn overnight – Ali tells T&T’s Manufacturers’ Association that region must see operating space as one

P

resident Dr. Irfaan Ali said that a number of imposed barriers to regional trade can be withdrawn in a short space of time if capacity building and trading opportunities are prioritised.

The President delivered an enthralling address at the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) President’s Dinner and Award Ceremony on Tuesday evening, where he lobbied for members and stakeholders of the CARICOM region to see their economic operating space as one.

Manufactured goods, he noted, is being imported seven times more than it is being exported, despite there being countries in the region with abundant natural resources

and energy costs that are on par with developed nations.

He said, “We cannot move forward reasonably as a people; we cannot move forward reasonably as a collective if we are not willing to act in a selfless manner. The opportunities will slip by… I have the barriers by country, I have the impediments to trade by country for exports and imports and some of this is nonsensical. Some of these barriers that are imposed can be withdrawn overnight if you are serious about building capacity and opening up opportunities.”

President Ali, who focused on intra-regional food trade, also highlighted the glaring disparity in the import and export of food regionally and again lobbied for more to

be done to lessen the importation bills.

He noted that there are numerous products that can be produced in the region using home-grown or homemade materials and resources. “There are many areas we can have import substitution.

Why is it not happening? If you look at the possibilities for Guyana and Trinidad— you have better-developed port facilities, low cost of energy and location advantages. We have strong bilateral cooperation. We have cross-border investment arrangements,” Ali said.

The President emphasised the possibility of “marrying the competitive advantage” of T&T with that of Guyana in developing industries and opportunities for both

countries’ manufacturing and services sectors.

ONE SPACE He added that current hindering conditions, such as the supply chain crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, have resulted in shortages and rising inflation on goods and services such as food at a global level. He said, “That is why we have to wrap ourselves around a common objective to see our operating space as one and remove those barriers that have kept back the food production system. And those barriers have been nothing but a hindrance to our countries in the region. If we are not prepared to do this—then we are not serious.”

GUYANA’S COMMITMENT President Ali also took the opportunity to provide an update on several projects that his Government has embarked upon in keeping with its development trajectory.

The President paid particular attention to the development and diversification of the country’s agriculture sector and other non-oil sectors.

He said, “It is important to note too that we have committed ourselves totally to CARICOM. I’ve said on more than one occasion that the prosperity of Guyana is going to be the prosperity of CARICOM. We take our responsibility in CARICOM seriously.”

Ali also noted that the Government has been proactively expanding infrastructure, which includes con-

structing new farm-to-market access roads, new drainage and irrigation systems, while it has also made investments in smart and resilient agriculture and major facilities to create an enabling environment for investors.

The President added that the development of Guyana will stimulate manufacturing and industrial development in the region. He stated that this will be done through greater private sector partnerships. “As a Government, we have made it very clear that the achievement of all our targets, the achievement of all of these lofty ideas and vision must come with great partnership with the people of our country and the people of this region. And we have committed ourselves to working with every stakeholder,” he stressed.

13

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

M THE PRESIDENT

Gov’t aims to make Guyana an eco-destination powerhouse ‒ Ali annnounces massive development plans for specific areas in Georgetown

P

resident Dr. Irfaan Ali said that it is his Government’s vision to turn Guyana into “the number one eco-destination in this part of the region”.

To ensure that the country has a competitive edge, he said there will be massive development in the tourism sector in the near future. He said, “We are not going to play second to any.”

During his feature address at the Guyana Tourism Awards Gala at Parc Rayne-Rahaman’s Park in Houston on the East Bank of Demerara on Wednesday evening, the President said that this vision of Guyana is very clear to the Government and will be complemented by the level of visibility that the oil and gas sector has brought to the country.

“Oil and gas and the resources from oil and gas will be used to make every single sector competitive.”

The President said that Guyana has a quality tourism

product, which is sustainable, long-lasting, and impactful on people and communities.

He underscored the strategies, the vision and the need to promote Guyana, not just as a place, but a total experience—to this end, he said that his Government would ensure that official Christmas gifts are locally produced. Ali said, “We want to prove to you that these products are worthy of the highest offices; gifts to diplomats and every other person who gets those gifts. So we have to lead by example.”

MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN To augment the Government’s current plans and emphasise on local products and a broader destination, the Head of State announced that a “massive seawall re-development plan” will be launched early next year.

He said that this would be done by using best practices that are aimed at getting the

greatest economic value out of the seawall for the sector.

Additionally, a number of other projects are planned for the city. He said, “We are going to rehabilitate the old train wagons and that entire old shed, an entire station, and we want to create, from Main Street to Vlissingen Road, a Guyana Walk.”

The President explained that the train station and the entire stretch of area will be converted into a local art gallery and feature areas for local craft and food courts for local restaurants. He said, “And then right through it will be paved, and you will have the pavement blocks.

We will have trees planted.

We will have sitting arrangements so that families can go there. And this will be done before the first half of next year, creating a new image.”

Marketing Guyana as a tourism destination, according to President Ali, is not just the responsibility of the Government but should

PPP/C gov’t establishing transparency framework for petroleum sector

P

resident Dr. Irfaan Ali, told Harvard Business School academics on Monday (December 6, 2021) that his reform agenda for the regulatory framework of the petroleum sector, is meant to ensure transparency and accountability as its guiding principles.

He made the comment during his address to the institution’s virtual faculty workshop on the microeconomics of competitiveness.

Much of his presentation focused on the government’s efforts to make Guyana a competitive investment destination, while providing conditions that guarantee a high standard of living for the Guyanese people. Dr. Ali explained that the oil and gas sector will serve as a powerful mechanism to deliver these benefits. To this end, the PPP/C Government is implementing some key initiatives to properly manage the sector.

“We are in the process of tabling a lot of these before the National Assembly – a draft local content policy and Bill, establishment of a

natural resource fund, building local content for auditing, revising fiscal management of the petroleum sector,” the President said.

The government will soon table local content legislation in the National Assembly, after just a year in office, which will carve out quotas for Guyanese in the oil and gas sector.

The government has had to fast track this drafting process, after Guyana went six years post oil discovery without local content legislation. Similarly, the government will be revamping the natural resource fund, which was passed under the previous administration in the period following the passing of the December 21, 2018 Confidence Motion.

The wealth fund legislation currently in place has been flagged by several senior Ministers of Government as problematic.

The President said, “These are the important areas to ensure that the sector is competitive and more importantly, the sector brings competitive opportunities

for the local private sector.

I’m just demonstrating to you, the multifaceted nature of Guyana’s economy and the pace at which things are moving, and that pace requires the institutions of the state to also change rapidly and to modernise.”

He told the workshop that the rate of success in exploration is roughly 80 per cent, with 26 per cent commercial discoveries.

The discoveries, Dr. Ali related, are highly resilient with ExxonMobil reporting world class breakeven prices of US$35 per barrel and lower with incoming projects.

The President reiterated ExxonMobil’s ambitious development plan, and noted that production levels are projected to meet one million barrels of oil per day, well before 2030.

The government intends to use the proceeds from the sale of its lifts to invest in world class education, healthcare and infrastructure, among other features of a diverse and resilient developed economy.

unearth a sense of pride and patriotism from all Guyanese.

The President said that he is not asking persons to like the Government or any political parties, but to love their country and help promote and evolve its tourism sector.

He complimented the private sector for their efforts to decorate Main Street with Christmas lights and noted that the amount of marketing from persons posting photos of the lights on social media cannot be paid for.

NEW TOURISM PRODUCTS Guyana’s tourism potential will also be on display next year when an oil and gas conference is hosted. Plans are also in place to host the FAO World Agriculture Conference within a few years.

He said, “We are working on more international conferences to come our way because conferencing is an important part of the market here.”

The President also explained that his Government has started negotiations to have the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 cricket final hosted in Guyana. He said that this will be complemented by the development of a two-week all-encompassing tourism product that features the rejuvenation of the Guyana Festival and a regional night that will feature a CARICOM food festival.

Additionally, the Head of State pointed out that there would also be a regional carnival that will feature the best bands from a number of Caribbean islands. He said, “We have to do this, we have to think big—we have to think ahead of the game.”

REVIVING CULTURE The President also noted that in next year’s budget, specific funds will be set aside for local artists, arts and crafts, and cultural events, etc. He said, “Culture is the heart of our product. We have

to revive culture; we have to bring culture to the fore. We have to get the culture back in the school. We have to put our energy, time, and resources behind the revival of culture and let it be, and that will demonstrate the potential and push the tourism we’re talking about. So the strategy is very clear, the concept is very clear, the vision is very clear.”

President Ali highlighted the need for increased product differentiation. He said that the Government will formulate ways to make Guyanese products more viable so they can become more competitive on the international market.

The grand event, which saw the distribution of a number of awards to outstanding local destinations and services, was organised by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG).

Education key to transforming Guyana P

resident Dr. Irfaan Ali has reminded that an essential and indispensable element of government’s agenda to transform Guyana, is the building of a more equitable society.

Delivering the keynote address at the Harvard Business School’s Virtual faculty workshop on the micro economics of competitiveness on Monday, the Head of State said this is being done by providing educational opportunities for citizens all across the country. He said, “Every Guyanese person, irrespective of the region in which they live, irrespective of their ethnic or religious background, would have an equal opportunity and stake in the development of our country and resulting to prosperity. And how are we doing this? How we’re doing this is by one,

rolling out universal access to world class education as a centerpiece, of personal upliftment and empowerment.”

He outlined that this means that Guyanese will have access to quality nursery, primary, secondary and before the end of the first five years in office, tertiary education. Ali said, “The power of education as a means, having access to primary and secondary education, supporting attendance at school, through a free uniform programme, a free feeding programme, for at risk students’ transportation allowance. All of these are benefits the government is giving to ensure not only 100 per cent primary and secondary universal access to primary and secondary education, but to ensure attendance are not barred by issues of

hunger, cost of transportation, access to schooling.

The government is providing this. Improvement in equality, to eliminate disparities in regional education and to ensure that there is no gap between urban and regional education in many developing countries’ experience is there’s a marked difference in the quality of education in rural areas and urban areas. Our strategy is targeted at removing that gap and ensuring there’s clarity in the quality of education that is delivered.”

Since assuming office in August 2020, the PPP/C Government has assiduously worked to ensure educational opportunities are available. This was done through the Coursera initiative and the roll out of the Government’s 20,000 scholarships programme.

14

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

PPP/C engages private sector reps on opportunities As Guyana and Ghana continue engagement to deepen their bilateral relations and support

engagements between the two countries’ private s ectors , en s u rin g that Guyanese benefit is

a priority for the PPP/C Government.

On Monday (December 6, 2021), a meeting

was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Cent e r b e t w e e n t h e m e mbers of the local and

Ghanaian private sectors and a government team. The visiting Ghanian delegation in Guy-

ana, on a four-day visit, was led by the country’s Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia.

15

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 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 ’

Anyone who commits abuse will face full force of law – Dr. Vindhya Persaud – Launch of ‘CAN’ I

n launching her latest initiative called Community Advocates Network (CAN), Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud has made clear that anyone who perpetrates violence – irrespective of their office or status – will face the full force of the law.

CAN was launched at Parliament Building in Georgetown on Wednesday as the culmination of activities for 16 Days of Activism which commenced last November 25. The event saw the attendance of Prime Minister Mark Phillips, several ambassadors, Members of Parliament and Government ministers.

CAN is a brand new programme that encourages a

robust and vibrant network across the country where people encourage each other, help persons to seek help, and report issues to the Ministry in a timely way so that action can be taken.

“Abuse is a social issue that cannot be ignored anymore by anyone. It is never good to say it doesn’t exist.

We need to accept it for what it is and fix it,” Dr. Persaud said, adding, “It exists in our country and we need not be blind or dismissive. We need to hear the repeated cries for help, look beyond the physical and understand the emotional scars.”

As she called for persons to sign on to the “action-oriented” ‘I CAN’ pledge, Minister Persaud stressed that

perpetrators of abuse must know that they are always under scrutiny. “We have to let people know that we’re not going to turn a blind eye anymore. Irrespective of where you stand, you’ll be held accountable. Irrespective of who you are, if you’re perpetrating the crime of abuse you will face the full force of the law.”

Social media, Minister Persaud pointed out, has brought with it different challenges so that when people speak of emotional and verbal abuse, social media can be weaponized to create more long lasting scars. It is for this reason that Dr. Persaud noted that victims have to be supported to the extent that they do not feel alone,

abandoned or like no one is listening.

In few words, Prime Minister Phillips offered that violence against women and girls has no space in developing Guyana.

Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, who started her career as a Domestic Violence and Women’s advocate, urged victims not to be too ashamed or embarrassed to seek help, while Minister of Public Service Sonia Parag reminded that there’s a legal way out of domestic violence and that

focus should be on bringing awareness in the local communities.

Several other presentations were made by persons in support of Dr. Persaud’s initiative including the UK Ambassador, US Ambassador, Canadian High Commissioner, EU Ambassador and UN representative.

Meanwhile, the panel discussions in communities across the country saw presentations by persons in the legal, health and social work fields, survivors and advocates. These discussions

led to more community involvement in the fight against abuse and targeted survivors, perpetrators, persons experiencing abuse and persons who are willing to be advocates.

Among the other initiatives by the Ministry during this period were the launch of the ‘Orange the World’ filter on Facebook, candle lighting for those who died due to domestic violence, media events, book launches and much more. The Ministry was also lit up in orange in observance of the period.

16

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

170 house lots distributed during 'Dream Realised' housing drive in Region 5 S ome 170 residents of Region Five (Mahai-

ca-Berbice) received their house lots on Wednesday

(December 8, 2021) as the Ministry of Housing and

Water – Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) – held its final “Dream Realised” house lot allocation exercise for the year.

The exercise, held at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground, was the first in the region. Delivering the feature address, Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal reaffirmed Government’s commitment to delivering 50,000 house lots within its first term in office.

The allocation of house lots to families of Region Five in Block A Balthyock will bring the CH&PA closer to reaching its target of delivering 10,000 house lots by the end of 2021.

“Block A Balthyock is ripe for development, and as the first 170 allottees, you will set the pace for others to follow… Like other regions, Region Five has a growing list of persons who want low-income housing and access to round-the-clock potable water among other social amenities. We are doing our level best to bring

this to you within this fiveyear period,” Croal told the residents.

He added that part of the administration’s national housing programme is to build sustainable communities that are equipped with all the necessary infrastructure, including roads, bridges, drainage, electricity, water and recreational facilities.

To this end, since taking office in August last year, contracts to the tune of over $455 million were signed for major infrastructural works in Experiment. Close to $20 million is being spent to upgrade access roads at Balthyock, while similar works are being done in Block D, Bath at a cost of $18 million.

In 2022, the Minister announced, $462.6 million will be set aside for additional works in the area allocated on Wednesday. These include the construction of access and internal roads, the laying of pipelines, and drainage.

In addition, Minister

within the Housing Ministry, Susan Rodrigues, said the Government’s national housing programme has not only improved the overall development of the country, but has touched the lives of thousands of ordinary Guyanese.

“The area being allocated today is an easy one for persons to receive their documents for their land, since it is already owned by CH&PA, and so persons can approach the banks for loans to begin the construction of their homes,” she told the residents.

Minister Rodrigues has assured residents that the backlog of housing applications within the region would be cleared by 2025.

Also in attendance were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Andre Ally; Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Sherwyn Greaves; Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal and Regional Executive Officer Genevieve Blackman.

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

Hinds maintains he has ‘no apology’ to make for divisive rhetoric

T

he controversial David Hinds has doubled down on his divisive rhetoric saying he has “no apology” to make for his recent controversial comments.

The United States-based Hinds has been one of the more vocal personalities aligned to the APNU+AFC Coalition calling for persons to do everything possible to undermine the government.

His comments were premised on the claim that Afro-Guyanese have to respond to the “provocation of violence” by the PPP/C government via its economic policies – a claim for which there is no substantial evidence to support.

On November 22, 2021,

David Hinds, said: “I think the time has come to defend ourselves…it is time for action…I am also repeating my call to undermine the government. I said that in August and I am saying it again. A leader does not have to tell you how to undermine the government. There are many ways…undermine the government and continue to do so.” At the same forum, Hinds went further to call for Indian-owned businesses to be boycotted. He said, “They were enablers and they are enablers….it is your money that is spending on Regent Street that they does take and give to the PPP as contributions for elections so they can get

into government…undermine the economic partners of the PPP.” Prior to that, while addressing a small group of protestors at Victoria, East Coast Demerara in August 2021, Hinds said: “In whatever way you can undermine this (PPP/C) government. Undermine this government in whatever way you can. I can’t tell you how to do it, but ‘hint to Baniba mek Quashiba tek notice’ (Old African-Guyanese proverb meaning actions to hint something will result in awareness). Undermine this government!”

Despite the backlash over his statements, Hinds maintained his positions.

17

18

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

PNCR Congress postponed amid several controversies T

he increasingly controversial 21st Biennial Congress of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has been postponed to December 18, 2021.

In a terse statement, the PNCR said, “The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the People’s National Congress Reform at a meeting held on Thursday 09th December 2021 decided that,

in the interest of ensuring transparency, democracy and fairness to all its members, delegates and officials, its 21st Biennial Delegates Congress will be held on Saturday 18th December 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 is 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 rec-

ommend nor undertake the holding of the elections on December 11, 2021.”

Alexander’s recommendation was accepted by the Central Executive Committee by a majority vote on Thursday (December 9, 2021) after heated exchanged.

Last week, the PNCR was hit by resignations of members of its 21st Biennial Delegates Congress Accred-

itation 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. Also, on December 1, 2021, one of the four contenders 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.

The other contenders for PNCR leader are Joseph Harmon, Richard Van-West Charles and Basil Williams.

Incumbent leader of the PNCR, David 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.

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

Shuman rapped for ‘unfair, erroneous’ comments

D

eputy Speaker, Lennox Shuman, has been rapped for making comments that are unfair and erroneous, according to Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d), Mark Phillips.

Phillips, in reaffirming the PPP/C government’s commitment to the equitable development of Guyana and the improvement of the livelihoods of all Guyanese, noted his profound disappointment with comments made by Shuman.

Responding to a letter

by Shuman published in the Monday edition of the Stabroek News, the Prime Minister said the Deputy Speaker has departed from facts to unfairly and erroneously suggest that the PPP/C Government is not open to dialogue with regard to the development of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana.

“Not only is this position inconsistent with the well-established track record of the PPP/C when it comes to Amerindian development throughout its tenure in office, but it runs counter to the goodwill and good faith he and I shared in our most recent engagement,” Phillips said.

FULL STATEMENT

BY PRIME MINISTER, BRIGADIER (RET’D), MARK PHILLIPS: I must share my profound disappointment at the position taken by Deputy Speaker

of the National Assembly, the Honourable Mr. Lenox Shuman, in a letter published under his name in Monday’s edition of the Stabroek News.

In this letter, Mr. Shuman departs from facts to unfairly and erroneously suggest that the PPP/C Government is not open to dialogue with regard to the development of the Indigenous peoples of Guyana.

Not only is this position inconsistent with the well-established track record of the PPP/C when it comes to Amerindian development throughout its tenure in office, but it runs counter to the goodwill and good faith he and I shared in our most recent engagement.

On October 25, 2021, at my office, Mr. Shuman and I cordially discussed several matters related to indigenous peoples’ development and the Government’s approach to bridging the digital divide and eliminating the disparity in quality of life between our hinterland and coastland.

In his own words, after that interaction, Mr. Shuman publicly declared on Facebook: “The Prime Minister iterated his government’s commitment to taking steps to ensure Indigenous Peoples are part of the development of Guyana under the One Guyana framework and that the infrastructural needs are critical to such future plans along with ICT access among others. He was also very re(Turn to page 20)

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

COM M ENTARY

19

Guyana on the path to give the world a third CARICOM champion of the earth

By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

T

he Weekend Mirror this week is thrilled to offer congratulations to Prime Minister Mia Motley and to our sisters and brothers in Barbados. The United Nations (UN) has this year named Prime Minister Motley as one of the Champions of the Earth. It is a well-deserved honor for the Prime Minister and it is another time that Barbados is bringing distinction to CARICOM. Prime Minister Motley is only the second CARICOM national that has ever been recognized with the distinction of the title Champion of the Earth. She was honored for policy areas related to climate change mitigation and adaptation and for being a voice for responsible action from large countries.

At the recent UN General Assembly addressing the need for more aggressive action in implementing the Paris Agreement, PM Motley joined Guyana’s President to demand action to avoid a climate catastrophe which was already imperiling the future of small-island states, like her own and countries like Guyana which has already had to bear the burden of climate change. PM Motley is a deserving recipient of the Champion of the Earth award. We are proud of this Caribbean woman.

The Champion of the Earth is an honor given out each year by the UN. It is the world’s most prestigious environmental award. It is a good time for Guyana and the Caribbean to reflect that this small region of small developing states has now produced two Champions of the Earth. Bharat Jagdeo was one of the UN’s Champion of the Earth when the UN bestowed this prestigious award on a Guyanese and a CARICOM national for the first time ever in 2010. At the time, during his second term, as President of a country with 40 million acres of untouched rainforest, Bharat Jagdeo worked on inviting donors and investors to pay for the protection of the forests through the sale of carbon credits, or investments in eco-tourism and pharmaceutical discoveries.

Since then, not only has the

country dedicated millions of areas for rainforest conservation, but Guyana has already earned more than $200M US in a carbon credit agreement with Norway. As part of the investment from carbon credit earnings, President Jagdeo invested hefty resources to improve the country’s coastal infrastructure to protect it from the potential rise in sea levels.

He had proposed as President of Guyana that the UN Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) program adopts Guyana’s model on forest management and has encouraged the rest of the world to live in a way “where protecting forests is more economically prudent than cutting them down”. During the recent UN meeting this year, President Irfaan Ali again called on large countries to help Guyana protect our rain forests for the world.

It is imperative because it is unfair for Guyana to now treat our rainforest as a global asset without being compensated. Guyana is doing it anyhow, but President Ali has appealed that Guyana should not have to carry the burden for rich countries, which exploited their forest resource and now expect Guyana to carry that burden alone. We salute President Ali for forcefully reminding the world that our rainforest is now a significant part of the “lung of the world”.

In 2010, the UN called Jagdeo “a passionate forestry and ecosystem infrastructure proponent.” He won the Special Award for Biodiversity Conservation and Eco System Management.

In accepting the award in 2010 in Seoul in the Republic of Korea, President Jagdeo said that while he was deeply honored to accept the award, but made it clear that he interpreted it as an endorsement of the people of Guyana’s longstanding efforts to help change the way the world values scarce natural resources.

He said for years, the people of Guyana have demonstrated real commitment to the preservation of nature and biodiversity, most notably as it relates to the country’s still largely intact tropical rain-

forest. Those sentiments are now being strongly echoed

by Guyana’s new President.

President Ali is now ensuring the world know that Guyana is moving ahead with an even more aggressive low carbon development strategy and while we hope that rich countries will work with Guyana, he has assured Guyana is implementing this strategy” with or without” the developed countries.

Guyana presently has more than 18 million hectares (about 40M acres) of rainforest cover. This is the second largest % forest coverage on earth at the moment. Under the leadership of President Ali, Guyana has promised that deforestation rate will not exceed the present 0.06%.

This rate is about 90% lower than deforestation rates in other tropical countries with rainforest cover. In spite of this impressive record on rainforest deforestation rate, President Ali has promised even more aggressive efforts to reduce deforestation even more. This is an investment in global protection and Guyana should be compensated for foregoing significant resources in order to help the world stop a climate catastrophe. It is not just that

maintaining our rainforest helps the world maintain its “global lung capacity”, it is that Guyana rainforest today represents 2.4% of known plant species in the world.

This is one of the largest contributions to the global plant species asset. Thus, it is important that there is a global partnership to preserve Guyana’s rainforest.

But there is even more reason to preserve the rainforest in Guyana and for the world to look at Guyana to preserve this global asset. About 4% of the global animal species have made Guyana’s rainforest their home. There are few environmental areas with this rich diversity. In terms of bird species, there are more bird species in Guyana’s rainforest than can be found in the entire United States. When we add on top of all of this the fact that Guyana’s rainforest has a carbon stock of more than 21B tons, any kind of deforestation will have major impact on global warming and climate change. Guyana, therefore, is a major focal area in any meaningful fight against global warming and climate change. Guyana’s rainforest is part of the Guy-

ana shield which presently holds 18% of the global forested carbon stock. In addition, 20% of the global fresh water stock can be found in the Guyana Shield.

For this small area to hold such a disproportionately large carbon stock and fresh water, the global interest cannot be underestimated.

President Ali is ensuring that Guyana is recognized in this regard.

Already, as part of the low carbon strategy, Guyana is ensuring that our new OIL and GAS industry bring gas to shore in a $US900M investment. We expect that this will be largely in place by 2025 and reduce fossil fuel by between 30 and 50% in the period 2025 and 2027.

In addition, almost a billion US dollars will be invested in building a hydroelectricity capacity. This includes the Amaila Hydroelectricity Project which has been in the works for a long time.

It was foolishly and recklessly abandoned in 2016 by the previous Granger-led government. This project is now back on the fast-track low carbon development agenda and is expected to further reduce fossil fuel use in Guyana by 70% by 2027-

2030. In addition, Guyana is building several other smaller hydroelectric plants, some of which will be operational before 2025, such as the Moco Moco hydroelectric plant in Region 9. Also, there is the solar panel program to bring electricity to remote and underserved areas.

One thing is assured in CARICOM. It is not the last time in a long time to come that a Caribbean leader will be a Champion of the Earth.

My money is on the UN naming another Champion of the Earth not long from now.

My prediction is that Guyana again will be honored by the UN with a citizen that is given the honor and recognition of Champion of the Earth. I predict that sometime in his tenure as President of Guyana that President Irfaan Ali will be given that honor. As long as Guyana aggressively implement the new Low Carbon Development Strategy that President Ali launched a few weeks ago, he will almost certainly be recognized by the UN as a Champion of the Earth. He will deserve it.

Guyana will be honored again and CARICOM will continue to punch much harder than our small physical size.

20

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

US$3.9M Kumu hydropower... (From page 11) Lima Sand access road to... at US$0.33-0.40 per kwH. The Kumu plant will cut the cost of power in half, and is expected to operate at a profit of about US$3 million per year.

The Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI) will implement actions to prevent, reduce or mitigate any possible negative impacts of the project on the environment. The EPA has outlined the project’s key

impacts and mitigation measures.

The implementing agency, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) is executing the project under the Hinterland Electrification programme.

The Kumu hydropower plant, along with the US$2.2 million Moco Moco hydropower plant, are being pursued with assistance from the Islamic Development

Bank (IsDB).

The plants form part of the PPP/C Government’s comprehensive energy sector reform plan.

The energy mix, over the next decade, will face an overhaul of renewable energy sources and natural gas.

The government intends to cut the cost of power in half and significantly reduce emissions associated with electricity.

to both expedite their work and maintain quality. “We are pushing very hard to have the road completed in the shortest possible time.

It was anticipated originally when the contract would have been awarded, that it would have been completed early next year, but I think

if they continue to move at this pace, it is likely they could complete it before the end of this year and we are pushing very aggressively to see if that is achievable,” Minister Singh said.

The first phase of the project is 800 metres long, 20 feet wide and will be

Shuman rapped for ‘unfair... ceptive to ideas put forth on advancing initiatives that will enhance IP’s [Indigenous Peoples] presence and participation in Guyana”.

It is now an enigma that only a few weeks later, Mr. Shuman has taken a position in absolute contrast and contradiction to the facts when even in his published letter to the editor, he admits to being consulted on numerous occasions and his suggestions

considered.

Outside of this inconsistency, I urge him to continue to engage the relevant authorities and respective ministries where there are concerns, as he has done in the past.

Our Indigenous brothers and sisters form a significant part of our country’s history and will most certainly be a part of its future and development through a considerate and consultative mechanism,

(From page 8)

outfitted with concrete drains. Dr. Singh said government is looking forward to the timely completion of the road and the continuation to the next phase.

The road upgrade is part of government’s infrastructural agenda to improve and increase access.

(From page 18) as has been consistently demonstrated by successive PPP/C Governments.

The PPP/C Government will always respect the views of our Indigenous peoples.

I also take this opportunity to reaffirm our Government’s commitment to the equitable development of Guyana and the improvement of the livelihoods of all Guyanese.

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

21

22

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

Explainer: Omicron vs COVID-19 vaccines: What more do we need to know?

(Reuters) - Laboratory studies released this week suggest that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus will blunt the power of Pfizer (PFE.N) and BioNTech's vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection after two doses, although a third dose may restore that protection.

Data is still needed on how protective COVID-19 vaccines remain in real-world use against the highly mutated Omicron variant. The following is what we still need to know: DOES OMICRON CAUSE MORE SEVERE, OR MILDER, DISEASE? Although some preliminary data suggest that this new version of the coronavirus causes milder disease than prior variants, the jury is still out, said John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College.

In order to help assess the variant's severity, scientists will track how many vaccinated people still get infected with Omicron, and whether they require hospitalization or intensive care. Real-world data are needed on people who are unvaccinated, those who have gotten two doses of vaccine and those who have gotten a booster. Such evidence may be needed from multiple countries because the experience with the variant can vary in different regions, said Shane Crotty, a virologist at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in San Diego. Scientists expect answers to those questions over the next few weeks.

WILL OMICRON REPLACE DELTA? Deadly and easily transmitted Delta remains the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, representing 99.8% of global infections as of

Dec. 7, according to the World Health Organization.

For Omicron to be a significant problem, it will need to change that balance to become dominant.

"If we suddenly start to see 10% of new infections being Omicron, and then it goes up the next week to 20%, that would tell us that we're in a replacement wave such as we saw when Delta replaced Alpha," Moore said.

Otherwise, it could behave be more like the Beta variant, which demonstrated an ability to reduce vaccine effectiveness, but never became a global threat. "It's going to be interesting to see ... how those two variants fare and how well they are able to compete for victims" in a highly vaccinated country, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER VACCINES? Lab studies of other COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna Inc (MRNA.O), AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) are also underway. Those studies analyze the impact of the Omicron variant on blood samples from previously infected and vaccinated people.

Many scientists expect these shots also will show a reduction in their ability to neutral-

ize Omicron compared with earlier coronavirus variants.

Moderna's shot uses similar technology as Pfizer/ BioNTech's, but has been shown to offer more durable protection against infection with previous variants, a benefit believed to be due to its higher dose and longer interval between shots. Moderna may see less of a drop in neutralizing antibodies compared with Pfizer, Adalja said.

China's Sinovac Biotech

(SVA.O) has said it is conducting studies to determine whether its inactivated virus vaccine works against Omicron or whether the company needs to develop new ones. It could be another three weeks to know how well Russia's Sputnik V holds up against Omicron, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, told CNBC. "I suspect you'll see a diminution (in efficacy) in all of them," Adalja said.

23

WEEKEND MIRROR 11-12 DECEMBER, 2021

Health Minister calls for vigilance during Christmas season

G

uyanese are being urged

by Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, to remain vigilant against COVID-19, as they celebrate the Christmas season.

Dr. Anthony said it is customary for persons to want to socialise with friends and family during the season.

He said while the numbers are seeing a downward trend, persons must remain cautious Minister Anthony said there are still persons not following the COVID-19 protocols, which could result in more positive cases. He said, “There are still too many persons who are not adhering to these recommendations that we would have put out including, wearing masks and keeping distance and

so forth, if you breach those guidelines unfortunately, we are going to see more cases.”

Additionally, the minister said countries that detected the Omicron variant have seen an exponential increase in coronavirus cases, and as such, he is calling on more persons to start practicing the precautionary measures, that way they can celebrate the Christmas season and also be safe from COVID-19. “Here we have an opportunity right now to make sure we are taking those precautions, and while we go through the holiday season, we need to go through it very safely and if we take those precautions we can do both things, we can celebrate the holidays, and at the same time be safe, but it requires some amount

of discipline,” Minister Anthony said.

Dr. Anthony is again urging persons to get fully inoculated as it is the most effective way of preventing the severe form of the disease and even death.

As of Tuesday (December 7, 2021), over 404, 000 or 78.9 percent of the adult population took the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while over 284,000 or 55.4 percent are fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile 3, 790 persons, 18 years and older took their booster shot.

For persons within the 12-17 age cohort, over 29,000 or 40.5 percent took the first dose of the US-made Pfizer vaccine while over 20,000 or 28.5 percent are fully vaccinated.

MOH begins digitising COVID vaccination records ‒ verification of vaccination to become easier

Booster shots available for T persons 18 and older

he Ministry of Health has begun the digitisation of the COVID-19 vaccination records, which will make it easier to verify the authenticity of a person who claims to have been vaccinated.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony revealed that the ministry has already hired staff who are inputting the data into computers. He said, “The ministry has put together a team, we have about 10 persons who are working on digitising those records and that work is continuing.”

Minister Anthony noted that the government is currently working with the Government of India to get the software CoWin, to transfer the data for optimum use.

“Those discussions have not been concluded as yet, but it’s ongoing and we are hopeful that once those discussions conclude that we would be able to get the software

A

ll COVID-19 vaccination sites across the country are now offering booster doses to persons 18 years and older.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, is encouraging persons to visit any one of the sites to receive their jabs. “So those previous requirements that we had where you have to be 50 years and older, we have now lowered that requirement to 18 years and older. So, once you have received two of those primary regimens, and now you’re six months after that, you can come and get a booster dose,” Dr. Anthony.

Since the roll out of the ministry’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign earlier this year 738, 995 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. This includes first, second and booster shots.

Dr Anthony is calling on persons to take their jabs as it is “the surest way” to protect against COVID-19. He said, “From these numbers, we still see that there are a number of persons who can get their first dose but haven’t presented themselves as yet, and we want to encourage them to do so. Make sure you

get your first dose and then come back for your second dose. There are persons who have already received their first dose but haven’t come back for a second dose. And we want to encourage them,

as well, to make sure that they get their second dose.”

The vaccines being administered are the AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

right… We have digitised the records but we now have to import it into a software so that you know you can have easy reference and so forth,” Dr. Anthony said.

When this process is over, places such as the airports can verify the authenticity of a person’s vaccination status, as a number of persons would have bought vaccination cards and may be able to bypass the current manual verification method.

Only a few days ago, media outlets reported that a number of nurses have been nabbed in a major vaccination booklet scam. The nurses allegedly sold over 500 vaccination cards, pocketing millions.

As such, Minister Anthony said persons who may have information of the purchasers of the vaccination cards, should provide the Guyana Police Force with

the names of those individuals to crack down on the corruption.

Apart from the illegality of purchasing a vaccination card, Minister Anthony said the purchasers also pose as a health threat to the vaccinated population. He said, “Imagine somebody in possession of a fake vaccination card, if that person gets sick, coming to the hospital and, you know, they have a severe form of COVID, and doctors might falsely believe they have been vaccinated, they would have had produced antibodies, and so forth. So, it is going to be a challenge with these fake cards circulating and not knowing the true status of the person.”

Meanwhile, other persons have recognised the importance of the vaccines and have been coming forward and taking their jabs.

Wanted bulletin issued for Coalition-aligned Rickfork Burke T

he Guyana Police Force on December 3, 2021 issued a wanted bulletin for United States-based Guyanese Rickford Burke in connection with seven offences.

Burke, who is aligned to the APNU+AFC Coalition, appeared on a Facebook live programme with APNU+AFC Parliamentar-

ian, Sherod Duncan, on December 2, 2021, where he reportedly made a number of seditious remarks about the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic, made a call for agitation against the PPP/C Government and for Guyana to be divided along ethnic lines.

Burke said, “I hope the

international community is taking stock of what we are saying because when black people start to respond – and I question whether Bharrat Jagdeo, Anil Nandlall, Irfaan Ali and all these people who are working hard to incite a civil war; I wonder if they think they will survive. “…I don’t think we

should mince words anymore...I think we must seriously start examining whether we should divide the country….I think, this a time right now for militancy and a revolution in Guyana. We are not going to sit back and allow the PPP to enslave black people. It is time black people rise up and fight back…I

in life’s little treats!

think we should enter a period of non-cooperation with the PPP – do not cooperate with them. They should be no Service Commission. I think the members of the Guyana Elections Commission from the Coalition should resign… bring everything to a halt.

Grind government to a halt.

Create an international incident…bring this government to its knees. “…they must understand that they are not the only bad people or gangsters in the country. The PPP must understand that. So until somebody get run off the road or something to compensate for the things they have been doing, they gonna keep doing it. And I am not afraid to say, I’m not afraid to say, this is a time we gotta challenge them back.”

According to the Police Force, Burke is wanted for questioning in relation to the several offences and several other offences.

1. Offence: The excitement of hostility or ill-will on the grounds of Race. [s. 2 of the Racial Hostility Act. Any person who willfully excites or attempts to excite racial hostility against a particular race by means of words spoken in a public place or transmitted by telegraphy].

2. Offence: Sedition under the Cyber Crime Act. [pursuant to s. 18(1)(a) and (f). the offence is made out if it’s against the government s. 18(1)(a) and if it excites racial divisions (f)] 3. Offence: Use of a computer system to coerce and intimidate under the Cyber Crime Act. [s.19 (3) makes it an offence to disseminate information via computer which is known to be false to damage the reputation of another person].

4. Offence: Seditious Libel [offence at common law. It is the overt speech or conduct to bring hatred and contempt against the Government].

5. Offence: Seditious Libel [s.

320 Criminal Law offences Act 8:01.]

6. Offence: Inciting the provocation of a breach of the peace [provoking a breach of the peace is s.141 Cap 8:02.

Inciting any offence is itself an offence] 7. Offence: inciting public terror. Inciting public terror in public places is an offence under s.137 of Cap. 8:01the incitement of persons to go to public places and behave a certain way could be incitement to cause public terror] The APNU+AFC Coalition has since come out in defence of Burke.

deluxe ice cream

Committed to excellence

Available in 1 Pt. & 2 Pts.

#BUYLOCAL

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