Weekend Mirror 13-14 November, 2021

Coalition opposed to stiff penalties for election riggers 13-14 November, 2021 / Vol. 11 ‒ No. 98 / Price: $100

Email: mirror2018.gy@gmail.com

PAGE 3

GECOM shortlisting applicants for CEO PAGE 16

Ramjattan bashes sugar workers PAGE 18

Infighting continues…

PNCR General Secretary clashes with candidate for leadership PAGE 19

SEE INSIDE Paramakatoi to benefit from Smart Hospital PAGE 7 Initiative Almost 9,000 house lots PAGE 20 distributed in just over a year

SIDS lacking support, not ambition to fight PAGE 14 climate crisis ‒ Dhaka-Glasgow declaration endorsed

by Guyana at global climate conference

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Seven sacked from City Hall for ‘participating in fraudulent financial activities’

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n investigation into suspected financial irregularities led to the firing of seven staff members of the Georgetown City Council’s Treasurer’s Department, according to the Local Government Commission.

A statement from the

Commission said, “It was determined that the seven individuals were direct participants in the fraudulent financial activities.”

After taking office last year, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had launched

an audit into City Hall, which had targeted both the financial and operational makeup of the municipality. Calls for transparency come on the heels of reports last year that there was no accountability for the $300 million Restoration Fund which was

contributed for the restoration of the dilapidated City Hall Building.

In the past, several officers of the Council have been dismissed or disciplined for misconduct and other allegations

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BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT At its duly convened Statutory Meeting held on 26th October, 2021 the Local Government Commission made a unanimous decision to summarily dismiss seven (7) employees who were attached to the City Treasurer’s Department of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown. The dismissed employees are: 1. Ms. Kim Forbes – Tax Collection Officer/Supervisor 2. Mr. Kurt Clarke – Tax Collection Officer/Supervisor 3. Ms. Makeisha Smith – Cashier 4. Ms. Crystal Sinclair – Cashier 5. Ms. Sonya Pitt – Clerk III 6. Mr. Kurt Singh – Clerk III 7. Ms. Terica Haley – Clerk II The dismissals are in response to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown officially notifying the Local Government Commission of suspected financial irregularities which

had surfaced within the City Treasurer’s Department. The seven named individuals were then sent on administrative leave to facilitate a full investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities. At the conclusion of the investigation, it was determined that the seven individuals were direct participants in the fraudulent financial activities and had breached their fiduciary duties to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown. Their dismissal took effect on November 2, 2021.

The Commission also took a decision to revert the Acting City Treasurer, Mr. John Douglas, to his substantive position of Accounting Manager and appointed Ms. Edwana Miller to perform the acting duties of City Treasurer.

Section 13 of the Local Government Commission Act, Act No. 18 of 2013 empowers the Local Government Commission as the only entity in Guyana with the authority to exercise regulatory and administrative oversight over all local government organs in Guyana.

James surrenders to Police

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mbattled former Head of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Sydney James, after the Guyana Police Force, last week, issued a wanted bulletin for him.

James has since been placed on $300,000 station bail.

According to the Force, James is wanted for questioning in relation to fraud and obtaining money by false pretences.

James, of Lot 28 George Avenue Lamaha Springs, North Ruimveldt, had been sent on administrative leave in July of 2019 and his contract was not renewed after damning findings were uncovered by an audit.

The audit that was ordered by the Police Commissioner in February 2019 and was triggered after the former British adviser, Dr Sam Sittlington, had made a number of allegations against the Unit.

Based on the information provided, the GPF’s Audit Department, which conducted the investigated, looked into 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. From which it was shown that $52 million was collected from the Ministry of Public Security by SOCU

for its operational fund. Monies from the fund are used to pay SOCU informants, rent surveillance vehicles, maintain the building housing the unit, day-to-day administrative expenses, and other expenditures.

The audit revealed that several staff members collected monies totally millions of dollars, with claims that it was being used to gather intelligence, without providing any corroborating evidence. The examination of some payments more than half a million dollars each to a few of the ranking officers in one 2016 month, showed the receipts to have been backdated, to give an air of legitimacy to the payments.

It was reported that the auditors were hindered when attempting to conduct the audit by the absence of receipts and monies not being detailed as to the purposed it was spent. Evidence surfaced of unsigned entries in the financial records. In another case, there was evidence of forgery of an official signature.

Further evidence showed that some of the listed expenditures were fabricated.

(Turn to page 3)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Coalition opposed to stiff penalties for election riggers I

n the week since the proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) have been made public, the APNU+AFC Coalition has been the first to come out swinging with objections – specifically opposition to still penalties for would be election riggers.

The Coalition’s Khemraj Ramjattan, this week on a live streamed social media programme, said: “They have also, I think, expanded or increased, sorry, the imprisonment for a number of offences…before you gone and put life sentences on certain penalties, which never in across the Commonwealth as far as I am are, you don’t go and check what it is in Trinidad, Barbados, in CARICOM? Why not go there? All of a sudden life imprisonment for certain

people. That is now how you do sentencing.

“It is to drive fear…they are saying yes, whosoever, is a Presiding Officer that do some mischief, whatever, big sentence behind him.

People sometimes, could, for very good reasons, not do the correct things, not necessarily because of sabotage of the system or rigging and they can suffer some serious penalties.

“When we are doing sentencing, especially as lawyers, you have to understand, basically, what it is you are trying, as best, to solve. Now if you just feel as PPP, we gon solve this problem by sentencing them (offenders) to almost death – because that is the equivalent of life imprisonment these days – what are you really doing?

“Then also a lot of very competent people, who know that they could make mistakes, they themselves will not want to go out and be members who are going to be Presiding Officers and Polling Agents and so on.

This (the amendments for stiff penalties) will have a chilling effect.”

Ramjattan has also argued against the move forward with electoral reform, making the case for the process to nor proceed as it is being done. According to him, electoral reform should wait on the constitution of the Law Reform Commission and follow the bureaucracy of that comes with the Commission’s work.

Notably, Ramjattan did not respond to the issue of the time the process will take, nor the fact that Local Gov-

James surrenders...

Reports of purchases from well-established vendors were indicated, when they auditors attempted to verify, it was clear that the officials at SOCU only collected quotation but never purchased the recorded items. Evidence on some of the invoices showed duplication, tampering, fraudulent double entries and fake entries.

Monies seized by SOCU should be in an account bearing interest, however in clear violation of the anti-money laundering laws, seized cash was being kept at the unit and

some at the Guyana Police Force’s Finance Department.

Concerns were raised over this matter, on several occasion, no actions was taken to correct the illegality.

SOCU, under James, had also been involved in a number of controversial operations, including the high-profile car chase of the wife of a People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), which resulted in the death of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Sergeant Robert Pyle and his wife Stacy, along with

(From page 2)

another civilian in a smashup on Carifesta Avenue in December 2015 – an incident that remains the subject of many unanswered questions.

SOCU’s establishment – under the Guyana Police Force – was part of Guyana's international obligations to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework. Despite the intent of the Unit, under the APNU+AFC Coalition, the Unit was criticised as being used to target the PPP/C.

ernment Elections have to be held soon. “This in an especially sensitive piece of legislation…they (the PPP/C) are not utilizing the bureaucracy,” he said.

The Coalition’s Ramjattan, while arguing for consultation with agencies like the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) ignored the fact that what is circulated is a draft of proposed changes to Guyana’s electoral laws that are currently the subject of a six-week consultation period that includes multiple stakeholders. “GECOM has been abandoned now, although you have it is existence…

GECOM ought to have a say…that is what makes this difficult to accept at this stage,” Ramjattan, misguidedly, informed.

Ramjattan also objected to the support being offered to Guyana by the International Republican Insti-

tute (IRI). Notably, the US Department of State has recently announced that it was supporting an 18-month project to strengthen the capacity of GECOM and the Attorney General’s Chambers to lay the groundwork as it relates to electoral reform. The project, which will be implemented by the International Republican Institute. Guyana has also been offered assistance, mostly technical, from several other bilateral partners – including Canada and India as well as various international organisations – to aid in the electoral reform process.

The move to electoral reform follows the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. Guyanese were subject to a five-month wait for the final results from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections because of the actions of several persons involved in the process

at GECOM. In the aftermath of the controversial five-monthlong elections last year, a number of high-ranking Guyana Elections Commission officials have been investigated by the Police and charged for misconduct in public office and forgery.

They include Lowenfield, who on October 12, 2020, was slapped with six charges by the Police relating to forgery and misconduct in public office pertaining to his alleged role in the attempts to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. Also before the Courts are the former Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers; former Returning Officer in Region 4, Clairmont Mingo; and several other technical staffers working within the GECOM Secretariat. [SEE RELATED REPORTING ON PAGE 11]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

EDITORIAL

Clear signals sent

by Coalition’s Government must enforce objections, misinformation Guyana’s electoral integrity on proposed electoral reform T T Dear Editor,

he APNU+AFC Coalition, almost a week after the draft of the proposed amendments to the Representation of People’s Act (ROPA) were released for public consultation, went public with its objections to the move toward electoral reform.

Guyanese, all recall, the PPP/C government’s promise of electoral reform to ensure that our country never has a repeat of the March 2020 Elections, a process that saw a five month delay between polling and the declaration of final results – interspersed with frivolous legal action that went all the way to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), brazen attempts to tamper with the tabulation of votes, barefaced lies to the Guyanese people and efforts by the now Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, to discredit over 100,000 votes that were recounted during the national recount and declare the Elections in favour of the APNU+AFC Coalition. The facts are clear for all Guyanese and no amount of effort by the Coalition will be successful in re-writing history.

So what are the grounds for the Coalition’s objections?

Primarily, the arguments so far have been centered on the stiff penalties for the ‘would be riggers’ at any future election.

The APNU+AFC Coalition Parliamentarian, Khemraj Ramjattan, on a live streamed social media programme this week, argued against stiff penalties, saying it will have a “chilling effect” on workers involved in the electoral process.

But is that not the point of laws, to deter from certain activities? Ramjattan had said: “Why go there…it is to drive fear… they are saying yes, whosoever, is a Presiding Officer that do some mischief, whatever, big sentence behind him. People sometimes, could, for very good reasons, not do the correct things, not necessarily because of sabotage of the system or rigging and they can suffer some serious penalties…then also a lot of very competent people, who know that they could make mistakes, they themselves will not want to go out and be members who are going to be Presiding Officers and Polling Agents and so on. This (the amendments for stiff penalties) will have a chilling effect.”

Further, the Coalition has already kicked its misinformation campaign into gear – arguing for the input of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and other stakeholders into the electoral reform process, while ignoring the fact that the proposed amendments to the Representation of People’s Act are just that, proposals that are intended to inform a six-week consultation period with GECOM, all the political parties and any stakeholders from the public interested in making a contribution. The Coalition’s penchant for ignoring facts is not new to Guyanese. However, it continues to be harmful to the progress of our nation.

That said, the Coalition seems to need reminding that the PPP/C Administration has never been interested in wasting time and money, when it comes to serving the Guyanese people. The PPP/C Administration, will not spend months talking to people, then months crafting a proposal, then months more finalizing that proposal before consultations can even begin. The efficient manner of going about this has been adopted. A draft has been compiled and consultations are informed by that draft – NOT limited by it – before work is done to finalise the document. The Coalition is well aware of this, but continues to act in a manner that is deliberately obtuse.

What is clear are the signals being sent by the Coalition on the move towards electoral reform, but Guyanese must come together to also send a signal of our own – electoral fraud will never be condoned and anyone attempting to stymie the will of the Guyanese people must face the full force of the law.

he Ministry of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs released draft amendments to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) on Friday in keeping with President Dr Irfaan Ali’s directive to publicise the intended amendments by the end of this week in order for planned consultations. After more than year and a half, the APNU/ AFC attempts to rig Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Elections, the Government has released proposed amendments setting out processes to be followed for the declaration of results along with penalties ranging from millions in fines to life imprisonment for violations. However free and fair elections in Guyana are foundation of our democracy and the PPP/C Government is committed to protecting the rights of all Guyanese to vote and enforce our electoral integrity.

In 2020 Guyanese and the world had witnessed a breach of public trust that resulted from illegal acts by the APNU/AFC that subverted Guyana’s electoral process. Enforcing the legal framework of elections is essential in order to maintain electoral integrity. Even the best legislation can be thwarted or negated without sufficient enforcement – enforcement is a deterrent to fraud and a safeguard

against problems that threaten electoral integrity. Dishonest or fraudulent practices are not the only source of integrity problems. Problems may also result from human error or unintentional omissions. Even when there is no ill intent, these mistakes should be subject to appropriate corrective measures. Different institutions and mechanisms must be put in place that are responsible for enforcing election integrity and legislation, as specified by the legal framework in Guyana going forward. Generally speaking, effective enforcement involves: Clear definition of the types of violations or offences; the opportunity to make a complaint; determination to investigate; decision to initiate proceedings in order to determine facts and obtain evidence; administrative or civil proceedings, or prosecution and criminal proceedings to hold offenders accountable for their actions; a detailed ruling and the opportunity to appeal; and appropriate and effective penalties and sanctions for those found responsible. There is an ongoing debate over a single, universal definition of electoral integrity. It is not (yet) clear whether it could serve as a comprehensive and independent concept, an overarching quality standard, or as a synonym for a “good election”.

This is an active conversation in scholarly and policy circles over the proper

definition and application of the term.

Without electoral integrity, leaders and officials lack accountability to the public, confidence in the election results is weak, and the Government lacks necessary legitimacy. Electoral integrity allows for peaceful resolution of conflict, open dialogue, debate, and information sharing amongst leaders and the public. The Commission acknowledges that “at its root, electoral integrity is a political problem”, not just a technical problem. Integrity depends on public confidence in electoral and political processes. It is not enough to reform institutions; citizens need to be convinced that changes are real and deserve their confidence. Inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability are all fundamental to developing that confidence to ensure that elections have integrity, other factors outside of the electoral institutions themselves need to be taken into account and strengthened. Election officials, Judges, and courts must have independence that is respected by politicians. Last week, President Ali told a virtual press conference six weeks will be given for the review and comments on the amendments after which it would be laid before the National Assembly.

Sincerely, David Adams

Welcomed move to hold violators of electoral laws accountable Dear Editor,

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he new proposed electoral laws are out, and will be up for scrutiny by the political parties, which is by extension to the public, before moving on to Parliament for a debate.

The electoral reform is an overhaul of existing laws, it bears nothing significantly newer than what exists.

The penalties for breaches of the law may be significantly higher and more severe, but, in my overall view, it marks a strengthening of what exists.

While this “new reform law” will have no bearing on the present bunch of persons who have transgressed the law, it does not preclude the court from imposing sentences on the accused. Those who are found on the wrong side of the law will be prosecuted to the maximum, which would send a clear message that this sort of behaviour in public office will not – I repeat, will not – be tolerat-

ed, neither would it have the ability to happen again.

There are clauses in the ROPA that would bring them in guilty of violating the electoral laws of Guyana, and for that there will be penalties imposed.

An election is a sacred institution, because it is an expression of the will of the people, who are the supreme decision-makers in any jurisdiction.

It represents the will of the people in regard to who governs them. This is not something that is to be taken lightly. In fact, it is held sacrosanct to any civilised jurisdiction. When I say sacrosanct, I am making reference to the fact that the process should never be tampered with.

And for this cause, the full brunt of the law would be meted out.

An election is not conducted to shore up the whims and fancies of a party or group of persons. No election can be considered valid if persons on their own volition decide to, as it were, “run their

own show”. This is not the purpose of an election.

To bring a soft landing to those of the accused, my advice to them would be to fall on the mercies of the court, and publicly confess as to the real behindthe-scene actors in this whole affair.

Questions will be asked, such as who and for what purpose was the fraud of March 2nd 2020 concocted?

Who were the intellectual authors behind this grand scheme? Under whose instructions were they working? There is no concealment now, because the record would show the massive fraud committed; it is all there in The SOPs. So, trying to fight against the law would not do them any good. We have a right to know, and we will know, about all of these and other matters when this trial gets underway.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

The trio and their alternative facts

Decisions by judiciary I should be under constant review and subject to critiques by citizens

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

T

he criticisms of the Guyana Court of Appeal’s (CoA’s) rulings on election-related matters, which have been overruled by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and rightly criticised by scholars and political pundits, have incurred the displeasure of the Chancellor of the Judiciary: “They sit in their ivory towers and make their statements on social media and otherwise; it is a sad state of affairs in Guyana.”

This comment has perplexed many observers of the Guyana political scene, who regard decisions like ‘33 is not a majority of a 65-House Chamber’ as unbelievable and deserving of being critiqued. The Guyana Constitution does not prohibit criticisms of Judges’ decisions. Notes the prestigious US Brennan Center: “Judges aren’t immune from pointed criticism.”

There is an unwritten rule (custom) that members within the three (3) branches (Legislative, Executive and Judiciary) should not criticise one another over decisions they make. However, this custom is a colonial legacy which was designed to control subjugated peoples’ agitation during colonialism. But, even then, attitudes had been ambivalent.

The Judiciary, as part of its public interest role, for example, had gone beyond its jurisdiction to address the social ills of society. It was Chief Justice (CJ) Joseph Beaumont who described indentureship as a “monstrous rotten system.” Because he reversed a decision made by a Magistrate against an indentured immigrant, he was dismissed. That was the fate of the CJ under colonialism.

The Judiciary, like the Cabinet, or Parliament, is no super class. Ambivalence during colonialism within the Judiciary has persisted into contemporary society. AFC Leader Raphael Trotman stated. “We don’t believe that the executive should be commenting on

individual cases. (2/3/2017). However, he quickly undermined that position: “the judiciary is not exempt from comment from time to time, and some may even criticise. This, he said, has given rise to legal opinions and decisions throughout the Commonwealth.”

Ralph Ramkarran chided Raphael Trotman, who “twisted the intimidatory knife in an already suppurating wound, and to what end? send the message home? Make sure that the Chancellor is officially humiliated by a Government official? Let him know that the Cabinet will be noting his behaviour?”

When the previous acting Chancellor Carl Singh made certain decisions (like the third term presidential and race baiting cases) he and the CoA were also subject to criticisms (including a call to revoke Carl Singh’s acting appointment) by the media operatives and by Government functionaries.

Mr Singh reacted: “My constitutional tenure expires on the 23rd of February 2017, and until such time, unless my appointment is revoked, I intend to exercise my functions as a Judge.”

While critiques of the Judiciary are permissible, threatening behaviour and personal attacks are prohibited (as when a former coalition Minister threatened a sitting Judge in 2017). Notwithstanding the Chancellor’s uneasiness with criticisms, she assured, “we [the Judges] are all transparent, we are dealing with all of this to put all the facts out in the interest of justice.”

In a democracy, where free speech is enshrined in the Constitution, and in a context where there is emerging an ‘age of reason’ and knowledge-driven culture, Judges’ decisions in accordance with this reality should be under constant review, and be subject to critiques by citizens.

Sincerely, Dr Tara Singh

am reminded of the story of the three blind mice as I witness the struggles of GHK Lall, Lennox Shuman, and Amanza Walton-Desir to become or remain relevant to the Guyanese public.

Having failed to excite as an unsolicited arbiter of the PNC leadership race, GHK moved on to ‘throwing his imaginary hat into the ring’ for the position of GECOM’s CEO and penning a missive filled with his imaginary qualities. Unfortunately for GHK, the job is a real one and requires more than an overactive imagination; a harsh reality-check for the ‘wall street whizz’ who failed to even send an application for the ‘wuk’.

Next up was Lennox Shuman as he made a call for more business opportunities for Indigenous People; commendable but not matched by any official requests unless one counts the various opportunities Shuman avails for himself, sandpit? Airline? Campaign-funding? Anyone? Shuman has a year left in Parliament according to the ‘small parties agreement’ but I would suggest he not fret as ANUG may be unable to fill their term given their membership seems to be exclusively dual-citizens with the excommunication of Jonathan Yearwood.

Then came the bizarre accusation that former President Jagdeo was engaged in ‘Revisionism’ from Amanza Walton-Desir. Documents detailing Guyana’s history are being declassified (50-year rule). The Memorandum for the 303 Committee which is unambiguous, said “Prime Minister Forbes Burnham of Guyana received covert assistance from CIA and that he requested that the Agency provide $10,000 a month for two years to support his efforts to build his party The document said: “…If present population and voting trends continue, Burnham, would lose to Jagan in

an honest election.” (https://history.state.gov/ historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve10/d365 ).

The revelations are pellucid; even the intellectually lazy can easily discern that Burnham was a stooge of the CIA. Walton-Desir is free to attempt her revisionism and I look forward to her efforts to rewrap the attempt to rig the 2018-2020 General Elections and possibly to paint ‘Danger’ Granger into a man of action.

Walton-Desir writes of “wanton destruction of mangroves” concerning the construction of a river port facility in Versailles WBD; I fail to understand how the removal of mangroves and replacement with a port affects any community negatively. Mangroves are a useful natural sea defense but certainly not near as effective as a port; in addition, the port will provide jobs for hundreds and earn valuable foreign currency for Guyana. There is nothing ‘wanton’ about the replacement of the mangroves with man-made sea defences; it is called progress!

The other element of Amanza Walton-Desir’s letter are a public manifestation of ‘APNU maths’, the thoroughly debunked claim of 400 extra-judicial killings has become “Tens of hundreds” then came the shout for relevance. She claimed that the Ali administration has fired “thousands of public servants”; this is disingenuous and I would ask that she produce a list of names for public verification. My information suggests that one member of the established civil service was fired and less than a hundred contracted political appointees either resigned or were terminated to date. The only factual statement I found in Amanza Walton-Desir’s letter was her designation under her signature “APNU+AFC Opposition”. It looks like it will be applicable for some time to come.

Yours sincerely Robin Singh

Coalition’s squandermania is matter of public record Dear Editor,

I

was highly bemused when I read in the media an article wherein the former Minister of Finance Minister ‘has expressed grave concerns over Guyana’s borrowing spree, and he questioned the legality of a letter sent to the Chinese Ambassador regarding a loan request of US$1.5B’.

According to him, the latter is ‘rumour’, but I would say that the former is just one of his outlandish assumptions. Not so long ago, the Coalition, under his watch as Finance Minister, went on a real borrowing and squandering binge, which depleted all the reserves and ran an excessive overdraft on the Consolidated Fund in excess of $90 billion.

In addition, I have written exhaustively on the $30 billion Bond which was not used for the purpose intended, but was lavishly misspent (euphemism). Interest on this Bond would have amounted to US$40 million (Gy$8.4 billion) in just 5 years to service it.

According to an article in 2019, $7.4 billion was disbursed to GuySuCo since 2018, but there are no records to show how the money was utilised. This Government has, in January this year, paid a total of $606 million in just interest. This is wasteful spending!

On top of all of this, the previous Government ‘negotiated’ an Oil Production

Sharing Contract and a Royalty rate which they now want this Government to correct.

This is so barefaced. This Government was placed with such a huge burden to right the wrongs done by the Coalition that borrowing at this point is a necessity. The devastating flood and the deadly pandemic must also be brought into this scenario.

What I would like to see Mr Jordan do is provide evidence that sums of money borrowed were squandered in the manner in which they did during their tenure in office.

I refer the former Finance Minister to the countless ‘anomalies and irregularities and breaches (euphemism again) of the Procurement Act and Fiscal Management Act which occurred in a most brazen manner under his watch. The evidence is so glaring for all to see.

The Coalition even used the pandemic to squander whilst Guyanese were dying for lack of a proper COVID-19 facility. Just think about the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal and the hundreds of millions mismanaged and wasted.

The list of squandering under the Coalition is endless. It is not the borrowing ‘binge’ which hurts, but the squandering binge which was the Coalition’s trade mark.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

6

WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 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 ’ Applications reopened Singh details plans for for core homes, home development initiatives along improvement subsidies the Corentyne Highway ─ Boundaries expanded to 19 East Coast communities G A

pplications for core homes and home improvement subsidies were last week reopened by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA).

This will see the remaining 150 core homes constructed and 1,764 home improvement subsidies distributed.

The programme which is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) falls under the CH&PA’s Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme.

Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, said the programme will reduce housing instability for Guyanese. “When families lack adequate housing, the effects in general can be devastating. Inadequate housing is often linked to homelessness, abuse of all kinds, neglect, high rates of absenteeism from work and from the children’s perspective of school,” Croal said.

The programme targets Guyanese from Georgetown to Grove on the East Bank and Westminster, Onderneeming, Lust-en-Eust, Recht door Zee and Parfaite Harmony Phase two on the West Bank Demerara. On the East Coast, it spans from Georgetown to La Bonne Intention

(LBI).

However, the boundary on the East Coast is now expanded to reach an additional 19 communities from Mon Repos to Haslington. CH&PA also opened a new office to deal specifically with the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme at 237 Camp Street, Georgetown, where applicants will be interviewed on the spot.

Minister Croal said the reopening of the applications is to raise awareness about the programme, to ensure more persons benefit. He said, “When this programme was first rolled out, it did not receive enough interest. So, this time around, we want to ensure that help is nearby.

Applications are free of cost, and of course in keeping with the technology, you can now apply online, as well. So, through each of the NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Council), you can uplift your application forms, of course here and our central office.”

The Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme is a $5.6 billion programme aimed at improving the lives of Guyanese through access to better housing and basic infrastructure. This will be undertak-

en through the provision of affordable and sustainable housing, the consolidation of existing schemes and institutional strengthening of the CH&PA. Meanwhile, CHPA’s Chief Executive Officer, Sherwyn Greaves called on staff to treat applicants with dignity and respect that they deserve. “Do not only be sympathetic, be empathetic and remember that this programme that we are a part of will being great benefit to a lot of citizens who deserve it. So, I would like to implore upon you to put your best foot forward and I am sure that the most deserving benefit from this programme,” the CEO urged.

Further, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Andre Ally said under the programme, core homes will be constructed to the tune of $4 million while persons for subsidies will be allocated up to $500,000.

To date, 50 core homes have already bene identified for construction in Sophia and Parfaite Harmonie each.

The programme’s duration spans from December 2017 to December 2022. The deadline for applications is February 7, 2022.

overnment is actively weighing options to either upgrade or construct a world class medical facility in East Berbice Corentyne (Region 6), as part of its long-term plans to bring major development to the ancient county.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said the strategic upgrades will maximise the quality of health care services.

The minister held separate engagements with members of the Upper Corentyne and Central Corentyne Chambers of Commerce and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association on Sunday (November 7, 2021). “We are well aware of the shortcomings of the hospitals. I know you have had some challenges with the public health care facilities in the region. The region has also been in the news, not in a positive light regarding some incidents recently at the New Amsterdam hospital which are absolutely tragic,” Dr. Singh said.

The minister’s consultations with the private sector groups allowed them to raise concerns and collectively find workable solutions to advance the economy.

To ease the inconvenience faced by commuters, Dr. Singh said he had already instructed his staff to engage the public works ministry to

rectify the patches on parts of the road. “In fact, even this morning I was coming in the car along with my team we took notes of a couple of additional spots, which I think initially they did not have on the list. There are some instances where you would have to divert to the edge of the road to avert some of the potholes and the disintegrated road riding surface. So that I can tell you definitively, we have taken note and we will be taking action to fix those pieces that are bad. The issue of fire hydrants is not a problem that is unique to Berbice……we are having a conversation about what we can do to make sure that we have functioning fire hydrants. This is a conversation that we had between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Housing and Water, because of the intersection of responsibility. I will certainly escalate this discussion. I think this is something that does require national attention,” the minister said.

In the long-term, government is also considering options to widen the Corentyne highway where necessary, explaining that some parts of the thoroughfare where markets and businesses are close to the road shoulder, may not be able to expand.

Dr. Singh explained that these are key initiatives to be undertaken, as the government seeks

to advance works at the Moleson Creek to the El Dorado Road, and subsequently, the envisioned Corentyne to Suriname river bridge. “I will say to you that upgrading the entire Corentyne highway is in fact something that is under active consideration right now as part of whole stretch of infrastructure that will lead all the way over the river. This is not something that will happen tomorrow.” the minister reiterated.

Among other developments for the district, Dr. Singh pointed out the ongoing construction of the historical deep-water port in the Berbice river, which is expected to create about 1,000 jobs and tremendous economic activities for the business community.

Government also wants to expand the technical and vocational training capabilities in Region Six. Meanwhile, Minister Singh said government places the highest level of importance to engage stakeholders, importantly the private sector, given the major role it plays in enhancing the economy.

Further, he pointed out the heavy investment on infrastructure to open up new lands for agriculture. Going forward, he said agriculture will play an integral part in government’s economic strategy.

Contracts awarded for the construction of 100 housing units in Williamsburg C

ontracts to the tune of some $750 million have been awarded to 13 contractors, for the construction of the first 100 homes in Williamsurg/Hampshire, Corentyne, Berbice.

The contractors attended a contract signing ceremony with Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Sherwyn Greaves, at the Berbice Chamber of Commerce office, Rose Hall Town, Berbice.

This signing will see commencement of construction for one hundred 20x30ft, two-bedroom flat units within the next few weeks. The contracts have been awarded to

Cardinal Enterprise, S.A.H Construction & Supplies, A.A. Construction, Singh and Sons Construction, Vickram’s Contracting Services, JS Engineering Services and Supplies, N. Ramnarine Construction, Rasheid Construction, SAWA Investment Inc., Ramsarran & Sons Construction, Triple A Construction, E.C.S Construction and General Supplies and Feroze Construction Services.

Greaves in his remarks, said this venture should be seen as an indication of greater plans for the housing sector in Region Six. He explained that in another few weeks, contracts will be signed for an additional 100

housing units at Ordinance Fortlands. Greaves said, “We are extremely pleased to do this, we are excited for what these homes will do for this region, job creation is a big focus, so if you calculate 6 persons per house that will translate into 600 jobs.”

He added that the Housing Ministry has been mandated by His Excellency, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, to deliver 22,000 housing units over the next four years. Greaves said, “We are well on our way to meeting this target, as we have commenced construction of units to meet all income brackets, in Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Providence and

Linden.”

Meanwhile, Minister Croal also noted that the project is another promise delivered by President Ali, as the government forges ahead with its robust housing drive to deliver 50,000 house lots over the next four years. The Minister added that over the coming months, the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s Project Department will be spare heading other infrastructure works in the scheme. He added that this project will transform the landscape and boost economic activity in the region as he implored on contractors to utilize skills from within the region. Croal said, “The

transportation sector will benefit, the suppliers will benefit from this project, altogether there will be massive economic activity which is a great spin-off from the housing and construction sector.”

Also, in explaining the beneficiary selection process, Croal said persons will be selected from the agency’s database who have indicated their interest in built units.

He said, “We will go into our database and based on the request we will issue those persons with pre-qualification letters so that they can engage a financial institution of their choice for a loan.”

Also, as the demand continues to grow for housing

in Region Six, the Minister noted that the Ministry is actively engaging the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GLSC) and National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) to acquire more lands.

In December 2020, during an outreach to the region President Ali announced his government’s housing plan for the region, committing to deliver housing units for families. To date, there are some 400 applicants who have indicated their interest in securing a built housing unit in the region.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 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 ’

Farmers to soon access $346 million primary school for Amelia’s Ward/Bamia 50,000 acres of prime farmlands in Region Six A – as gov’t undertakes two major road projects

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he ongoing construction of two major roads at Numbers 52 and 58 villages Corentyne, Berbice, will give farmers access to 50,000 acres of prime farmlands.

When completed, farmers will benefit from a high quality asphaltic throughfare, which will allow them to save time when transporting their produce to the markets.

They will also spend less on repairing their vehicles, and eventually invest more to expand their cultivation.

This is according to Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, who explained that the two projects undertaken by the government, is a result of an engagement President, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali and the regional authorities had with stakeholders.

Recently, Dr. Singh led a team including Regional Chairman, David Armogan; Vice-Chairman, Zamal Hussain; and Regional Executive Officer, Narindra Persaud, to assess the progress of works at the locations. He said, “These two projects are

going to play an extremely critical role in opening up new lands for agriculture cultivation. As you can see work has started. Our position is that we would like all of the contracts that have been awarded progress swiftly and on schedule and in keeping in line with specification.”

The farm to market roadway at Number 52 Village will be about two kilometers long. The $240 million contract was awarded to Associated Construction.

GuyAmerica Construction Company received the $640 million contract to complete the Number 58 Village project.

Dr. Singh said government is aware that access to good quality lands is one of the main constraints to rapid expansions in agriculture.

“As you know historically, Region Six had been a region known for the productivity of its agriculture land. These are land that have been historically extremely productive from an agriculture standpoint. The government’s position at the highest level of the President and the Cabinet

is that all of these contracts that have been awarded, must progress swiftly and on schedule and in keeping in line with specification,” the senior minister added.

Dr. Singh also reminded the contractors on site that it is important for the pace of works to be maintained.

Cognisant that December is a rainy season, the minister urged contractors to utilise more of the dry season to accelerate the works. “Because of course you know the government has a very aggressive programme for infrastructural transformation that we have outlined in our manifesto. There is a lot of capacity that has already been built up in the domestic contracting industry and we anticipate even more buildups of capacity going forward,” Dr. Singh assured.

Minister Singh also assessed the $100 million Moleson Creek to El Dorado Road project.

All the projects are in the first phase and are among many other road initiatives streamlined for the county.

Gov’t commits more resources to address mental health Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has assured that government is devoted to providing quality care to persons with mental health challenges.

Dr. Singh made the statement during his engagement with members of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association, at Chapel Street, New Amsterdam, on Sunday (November 7, 2021). He said, “Mental health is a very serious medical issue in our society, I don’t think there is a full understanding of the seriousness of mental health.”

The minister said while he could not speak about decisions to relocate the National Psychiatric Hospital, in Region 6, he is confident that government is currently seeking ways to improve the

facility. “We would like to get to a point where we have a good quality facility. We would ensure those who are there enjoy some measure of dignity and are able to access good facilities and good treatment,” Dr. Singh underscored.

Earlier this year, $26 million was invested for the restoration ofthe psychiatric hospital, to change the living standard.

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, made that announcement in August, following a tragic fire at the regional mental health institution. Anthony had said, “We continue to work to expand the facilities there and to create better conditions for our patients, so this investment certainly would have helped to restore the building and put in some additional protection there.”

Additionally, the administration intends to take a new mental health legislation to Parliament. The drafting of the new Bill has already commenced. “There was one that was drafted in 2010, so we are currently consulting on that. We are going to revise that based on stakeholder feedback and so forth, and hopefully, we can get this Bill to Parliament as soon as possible,” Dr. Anthony said.

Government has already implemented measures to prevent any future incidence of fires and other disasters, at the health facility. One such measure is the beefing up of security.

The national psychiatric hospital is the only one of its kind, which provides services to persons diagnosed with mental illnesses.

contract valued $364 million was signed on Monday for the construction of a primary school in Amelia’s Ward/Bamia, Region 10 (Upper Demerara -Upper Berbice).

The contract signing was facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and was awarded to Sta8tment Investment Inc. The facility will house up to 800 students.

Minister Nigel Dharamlall said initiatives such as these are critical within the region, as it paves the way

for development. “This area is very important in the development scope of our country because of its magnitude and because of its potential,” he noted.

He said contract is expected to be completed within 20 months, and will be able to open its doors to the students of the community in 2024.

Minister Dharamlall urged the contractor to utilise labour from within the community as it will create employment for persons there. He said, “Part of the

vision of His Excellency is to ensure that whatever resources we place into different regions, that employment creation is one of those outcomes, as well as wealth generation. So, this is not an investment in a school alone, but it is also an investment in the wider economy of Region Ten.” The bids were opened by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in July of this year, from which four companies made submissions.

Technical and vocational training centre for Port Kaituma

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he Ministry of Labour will be establishing technical and vocational training centre in Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini).

This was revealed by subject minister, Joseph Hamilton on Tuesday (November 9, 2021), during an engagement with the Matarkai Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) at the Port Kaituma community centre.

NDC Chairman, Mr. Orlando Thorne, Deputy Regional Executive Officer (REO), Matarkai Labour Officer, Mr. Clement Adams, newly appointed Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Officer, Mr. Chavez Daniels, and Board of Industrial Training (BIT) Officer, Region One, Mr. Trevi Leung attended the meeting.

Minister Hamilton said an area has already been identified in Port Kaituma to established the training centre, which will also house the ministry’s sub regional office.

Currently, a number of training programmes are being rolled throughout the sub-region in keeping with the government’s vision of empowering citizens at the community level to make meaningful contributions to society.

The programmes are being administered by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) which is mandated by Industrial Training Act to provide apprenticeship training to citizens.

Minister Hamilton said BIT plans to train some 3,000 persons and the hinterland

communities will not be left out. To this end, he said the ministry has recruited a BIT officer who will be responsible for spearheading programmes in the Matarkai and Mabaruma sub-districts.

“These programmes are there and we want communities to make full use of them.

Get the people together form groups and we will train the people base on their needs, because we don’t impose programmes on communities,” Minister Hamilton told the NDC. BIT currently conducts training in more than 150 skilled areas in keeping with the technical workforce needs of the country. Over the past year, the agency has expended its programmes to cater new industries.

Paramakatoi to benefit from Smart Hospital Initiative

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esidents of Paramakatoi and surrounding communities in Region Eight, will soon benefit from an upgraded health facility, under the Smart Hospitals Initiative.

A $44.4 million contract was on Tuesday (November 9, 2021) awarded to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) for the retrofitting of the medical institution.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said the government’s goal is to ensure Guyana has one of the healthiest populations in the Caribbean. “I think we are

setting a new standard and people are now going to look forward to all our facilities meeting this as the basic minimum standard,” Dr. Anthony noted.

He said while the GDF is not traditionally known for such projects, its engineering corps has been working especially in the Interior.

Dr. Anthony thanked the partners involved, PAHO/ WHO that is implementing and supervising the project, while the Government of the United Kingdom is providing the funding.

The Smart Healthcare Facilities in the Caribbean project is being funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development, at a cost of $835 million (US$4.175 million).

The local facilities that are listed as beneficiaries of the project are the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital, the Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Mabaruma Regional Hospital and the Paramakatoi Health Centre.

The project is expected to be completed in four months.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Amerindian Development…

FOCUS ON GUYANA’ S FIRST PEOPLE

Port Kaituma farmers receive flood relief grant T

he Government has remained committed to ensuring that farmers affected by the recent national disaster receive their flood relief cash grants. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, spearheaded the distribution exercise in Port Kaituma, Region One recently.

“This is the type of Government you voted for, where when you are in trouble, when you are in problems, despite all the challenges we have as government, we still have to help our people,” he said.

The Minister said President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has been leading the efforts to ensure all those who were affected by the flood get the help they need. He reiterated that agriculture is the most important sector in

the country, adding that for far too long, farmers have not been respected. He noted that Government is committed to investing heavily in the sector. He said, “Today, we are going to be paying a few millions, but please ensure you put it back into your production.”

The Minister alluded to the situation where there are claims that undeserving persons have collected the cash grant. He said, “I want to ask of you today, just make sure that all of you lost stuff, because if you collect and you did not lose, then you are denying someone who genuinely lost.”

The Minister also urged the farmers to work with the Government. He said the transformation that is ongoing in Guyana is unprecedented, and while everything cannot be done at once, he

assured that Government will continue to invest in their region and communities.

“Today is a manifestation of your commitment. It is also a manifestation of our commitment as a government, working together in this partnership so that our people are going to get support from the Government irrespective of where you are in the country. Irrespective of how much you are affected, we are going to be there to work with you at all times,” he promised.

Several other Ministers of the Government were also in the region spearheading the distribution of flood relief grants.

The Government has set aside $7.6 billion for this initiative as a way of supporting farmers who suffered losses in the recent countrywide flood.

Baramita gets support for agricultural activities R

esidents of Baramita in Region One (Barima-Waini) were assured of the continued support of the PPP/C Administration to develop fertile lands in their community for agricultural purposes.

Amerindian Affairs Minister, Pauline Sukhai, gave the commitment while distributing a $4.8 million dollar tractor and trailer to the Village Council recently.

The Minister also said the tractor plays an important role in boosting agricultural and forestry sector development, and reducing the cost of transportation in the community. She told the residents to use the machinery for the expansion of food security in their village and the country, while noting that the Government is also providing young people in the hinterland communities the opportunity to train and become certified operators of such equipment. She said, “The tractor also comes with a plough and a chipper,

that is to boost the expansion in the agriculture cultivation so it’s not only going to be useful for forestry and transportation, but agri as an important part of village food security expansion, we need to secure food. So, we are advancing even to ensure that young people will be certified to operate vehicles, whether it’s boat and engines, whether it’s a tractor, whether it’s a lorry, a pickup, a minibus, we will ensure that our young people will be trained and certified

to be able to operate those vehicles provided by the government.”

Additionally, in keeping with the Government’s commitment to distribute tractors to the 137 hinterland communities in 2021, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs also provided a hydraulic dump trailer, a plough and a chipper to the communities.

The tractor was handed over to the Baramita village council, which will be responsible for operating and maintaining the machine.

$15M generator grid in Arakaka Village commissioned

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ersons residing in Arakaka Village, Region One (Barima-Waini) can now look forward to reliable and improved power supply with the addition of a $15 million generator grid seeking to boost the village economy and overall standard of living of residents.

While spearheading the government’s ongoing flood relief in Arakaka Village, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha commissioned the generator grid sighting the government’s continued efforts to modernize the country. He said, “This investment shows the government’s commitment to modernize our country. Although Region One is a far-flung region from Georgetown, the capital, the government has been making tremendous investments here. $15 million was allocated for that grid so the people in Arakaka can now have reliable and regular electricity. This will also help us to boost our agriculture sector too because we are looking at the feasibility of building agro-processing

facilities in these parts of the country. With the establishment of such a system, agro-processing facilities will be able to operate effectively.”

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley stated that the grid has an output capacity of 250 Kilo-Volt-Amperes (KVA) that will provide stable electricity to the entire village. He said, “The development that is taking place on the coastland; no different is the development that is taking place here in the hinterland. Through the RDC’s budgetary allocation

for 2020, we are seeing the community of Arakaka benefiting from the establishment of an electricity grid and a gen. set. The grid is already up awaiting connections to the homes of each resident which we are foreseeing would be done before Christmas.” The Regional Chairman further added that the regional officials are currently working to determine the number of hours per day that the generator will be operable.

Arakaka is located along the left bank of the Barima River and is home to over 500 residents.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

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

IMPROVING SYSTEMS, RESOURCES TO SERVE FARMERS, STAKEHOLDERS N e w G M C g e t s 13 m o t o r c y c le s to better serve farmers

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he New Guyana Marketing Corporation’s (GMC) extension department has now been enhanced with the procurement of 13 new motorcycles.

The dirt bikes will allow field workers to reach farmers in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six, specifically those operating in backlands and far off areas.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, MP, handed over the motorcycles to the corporation, during the 21st anniversary celebration of the Central Packaging Facility, at the Sophia Exhibition Complex, on Wednesday (November 10, 2021). He said, “We have recognised the importance of giving the tools to our workers, to our staff so that they could deliver.

And the GMC has a very important role to play. We are seeing that the agro-processing sector in our country is moving apace like the other agencies.”

He said $79 million dollars will be expended to develop the packaging facility, as major investments are already being made to establish a number of agro-processing facilities countrywide. “This will be the nerve center of agro-processing in our country. So, you could see the effort and investment that we are making in agro-processing.

This shows the government’s commitment to improving the sector, and this brings me to the point

that we have to ensure we equip our officers and our staff with the right equipment so that they can deliver,” the minister noted.

Minister Mustapha reminded that Guyana has been leading the discussion on agriculture in CARICOM since the PPP/C Administration took office. This means that critical works and major investments were accomplished.

For the achievement to further advance, the minister pointed to the important roles the New GMC has to play. “We cannot go into the Caribbean with primary produce.

We have to add value to ours and here is where the GMC, the Central Packaging Facility come in. They will have to ensure that they lead that exercise so that we can bring the exporters and producers and add value to their produce,” Minister Mustapha iterated.

He urged the extension officers to use the motorcycles for the intended purpose.

For this year, GMC’s major exports are coconuts and honey.

Additionally, some 1,060,000 kilograms of produce was exported despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The Central Packaging Facility aims to secure more regional and international markets. Works are also being advanced for the factory to become International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certified for international recognition.

$ 3 M d a t a c o lle c t io n e q u ip m e n t t o G R D B a im e d a t s t r e n g t h e n in g m o n it o r in g s y s t e m s

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he Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), on Tuesday (November 9, 2021), received several pieces of equipment and operational manuals that will be used to improve its data collection and extension capabilities.

These pieces of equipment, which were donated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as part of a project aimed at strengthening Guyana’s rice production monitoring system, included 30 tablets, 10 of which were handed over in April of this year, tablet cases, a server, a backup battery, external hard drives and data entry software tools.

While speaking at the handing over exercise, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that the tablets and equipment that were donated will assist the GRDB to ensure reliable data collection. “Agriculture is one of the most important pillars in our government’s plan for prosperity, with rice being a major part of our strategic focus to improve the sector. As the world advances, we too must advance. The introduction of technology into our extension services has been widely been touted by our government because we understand the importance of introducing new technologies to

our daily operations. These tablets and equipment will help our extension officers to have reliable data collection and help us to modernize our entire extension system. Data and statistics are very important when making informed decisions and these tablets will help us to increase the Board’s efficiency, data collection management and strengthen our extension services,” he said.

The equipment is valued at over GY $3 million and will enable the GRDB’s extension staff to transmit real-time data from the field to the office.

Since taking office the PPP/C government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, was able to use improved technology to develop and release a new variety of rice to the market. The GRDB-16, which was released in October 2020, has the ability to produce up to 60 bags per acre if good farming practices are adopted. Furthermore, the Board has been working with IICA on a Zinc-infused biofortified variety of rice which is expected to be released for field trials sometime next year. This variety, once released for large-scale cultivation, is expected to attract preferential prices given its nutritional properties.

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Consultation on electoral reform moving apace ‒ Draft amendments include hefty fines, jail time, division of Region 4

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he draft of proposed draft amendments Representation of the People’s Act (ROPA) have been in circulation for a week now and Guyanese still have five weeks to submit views, as the move towards electoral reform progresses.

The objective of the amendments to the electoral laws is to examine the process from registration to the declaration of the results, so that every stage of the process is unambiguous and transparent. This significant step in the electoral reform process is necessary to ensure Local Government, and General and Regional elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Following the Attorney General and his team’s extensive work to draft the amendments to the Representation of the People’s Act (RoPA) and its regulations, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance has been assigned the responsibility of leading and coordinating the consultation process with national stakeholders.

BROAD-BASED CONSULTATION The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, has since disclosed that the PPP/C Government has invited the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and members of the political opposition to also be engaged in the public consultation on the proposed amendments.

Among stakeholders the government is expecting to hear from, are representatives from GECOM, as well as former President, David Granger and Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon.

Teixeira said, “Of course, GECOM itself has the opportunity to submit its recommendations, as well, if it so wishes as a unit in itself or individuals in the commission…I’ve sent to Mr. Granger, I’ve sent to Mr. Harmon, I’ve sent to Mrs. Lawrence…I have sent to the AFC as a distinct [party]. I’ve tried to ensure that no one would say from that grouping that they weren’t met. I wanted to recognise each in their own right.”

She said her ministry has been tasked with executing and supervising the process.

According her, the consultation is expected to reach a vast section of society, including members of the diaspora. “We will [continue

to] post these up electronically, as well as communicating with the political parties and stakeholders by email and with hardcopies where possible. So that has already started,” the minister said.

One of the main purposes of the proposed amendments, Minister Teixeira reminded, is to avoid a recurrence of the events which followed the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. “We want people to look at those and see what they feel and ask themselves ‘Are the recommendations sufficient?

Are there areas in terms of the process of elections from registration through to proclamation? …have we covered all the corners in terms of what may be ambiguities or opportunities for people to do things that would harm or undermine the rights of the Guyanese people to vote and elect the representatives of their choice?’ So, we are trying to prevent what happened in 2020 [from] happening again,” Teixeira said.

NOT ABOUT SEEKING ADVANTAGE Meanwhile, Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has said that great care went into ensuring that the draft amendments to the recently published Representation of the People Act, do not give any one political party electoral advantage. He said, “These amendments are not intended, and great care and circumspection were employed to ensure that that is clear. They are not designed to give any political party an electoral advantage. I want to make that abundantly clear.”

Included in the amendment are multi-million-dollar fines and hefty jail times for election offences. One provision proposes a lifetime sentence and a $10 million fine for the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) for committing fraud.

Minister Nandlall explained too that language in the Act which appear ambiguous or unclear has been fine-tuned.

The amendments became necessary after the painstaking events constituting the five-month 2020 electoral saga. The period was characterised by multiple unlawful elections declarations, which had to be struck down by the courts, and repeated attacks on the integrity of the electoral process.

Minister Nandlall warned that legislative change alone

may not be enough to fend off attempts at electoral malfeasance, given how some provisions were deliberately misrepresented during the 2020 elections. He said, “Whatever weaknesses were in the law; they were exploited to their hilt. Wherever there was discretion, it was abused. Wherever there was latitude, interpretive latitude, it was vulgarised. Wherever there was an opportunity to bend the law, to the repulsive end, it was exploited.”

The issue, AG Nandlall said, has demonstrated that it could make or break Guyana, and that every citizen should want to have a say in this aspect of their future.

The minister encouraged the public to take an interest in the amendments in the period leading up to the document’s introduction to the National Assembly, because the issues concerned are of national significance.

DIVISION OF REGION FOUR Further, Nandlall explained that Region Four will now be sub-divided for better management and accountability.

Detailing the major amendments the government has proposed to the Representation of the People’s Act (ROPA), Minister Nandlall explained that the subdivision of the country’s largest electoral district is of grave importance. This, he said, is being promulgated as the government seeks to avoid a recurrence of the protracted events between March and August 2020.

“District Four is a special district in the electoral equation of our country. It is the most populated district [and] it always has the greatest number of controversies. So, what we are proposing in these amendments, is we’re subdividing it into four units; the East Bank, the East Coast, North Georgetown, South Georgetown,” the Attorney General explained.

Nandlall noted that the classification will allow for each sub district to operate independently, acting as a district by itself. “Each one is compartmentalised in terms of staff, infrastructure, regulations, and rules and systems and procedure, as if it is an electoral district by itself,” he detailed.

This means that there will be four Returning Officers for the district, which will also allow for decentralisation

and higher levels of accountability within the electoral process.

The Attorney General said the main idea behind crafting such an amendment was the eventful, yet gruesome electoral debacle that ensued after former Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, inflated and deflated the number of votes while they were under his purview. The amendment, he stressed, will ensure that such an event ever recurs.

“When you have them together, we saw firsthand what the possibilities are for wickedness,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Minister Nandlall noted that the criteria for the selection of polling stations have also been outlined in the government’s proposed amendments to the Act. “We know what are the criteria that will be used to establish a polling station within a division. What factors will be taken into account, we have to look at the number of voters likely to vote there…we have to look at the distance that a voter has to travel to arrive at the polling station, [and]…the natural environment of the polling station,” the Attorney General explained.

The Attorney General reiterated that there are specific amendments that allow for such achievement by the PPP/C Administration.

This, he said, will be realised through the enforcement of the publication of Statements of Poll (SOPs), once the amendments are passed in the National Assembly. “Upon receipt of the Statements of Poll by the CEO and… the Chairman of the [Guyana Elections Commission] … they must be posted by law, on the GECOM website, where the whole world will see,” he said.

The Attorney General said though the law had once prescribed for these documents to be affixed to a building, the government must now embrace the technological advancement readily available via the internet.

“The idea behind the law was to make the results public as quickly as possible…now we have the magnificence of a technology called internet,” Nandlall went on to say.

Further, the newly proposed alterations clarify what document must be used for the tabulation of votes by the Chief Elections Officer.

“When the tabulated forms are transmitted from the respective Returning Officers to the CEO, those tabulated forms are the only basis for him to come to use in the computation of his results, and that becomes the…final results which he is to put in that report and give to the commission,” he explained.

Minister noted said many other areas addressed in the amendment are now before civil society for consultation.

COMMITMENT MADE President Dr. Irfaan Ali at his October 29, 2021 press conference re-affirmed his commitment, one that he gave on the first day of assuming office, that his government would ensure there would be reform of Guyana’s electoral system. This commitment was made in response to repeated attempts to hijack the will of the people to choose their Government in the five-month long process following the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. The President, in reiterating this, announced that the first set of amended laws was being finalized and circulated for the public’s and national stakeholders’ viewing in the following week.

Further, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking at a news conference recently,

also emphasized the need for electoral reform, stating that “the idea is to make [the laws] more transparent and to define responsibilities in the Act [so] that [they] are unambiguous and... to put in place a set of penalties for people who may try to steal the elections...any right-thinking person will support that.”

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance has posted the draft amendments on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ MPAGguyana) and other media, as well as disseminating hardcopies to political parties and civil society organizations. The Ministry will also collect and coordinate feedback from individuals and organizations, and compile these for the Government’s review.

The public and national stakeholders are encouraged to peruse these amendments and submit their views to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance on its Facebook page, via email at ministergt.mpag@gmail.com or by mail to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, 105 New Garden St, Queenstown within six weeks.

The public and national stakeholders will have six (6) weeks from the date of the publication of these draft amendments to review, comment, and propose additional amendments.

When the consultation process is concluded in six weeks, there will be a further review process by the Government to finalise a compendium of bills and regulations which will be tabled in the National Assembly.

SECOND SET OF PROPOSED CHANGES Another set of draft amendments will be added shortly to the consultation process with regards to the registration of voters under the National Registration Act.

Feedback can be submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance via several platforms: Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MPAGguyana Email To: ministergt.mpag@gmail.com Mail To: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, 105 New Garden St, Queenstown, Georgetown.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Amaila will be ‘transformational’ for Guyana T

he Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) will not only reduce blackouts by increasing reliable supply, but will also boost manufacturing capacity and, by extension, the economy.

This is according to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, who addressed what Guyana can expect from the hydropower project during a recent interview.

He said, “I don’t believe there is anybody in Guyana who does not appreciate the impact that inadequate, unreliable and expensive energy has had on our country. And I’m not only referring to the inconvenience we suffer in our homes. That, for a long time, has been a bugbear on daily life in Guyana… for a long time the citizenry at large has recognised how important it is to increase the production of electricity and its reliability. And of course, the citizenry has also been paying electricity bills that they consider to be more expensive than it should. So, there is amongst the public a strong recognition of the importance of addressing the problems of the electricity sector.”

The construction of the massive hydropower project was recently awarded to China Railway Group. The project will be built under the BOOT model (Build Own Operate Transfer), which will see the Guyana Power and Light buying power from the company at no more than US7.7 cents per kilowatt.

According to the Finance Ministry in a statement, the award of the contract follows the publication of a request for proposals by Government in various national newspapers during the period July 25 to August 15, 2021. Four companies, the Ministry said, submitted proposals, and China Railway Group Limited was identified as the most “capable partner” by the Evaluation Committee after a rigorous evaluation process, following which the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) submitted the relevant recommendation to Cabinet for

“no objection”.

TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE The benefits of The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project will be “truly transformative” for Guyana, according to Singh.

He said, “Inadequate supply of electricity has also been a significant bugbear to economic development in Guyana. In particular, I want to highlight industrial and manufacturing and [related] economic activities. For a long time, we have been unable to realise a functional and competitive industrial sector, specifically because electricity is as expensive as it is.

“So, for that reason also from the point of view of developing industrial and manufacturing activities and the jobs those would create, a project such as Amaila Falls is also absolutely important.”

The revival of the 165-megawatt Amaila Falls Hydropower Project was one of the promises made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in its manifesto. The project was initiated under the previous PPP/C Administration but was scrapped by the coalition Administration which had controlled the National Assembly by a one-seat Opposition majority.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project was the flagship of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Amaila was expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy that would have been affordable and reliable, and was envisioned to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs while removing dependency on fossil fuels.

Singh charged that had the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project progressed as initially planned, cheaper and more reliable power would have already been enjoyed today. “There is no other reason but to obstruct and frustrate this project… because they [the former Coalition Government] be-

lieved that it [the benefits of the project] will somehow redound to the credit of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic,” he said.

BEST OPTION FO GUYANA Additionally, the best option to move Guyana to renewable sources of energy was adjudged in 2016 to be the Amaila Falls hydropower project, according to a study commissioned by the Government of Norway.

It was the David Granger led administration that agreed to this objective and facts-based assessment of AFHP. The report, compiled

by Norconsult, on behalf of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), identified AFHP as critical for Guyana’s energy transition.

“The only realistic path for Guyana towards an emission free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential. The fastest way forward is to maintain AFHP as the first major step for substituting its current oilfired generation,” Norconsult stated in its report, Review of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project in Guyana.

This guidance, though unequivocal, was not heeded by the previous administration. Up to now, most of Guyana’s electricity generation is from the severely polluting heavy fuel oil (HFO).

The AFHP was first identified in 1976 by the Canadian company “Monenco” during an extensive survey of hydroelectric power potential in Guyana. Various studies have since justified and strongly supported the construction of the AFHP. AFHP, projected to deliver 165 MW of new power to the grid by 2027, will supply a significant share of power needed for Guyana’s economic expansion in the decade up to 2030, building on emissions reduction gains from the 250 MW gas-to-energy project, expected by 2024.

While the government’s endgame is an energy mix dominated by renewable

energy, and 100 per cent renewable sometime down the line, the PPP/C admin-

istration has decided that it is necessary to bring natural gas from ExxonMobil’s Liza

operation to shore for electricity generation purposes, in the interim.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Climate Vulnerable Fund will create opportunities for climate-prosperous economies P

resident Dr. Irfaan Ali said that the achievement of a Climate Vulnerable Fund (CVF) would not only be beneficial to vulnerable countries but will also create investment opportunities for climate-prosperous economies around the world.

The Guyanese Head of State made this statement while delivering feature remarks at the “We Mean Business” Pavilion at the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) alongside US billionaire Marc Benioff after endorsing the Dhaka-Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use as part of the CVF. At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) 26 event, President Ali emphasised that there are tens of millions of people who are being unfairly hurt by climate change they did not cause. This he said is undoubtedly tragic and should not be the case. He said, “These people should instead be looking towards a future of resilience and

climate prosperity.”

The President said that he hopes the world will recognise that achieving the vision of a CVF will not only benefit the vulnerable countries but “will also create trillions of dollars in investment opportunities for businesses who wish to invest in the building blocks of the new climate-prosperous economies”.

He noted that these investments can be done in areas such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and an array of other low-carbon industrial and employment opportunities that fall in line with a far-reaching and comprehensive vision.

He said, “The CVF is doing more than just calling for this ambition to be achieved; its members are setting out practical steps to get to a future, not defined by climate vulnerability, but as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and current chair of the CVF puts it— a future of climate resilience followed by climate prosperity.”

It is against this back-

drop, the President said he supports the commitment from companies and businessmen such as Benioff who have offered support.

IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE SECTOR The Head of State told the forum that while the Dhaka-Glasgow Declaration calls for many things, one of its pillars is a call for the world to work together with knowledge and input from the private sector. He said, “And yes, the private sector is a partner in this to support the development and implementation of Climate Prosperity Plans (CPPs) to realise a collective economic opportunity for countries and businesses.”

The President said that the declaration also calls for a 2020-2024 Climate Finance Delivery Plan, totalling US$100B annually, in support of climate action by developing countries with a 50-50 split of funds between adaptation and mitigation. He said, “The UK Presidency of the COP26 can, and should, ensure that this Delivery Plan is

independent – and that monitoring efforts incorporated are done by expertise in the developing countries and not just donors. This is an important point – the monitoring and the transparency process must involve expertise from developing countries. We are already seeing double accounting in how we are accounting for the US$100B.” President Ali added that the Declaration also supports a major reduction in the share of climate finance provided as loans. He said, “These simply worsen debt burdens and lead to a perverse outcome and consequently they prevent investment in greater climate action….Together we can make climate action a story of aspiration and opportunity. We can take that step today.”

TRANSPARENT PROCESS President Ali lobbied for there to be a transparent accounting process, especially as it relates to the US$100B pledge. He said, “I have heard various figures in

relation to the $100 Billion pledge and how much has actually been met, but in my own assessment what we are seeing is a lot of reorganisation of existing finances, not new finances. Existing loans that were aimed at helping developing countries are now converted as being part of the $100 billion pledge.”

He explained that if this reorganisation is done, a school, for example, that might have a small solar panel to provide light for a classroom could be classified as part of the pledge.

He said, “We have to guard against such accounting, and we have to commit to a transparent process when we talk about the financing. This is important.

What is also important for us, developing countries and vulnerable countries, is to understand that climate change is not an isolated problem. Climate change is linked to issues of food security. It is linked to issues of livelihood options and vulnerability from atrisk communities. So, our climate plan must lead to a prosperity agenda that

is broad in nature that addresses fundamental needs of all the people of the developing world whether it is for health, education, food security or other services.”

President Ali also updated the forum on Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and its expanded update that was launched for consultation last week. He said, “We are decarbonising our domestic energy mix, creating low carbon jobs and economic opportunities, and investing in protecting against climate change that has already happened. At the core of our vision is maintaining our rainforest – which as part of the Amazon and the Guiana Shield, is almost as big as England and Scotland combined.”

He added that these forest stores many giga-tonnes of carbon, “helps to provide the world with freshwater, and harbours amazing biodiversity – including four per cent of all known plant species, more bird species than the entire United States and nearly three per cent of all animal species.”

SIDS lacking support, not ambition to fight climate crisis ‒ Dhaka-Glasgow declaration endorsed by Guyana at global climate conference

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resident Dr Irfaan Ali endorsed the DhakaGlasgow Declaration this week at a high-level side event at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) 26.

The Guyanese President stated that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Low-lying Coastal Countries, like Guyana, lack support and not ambition in their fight against climate change.

During his address to the Climate Vulnerable Fund (CVF), he underscored that SIDS and Low-Lying Coastal Countries are victims fighting to exist during the climate crisis. Ali said, “Many of us are already

punching above our weight in response to the climate crisis. We are contributing the least to climate change, yet, we are making impactful contributions to mitigating the adverse effects of climate change through the ecosystem and climate services which our forests provide and through the de-carbonisation of our economies.”

The Head of State emphasised that these vulnerable countries are not lacking in ambition but is constrained by their ability to realise those ambitions. He said that this is even more evident by the adoption of the Dhaka-Glasgow Declaration, which shows SIDS and Low-lying Coastal Coun-

tries’ unambiguous manifestation of their commitment to realising those ambitions.

He said, “The GlasgowDhaka Declaration is a proclamation of our commitment to being impactful in ending the climate crisis. I welcome it and endorse it.”

The ‘Declaration’ focuses on climate mitigation strategies, adaptation plans and financing for the world’s most vulnerable nations.

President Ali noted, however, that given the present barriers obstructing and constraining these countries from fully achieving their commitments and ambitions, more needs to be done at the global level. Ali said, “If these barriers persist, then

they will derail our actionable timeline in achieving not only ours, but the global climate change targets. This is why we have called for all the measures which are incorporated in the ‘Declaration’, including the Climate Emergency Pact and helping with climate prosperity plans to be implemented.”

The President pointed out that Guyana especially has experience of climate prosperity plans that date back to 2009 when it was among the first, as a developing country, to formulate a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). In a little over a decade, Guyana has been able to launch the consultative process aimed at

expanding that strategy that will articulate the country’s vision to 2030.

In playing its part in fighting climate change, President Ali emphasised that Guyana will decarbonise its economy and will invest in a range of low carbon opportunities and jobs while maintaining its standing forest, which is almost as big as England and Scotland combined.

On Tuesday, more than 100 countries, including Guyana, representing 85% of the globe’s forested land, pledged to end or reduce deforestation by 2030.

President Ali told the CVF that the country’s expansive forest is a global

asset. It stores more than 20 gigatonnes of carbon, preserve priceless biodiversity and provide sustainable livelihoods for its people.

As a result, the Government will continue to adopt an inclusive approach to the sustainable management of its forests, biodiversity and freshwater supplies.

“We will slash emissions further by transitioning towards cleaner sources of energy. Yes, we are vulnerable, but we are not helpless or without hope. We are taking decisive action to ramp up and realise these ambitions. But without the critical support – financial and technological – our best and noblest of ambitions will all flounder,” Ali assured.

WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Stable smart grid on the cards to address power Jordan is a grossly incompetent outages – Jagdeo professional and at worst a downright dishonest one Dear Editor,

T

he attention of the Ministry of Finance has been drawn to a number of pronouncements made by former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, during his increasingly frequent forays in the media in recent times.

It is a matter of public record that Jordan has frequently described himself as a professional. Regrettably, his recent pronouncements re-

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overnment has taken note of the public frustration over the age-old issue of blackouts, and has ordered a study which will inform improvement works on the stability of the grid, according to Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo.

In recent comments on the matter, he said, “We are now doing a study to have an overall improvement of the grid so that when all of this power comes in… the grid can handle it and its stable and we don’t have all these blackouts…that’s the next big thing we’re working on, a stable smart grid… where fiber will be on all the electricity lines, that you can sit in a control room and know without having to send a crew out, and get a report when there is a power outage, any part of this country.”

Once successfully complete, the VP said that the project could reduce transmission and commercial losses. He said, “[Less] transmission losses mean less carbon too, because the less power you have to produce.

So, that in itself is a decarbonising option. You know, just resealing some of the existing transmission lines can cut the losses.” He explained that faulty transformers from the grid will have to be replaced.

The Vice President explained how critical it is for improvements to the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) infrastructure to be made, since the government is operationalising a steep expansion and diversification plan for Guyana’s energy mix.

He said, “We are working on the gas to energy project.

We are bringing that in by 2024. We’re working very

hard, and we’re doing all the studies….a lot of the demand now in the current situation is met by private generations so we assume in the future when the power becomes more feasible and the cost is cut by half by 2024, soon as the gas-to-energy comes on stream business and consumers… people will come on to the grid. So, therefore, we have to cater to that and that is why we are planning to triple installed capacity.”

The government had long said geo-technical and geo-physical studies would be done to inform the design specification of the gas-to-energy project. In addition to these, Dr. Jagdeo said an environmental study is underway. He said, “We are working on Amaila (project) and we’re moving to contracting stage so that you can start construction, and we’re working on solar, and then on wind.”

He explained that a new grid is quintessential. “We are now doing a study to have an overall improvement of the grid so that when all of this power comes in… the grid can handle it and its stable and we don’t have all these blackouts,” Jagdeo said.

Further, in addition to these larger projects, the VP reminded that government is working on smaller isolated renewable energy projects for Moco Moco, Kumu, Bartica, Leguan, and Wakenaam, as well as 30,000 solar photovoltaic units for hinterland homes.

These are plans which are already in the implementation stage, and are the fulfillment of the PPP/C Government’s promise to deliver reliable, low cost electricity.

inforce the widely held and very credible view that he is at best a grossly incompetent professional and at worst a downright dishonest one.

Indeed, many of his pronouncements constitute a clear attempt to mislead the people of Guyana with blatant distortions and misrepresentation of facts. Alternatively, they indicate that he was sleep-walking through the last five years during which he was “the

least impressive of all of the finance ministers since the first self-government administration at the beginning of 1950” in the words of Freddie Kissoon.

LETTER SENT ON PROPOSED NEW PROJECTS Mr. Jordan is quoted in the November 8th Edition of the Kaieteur News as saying, “what I found to be astonishing was that the letter to

15 the Chinese Ambassador, requesting the loan, was signed by a senior official of the Ministry of Finance and copied to the President, Vice President, the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, among others…

Section 58(1) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003 (FMAA) reposes in the Minister of Finance the sole authority to borrow on behalf of the Government of Guyana.”

In doing so, he sought to repeat an accusation he made previously that there is somehow something irregular about an official signing such letters instead of the Minister.

The Laws of Guyana are crystal clear. Only the Minister responsible for Finance can contract loans on behalf of the Government of Guyana. This is enshrined in the (Turn to page 21)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

GECOM shortlisting applicants for CEO T

he process to shortlist applicants for the position of Chief Elections Officer is underway, according to GECOM Commissioner, Manoj Narayan.

In public comments after Tuesday’s (November 9, 2021) statutory meeting, he said, “We’re actively working on shortlist and then moving to the interview process… because of the large volumes of applicants we have received for the various posts, it is not possible to interview all of them…a lot of them do not meet the minimum criteria set forward in the advertisements

either…there will be a shortlisting process we’re actively working on and when that process is complete, we’ll move immediately into the interview process.”

Shortlisting, he explained, will be based upon those who have met the minimum.

The post for Chief Elections Officer has attracted significant response. Among the applicants are: Dr Kurt Clarke from Texas; Leslie Oliver Harrow from Jamaica; Eugene Godfrey Petty from St Kitts. Vishnu Persaud, the former Deputy CEO; and Attorney-at-Law Saphier

Hussain, among a few others.

The other senior vacancies include Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Legal Officer, Research Officer and Logistics Manager. Notably, the Region 4 Returning Officer, which is also vacant, is not filled by the Commission.

The appointment process is handled by the CEO, once appointed.

On August 12, 2021, former Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers; and former Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo were all dismissed.

Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo are currently before the courts facing charges related to misconduct in public office.

Lowenfield is accused of breaching his functions when he neglected to provide proper and lawful directions, instructions and guidance to the officers and employees of the Secretariat in the performance of their statutory duties during the process of the adding up of the votes recorded in the SoPs for Electoral District Four. Myers is accused of aiding and abetting Lowenfield’s actions.

GECOM meets again on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Oil fund stands at US$534M

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ome US $534 million is the current balance in Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund (NRF) or the oil money fund. This is according to Ministry of Finance’s October 2021 report of NRF. The statement shows that the net balance as of

October 31, 2021 stood at US$111,342,541 with no outflows from the fund into the Consolidated Fund.

Notably, the PPP/C Government is looking to amend the laws governing the NRF to safeguard and insulate it from political manipulation.

While in opposition, now Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had committed to improving the legislation of the oil fund, which he believed was not robust. The government is looking to table that legislation before the end of this year.

Guyana begins review of ExxonMobil’s Yellowtail proposal

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uyana has commenced its review of the Yellowtail field development plan (FDP), for the fourth project proposed by ExxonMobil’s Guyana affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

The review began Monday (November 8, 2021), with a virtual stakeholder forum led by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The ministry is tasked with ensuring that the FDP is diligently reviewed and assessed for alignment with the requirements of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act and regulations, good international oilfield practices, and all other applicable protocols, practices and methodologies.

The development plan includes up to three drill ships drilling up to 67 wells, the FPSO vessel and SURF pro-

duction system, with tankers taking the oil to global markets.

Yellowtail will be situated 126 miles offshore Guyana, where ExxonMobil made its 13th discovery in the Stabroek block.

Its initial production phase is scheduled to commence in 2025, with optimum production capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, and would continue for 20 years. The FPSO is designed to have a storage capacity of two million barrels of oil.

The proposed development, according to joint public hearings into the project between EEPGL and the Environmental Protection Agency, could provide some 1,300 jobs across its four phases. The final of nine public hearings, which concerns the project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA), is

scheduled to occur virtually on November 11.

ExxonMobil has already received approval for three development projects in the Stabroek block, where it has made discoveries totalling 10 billion oil equivalent barrels.

Of those projects, production began on December 1, 2019 with the Liza Destiny floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel at the Liza Phase One site.

Production is scheduled to begin at the Liza Phase One operation in early 2022, with the Liza Unity having arrived in the block recently. The Prosperity FPSO is currently being outfitted in Singapore for the Payara project, scheduled for first oil in 2024.

ExxonMobil is the operator of the Stabroek block.

Its partners in the consortium are Hess Corporation and CNOOC Limited.

In keeping with the PPP/C Government’s commitment to accountability, no money has been withdrawn from the fund, currently sitting in the United States federal bank.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, MP, had anticipated in September that Guyana would see more than US $500 million in the NRF by the end of the year, further advancing the country’s economy. “You can say safely that before the ending of 2021 we will have nearly half billion USD in the Natural Resource Fund, that is intact and not a dollar has been spent from it. As of

right now, we have US $436 Million in Natural Resource Fund, that is the proceeds or the revenue that our country would have, gained from the sale of its crude, we would have completed seven lifts,” he had said back in September.

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali had affirmed that transparency and accountability will be the tenets of the fund. Once the legislation for the oil wealth fund has been improved, expenditure must be approved by the National Assembly.

“As you are aware, there are immediate needs that have to be financed. We committed

that during the campaign that there will be no secrecy in revenues received by the country from our natural resources, especially oil and gas, and we have stuck to that commitment,” the President had assured. Further, the Head of State said the government would soon be creating a balance sheet, which the public could view online and be kept informed of the revenues and expenditures.

ExxonMobil’s current project revolves around the Liza Phase One development. Others, such as the Liza Phase Two and Payara, which are soon to come on stream.

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Ramjattan bashes sugar workers ‒ Reduces them to ‘unintelligent, drunks’

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rguing that sugar workers remain a key support base for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), APNU+AFC Coalition’s Khemraj Ramjattan, used a live streamed social media programme to bash thousands of hardworking Guyanese.

In an attempt to pit members of the sugar sector against those in the rice sector, Ramjattan said, “I had to tell some of the sugar workers that ‘ya’ll aint really so blessed like the sugar workers’.”

The politician also reduced sugar workers to unintelligent persons who blindly vote for the PPP/C. Ramjattan said, “They (PPP/C gov-

ernment) have a thing about sugar workers. Cut cane, go and collect their money, drink they liquor and so on, do some other negative things and then vote PPP. That is what they want of cane cutters.

“The peasantry is a little different and a little distinctly more questioning constituency. Rice farmers have always questioned the PPP because they make their money and they can talk and once you have an independent pocket, you can have an independent mind. But if you have to rely every week on the wages of the Estates, you hardly will get one (an independent mind). Especially when you have other

ancillary organisations, like GAWU, pushing nonsense in your head, they (sugar workers) gon be just fanatically be blind lovers of the PPP. But peasant class has a little different history and its origins and ideological perspectives and so on. They are going to question them (the PPP)….this is why I told the rice farmers you have to protest some more… .I told them, they don’t like you, they like themselves.”

Notably, Ramjattan, as Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader, was on the campaign trail, prior to the May 2015 Elections promising greater support for sugar workers in Region 6. However, after taking office, the AFC, the junior partner in the APNU+AFC Coalition

government, began losing support – specifically after the closure of several sugar estates.

It was Ramjattan who defended what sugar workers deemed a betrayal by saying “god wanted” the sugar estates to be closed down.

Ramjattan said on January 26, 2018, had said, “Probably it was destined that way.

Probably God wanted it that way that we have to make the decision now…the thing need certain closures…so what is the big deal?”

Of further note is that it was the former Coalition’s own Commission of Inquiry that said no sugar estate should be closed. The report said: “The COI does not recommend the closure of any estate.”

WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

More gas-fired power plants to drive down costs, emissions

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he Government is implementing a plan for a gas-to-energy project which will deliver 250 megawatts (MW) of power from a Wales gas-fired plant to the grid, to save on costs and emissions associated with power generation.

However, its natural gas programme extends beyond the Wales operation, as it is preparing more power plants to be fueled by natural gas. “[Guyana Power and Light Inc.] GPL plans to convert 106MW of their existing [heavy fuel oil] HFO capacity to dual fuel engines (HFO/ NG) by 2026,” states the low carbon development strategy (LCDS) 2030 draft.

This adds to new recip-

rocating 46 MW dual fuel (HFO/NG) engines which were added to the grid in 2021, located at Garden of Eden on the East Bank of Demerara.

The dual fueled engines will build on Guyana’s firm capacity, adding to the gas-to-energy infrastructure. “The government is currently undertaking the detailed studies and the financing structuring of the [gas-to-energy] project. It is anticipated that a 250 MW gas-fired power plant will be constructed and in operation in 2024,” the LCDS 2030 states.

For the Wales operation, investments are needed into (Turn to back page)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Infighting continues…

Granger’s decision PNCR General Secretary clashes on PNCR member with candidate for leadership reversed A A s the leadership race for the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) heats up, details of more infighting continues to spill into public view.

To date five candidates have publicly declared that they are in the running leadership posts within the PNCR. Joseph Harmon, Aubrey Norton, Richard Van-West Charles are running for PNCR leader. Amanza Walton-Desir and Roysdale Forde are contesting the post of PNCR Chairman. Currently David Granger is PNCR leader and Volda Lawrence is PNCR Chairperson.

Recently, Van-West Charles moved to discredit the PNCR, General Secretary, Amna Ally. He accused Ally

of misusing and abusing the office of the General Secretary by immersing herself in the election campaign, openly taking sides and supporting one candidate, when she should be professional and desist from compromising her office. In a letter, he said, “Ms. Ally’s behaviour is not only untoward, unethical and unacceptable but it also goes against the principles of the party. This approach was never taken by any previous GS…the role of the GS, as head of the party’s secretariat, in the instance of an election, is to ensure the process is free, fair and transparent and represents the true and legitimate will of its members…it must be said at all times members, particu-

larly the leadership -incumbent and aspiring- should embrace ethical behaviour and hold in esteem the values of the Party.

Ms. Ally’s continued presence as GS threatens and undermines these values.”

Ally has since hit back.

In public comments she said, “Van West-Charles did not employ me.”

Meanwhile, while there are now several persons who have confirmed that they will be running for the top post, current Leader David Granger continues to dodge the question, as to whether he would run for re-election.

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.

In the meantime, his leadership continues to be questioned.

The PNCR’s last biennial congress was in 2018. The latest update is that the overdue 22nd Biennial Congress is set for December 11, 2021.

PNCR Chairperson and acting Party Leader, Volda Lawrence, had previously said that the congress would be held by the end of November 2021, but no later than December 13, 2021.

longstanding member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), who was suspended by PNCR leader, David Granger, is now positioned to return to politics.

Granger’s decision was reversed after PNCR Executives, including Aubrey Norton, backed a motion on the matter at the PNCR’s Central Executive Committee meeting.

In June 2014, Kissoon had an altercation with another PNCR member who she accused of slapping her. The member is aligned to Granger. After the incident, Granger moved to suspend Kissoon, a move that led to him being accused of acting unconstitutionally.

Granger and Kissoon have been clashing since 2012.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Almost 9,000 house lots distributed in just over a year I

n just over a year, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration has distributed almost 9,000 house lots, according to subject Minister, Colin Croal.

He explained that the

Administration is on track to deliver on its promise of 50,000 house lots by 2025. “We have allocated close to 9,000 allocations since August 2020….We are on target to achieving our overall housing

programme…This is a five-year implementation as part of our manifesto commitment...when we say 50,000, that’s in terms of the lots. But when we also have our housing programme, those persons

who benefit from our housing programme and even persons who are dealt with in a regularization manner, have to go through that process. They have to go through our system so they will be in our database.

Those numbers also form part of the numbers that we are dealing with,” he said.

According to him, some 13,000 new applications have been made since August 2020 and majority of the backlog being dealt

with are for persons in the low-income brackets from Region 4.

The Ministry of Housing and Water flagship programme remains its ‘Dream Realised’ housing drive.

21

WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

Jordan is a grossly incompetent professional...

External Loans Act and it is reinforced in the FMAA. As a result, in practice, only the Finance Minister signs loan agreements on Guyana’s behalf. This has been in place since time immemorial, and has always been honoured, even during Jordan’s lackluster tenure which was marked by repeated breaches and illegalities.

However, while the Finance Minister is the only authority empowered to sign loan agreements, it is routine practice for senior technical staff of the Ministry of Finance to communicate with donors and development partners throughout the project cycle, including at the earliest stages of mobilizing resources to fund projects. Indeed, the Head of the Project Cycle Management Division, which division is charged with responsibility for resource mobilization, has always been the lead government interlocutor with development partners and has been engaged in communication with development partners on issues of resource mobilization for many, many years.

It is a matter of public record now, the several number of examples of such letters in which this same official wrote donors – during Jordan’s tenure – requesting loan financing for several different projects.

For Mr. Jordan to insinuate that there is something irregular about this, is a clear indication that he is either woefully unfamiliar with a well-established practice that continued under his tenure (the question of Jordan feigning ignorance of what was transpiring in his own ministry and under his watch will be returned to shortly), or that he is aware of this practice but would still dishonestly seek to insinuate that something is irregular about it, in an obvious attempt to mislead those who don’t know otherwise.

The fact of the matter is that there is absolutely nothing irregular about the letter to which Jordan is referring, and he should be aware of this if he had any modicum of familiarity with the law and semblance of familiarity with a long established practice in the ministry.

NATURAL RESOURCES FUND In his most recent foray in the media, Jordan also attempted to give the impression that the APNU/ AFC Government of which he was a part had crafted a superlative Natural Resources Fund (NRF) (letter in SN of November 8, 2021

under caption “The Coalition sought an NRF of the highest caliber”). Here again, his letter is replete with brazen misrepresentations.

He asserts that “the NRF Act was the product of extensive national and international consultations”, but conveniently omitted to disclose that that Act was rushed through the National Assembly after his Government had already lost the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) and had therefore lost their mandate to govern.

Well after the government had fallen, in total disregard for the clear consequences that are constitutionally due to flow from a NCM, Jordan’s government rushed in January 2019 to sneak the NRF Bill through Parliament with no Opposition participation and no Opposition input.

This is the single most important piece of legislation to have been enacted in many years, and the APNU/ AFC government saw nothing wrong with sneaking it through Parliament at a time when they had lost their mandate to govern, when they were widely regarded as an illegal and illegitimate government, and without any Opposition input whatsoever. Yet, Mr. Jordan now has the audacity to speak of “extensive national and international consultations”.

Mr. Jordan then goes on to attempt to hide behind the reputations of two professionals from the Commonwealth Secretariat and two Ministry of Finance officials, in his attempt to assert the quality of the NRF Act. Without any disrespect intended to any of these four distinguished professionals, it is apposite to note how subject matter experts have assessed the same NRF Act. The Inter-American Development Bank recently issued a publication entitled “Economic Institutions for a Resilient Caribbean” which includes a detailed assessment of Guyana’s NRF (pages 268-274).

Amongst the observations made by that assessment are the following: • “The objectives and design of the NRF raise several issues. The fund on its own cannot achieve the objectives that have been set for it. The rigid withdrawal rules may do little to foster stabilization or saving but may entail fiscal costs” (p. 270) • “The formula for the maximum permissible withdrawal is among the most complex operational rules for a resource fund in the world. Its design

departs from good practices”. (p. 271) • “State-of-the-art advice based on international experience and good fiscal management principles emphasizes simplicity, flexibility, transparency, and close integration with the budget and public asset-liability management.

The rule’s complexity may also conspire against fiscal

transparency and public understanding.” (p. 271).

The irrefutable fact of the matter is that the NRF Act in its current formulation was a piece of legislation which was very poorly conceived, and was ‘rammed down the throats’ of the nation during a period when the APNU/ AFC was in a state of illegality and illegitimacy.

While it must be recalled

(From page 15)

that this NRF Act (which Mr. Jordan so proudly and presumptuously touts in his letter) was passed during a period that his Government was occupying an illegal period in office, it must also be noted that his letter serves as the most recent reminder of his Government’s prevarications that the law does not mean what it says and that 33 votes in the National

Assembly are not greater than 32.

BURGEONING OVERDRAFT Jordan also in his most recent letter speaks of a burgeoning overdraft of the consolidated fund. It is a matter of public record that it is Jordan who ignored the advice of the International (Turn to page 22)

22

WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

COM M ENTARY

Jordan must apologize for constantly treating Guyanese as stupid Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

W

inston Jordon attacks the PPP/C for thinking of borrowing $US1.5B for infrastructural projects.

Has anyone forgotten when Jordon, as Guyana’s Finance Minister for a government that was squatting in office in 2019, following the December 21st, 2018 No-Confidence Motion, bragged that his government was negotiating a loan of $US900M with the Islamic Development Bank?

This was Jordon with his “big borrowing” hat.

Winston Jordon opened his mouth again and again got caught for lying. He just cannot help himself. For a man who was a total failure as a finance minister, he just does not get it that the best thing he could do for himself is retire into a corner and stay there away from any sort of public attention. There is nothing in his political career that he can be proud of. In his latest public statement, he made erroneous statements, claiming that the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) legislation was one with the widest possible consultation. Jordon conveniently forgot to mention certain pertinent facts about the NRF. First, whatever consultation they did, if any, was never with the people’s representatives. The PPP was not consulted. The bill was introduced and passed in an illegal parliament, on January 2, 2019, in the absence of the PPP. The parliament had passed a No-Confidence Motion against the government on December 21st, 2018, essentially ending the life of parliament. But the brazen APNU/AFC government refused to accept the legally binding passage of the NCM and tried to get the Speaker to reverse the vote on a number of spurious claims, including that 33 is not more than 32.

The PPP could not attend the sitting of January 2, 2019 because it was an illegal sitting. The NRF was, therefore passed illegally. Jordon did not say that.

In addition, Jordon made claims that the NRF legislation was of the highest quality because he and his government were totally committed to the best possible NRF. But

he did not confess to the many objections made against the NRF that is the law in Guyana today. Not only has the PPP made objections to several provisions in the NRF, but there are many local advocates who have serious problems. Moreover, Jordon did not say that the IDB did a review and identified a number of serious flaws in the NRF Act. One cannot claim he or she wanted the best possible NRF and then not open the process for the widest possible discourse and debate. In fact, knowing their time was up, APNU/AFC rushed the NRF bill through an illegal process.

Guyana today must ensure we correct the flaws before we can use that law. Presently, the process of extensive discourse to correct the flaws is underway. Consultative changes are being made and an amended or new NRF will be fully debated in the National Assembly of Guyana.

That is what good governance is, not the sham of rushing through one of the most crucial and consequential legislation ever in this country just to hide from criticism. The truth is they constructed an NRF that they could abuse, thinking they would have stolen the elections, just like the PNC used to in Burnham’s time.

The truth is Winston Jordon has never been honest with the Guyanese people.

Because he feels like he can continue to treat the Guyanese people as if they are stupid, he constantly, without any hesitation or remorse, misrepresent facts and openly dispense misinformation. Winston Jordon continues to disgrace himself and continues to insult the intelligence of the Guyanese people. Jordon forgets that the Guyanese people, no matter who they voted for, have not forgotten the miserable job he did as this country’s Finance Minister. Given the travesty of the attempt to hide the EXXON $US18M singing bonus, one would have thought Jordon would have stayed silent in his corner. Jordon has given various stories relating to the $US18M signing bonus, but the one that gets ordinary Guyanese citizens angry is the story that he thought EXXON had given them the money as a gift. If so, why did they try hiding the money and then

lied about it?

The APNU/AFC/PNC’s former Minister of Finance not only easily fabricate and misrepresent facts, he conveniently undergoes metamorphosis. Every single time he opens his mouth, it is another version of “his facts”, another change in beliefs. As Minister of Finance, he led Guyana on a debt binge. At that time, he believed that borrowing was a good thing for Guyana. Now that he is not the Minister and his own party has no place for him, he has changed his beliefs. He is now not in favor of borrowing.

On October 27, 2018, as reported in Guyana’s newspapers, Jordon defended APNU/ AFC’s borrowing binge. Guyana’s debt stock (debt to GDP ratio) in 2015 when APNU/ AFC took office was 47%.

In 2017, it was 54%. His response was that “borrowing was a necessity” since there was much urgent need for infrastructural development.

In an earlier Department of Public Information (DPI) interview, Jordon had passionately argued that roads,

bridges, boats, health care and educational facilities were just some of the “tremendous developmental needs” which can only be met through internationally-sourced loans.

At a signing ceremony for a loan for $US36M for broadband development, Jordon boasted that he had “the pleasure of signing several loans with China”. Jordon posited that Guyana had many infrastructural needs and not enough resources on hand to pursue those infrastructural necessities. After only one year in office, Guyana’s debt had already increased by more than 4% at the time.

At the time also, this was the same Jordon under whom NICIL took a $30B loan for GUYSUCO with an interest rate of 4.75%, clearly among the highest loan interest rates any country in CARICOM borrow money for. At the time, the almost $US150M was among the highest single loan this country had ever taken.

“Big Borrowing” Jordon of 2018 has now metamorphosized into “Borrowing

is Dangerous” Jordon. In this new metamorphosized Jordon, he has donned on his “borrowing is catastrophic hat”. Not only is he frightened by government’s borrowing, but borrowing at interest rates of below 2% is scary to him.

When he was in charge, borrowing was a necessity, even if borrowing was at unsustainable rates of 4.75%.

It is a funny thing that those who are most guilty always seem obsess with keeping attention on themselves.

Under the PNC, by 1990, Guyana was one of the most indebted country on earth.

By 1990, Guyana’s foreign debt burden of $US2.1B was 953% Guyana’s GDP and debt servicing was greater than 100% Guyana’s revenue earnings. That legacy squarely belonged to Jordon’s party – the PNC. After the PPP, largely under the leadership of Bharat Jagdeo, first as Finance Minister and then as President, managed the debt crisis and brought down debt to less than 48% GDP, the best in the Caribbean, and debt servicing to under 10%, Jordon’s party

returned to government in 2015 and resumed the debt binge, under Jordon’s tenure as Minister of Finance. One would, therefore, think it is in Jordon’s and the PNC’s interest to remain silent in their corner since they are the ones guilty of debt and fiscal deficit crisis in Guyana pre-1992 and between 2015 and 2020.

Jordon remains faithful to the ideology of his party – tax, borrow and spend now and let the people bend under the weight later. This is the man that boldly announced in 2015 that he intends to lead Guyana back into the international bond market. Guyana, whose debt stood at 215% in 1982, largely through international bonds, had defaulted in repayments in 1982 under Burnham’s PNC. Under the PPP, Guyana had taken a hiatus in bond undertakings.

In 2015, “Big Borrowing” Jordon announced a return.

The GUYSUCO $30B was an example. Now “Big Borrowing, High Loan Interest Rates” Jordon wants us to believe that borrowing is a heinous monster for Guyana.

Jordan is a grossly incompetent... (From page 21) Monetary Fund as well as his own technical staff, and refused to address the rapid accumulation of the overdraft during his tenure.

It is also a matter of public record that it is this PPP/C government that has regularized that overdraft, securitizing it with appropriate debt instruments, and putting in place arrangements to ensure that the fiscal operations of government are adequately financed without recourse to re-accumulation of the overdraft.

Despite this publicly known fact, Jordan soldiers on, continuing to repeat yet another falsehood.

THE SIGNING BONUS REVISITED Mr. Jordan’s most recent misrepresentations are a reminder of the chronic behavior he displayed throughout his tenure in office.

It would be recalled that Jordan presided over the illegal diversion of the US$18 million signing bonus from the Consolidated Fund. The fact of the matter is that

the law required that bonus to be deposited into the Consolidated Fund. Jordan presided over and facilitated the illegal diversion of that sum into a secret bank account. He is yet to state publicly under what law and by what legal authority that amount was diverted from the Consolidated Fund and secretly stashed away to finance unknown activities, bypassing the budgetary and appropriation process.

Even more astonishingly, Jordan famously denied any knowledge of the existence of the signing bonus, long after his own ministry had requested in writing the opening of a special bank account to receive the funds.

As if this were not enough, he would then stumble over one excuse after another trying clumsily to feign ignorance of the illegality he facilitated: firstly that he knew nothing about the bonus, secondly that he thought it was a gift, and thirdly that the individual who negotiated the bonus (apparently by this time he knew who had

negotiated it) had misled the APNU/AFC government.

A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR History is replete with examples of Winston Jordan trying to mislead the nation. It would be recalled that at one of his first sittings in Parliament in 2015, he attempted to mislead the nation by quoting incorrect debt numbers, a matter on which, after he was challenged on the accuracy of his statements, he would subsequently reluctantly apologize to the Assembly for the misinformation he was caught peddling redhandedly and for creating an erroneous impression.

The repetition of falsehoods and misrepresentations

by Winston Jordan is a clear pattern of behavior. It points clearly to either a complete dereliction of duty to the point where he apparently was unaware of everything, or a woeful lack of knowledge of established norms and practices, or a deliberate and sudden amnesia, or downright dishonesty in order to hoodwink

the public and score cheap political points.

What is clear is that Winston Jordan has no reservations deploying all manner of misrepresentations as he seeks belatedly to acquire some semblance of relevance and as he desperately tries to repair the strikingly lackluster mishap that his ministerial tenure constituted.

In the final analysis, these public pronouncements provide ample illustration that, contrary to his often-repeated self-proclamation as a professional, Winston Jordan has no hesitation to distort facts in order to mislead the nation.

It would appear that the APNU/AFC needs Winston Jordan to crawl out every now and then, to ramble on economic matters given the obvious and glaring void on their parliamentary benches.

Sadly for them, his occasional forays serve more to discredit them and reinforce their now unshakeable reputation for incompetence and dishonesty.

Sincerely, Ministry of Finance

23

WEEKEND MIRROR 13-14 NOVEMBER, 2021

COVID-19 vaccination campaign seeing uptick W

ith new COVID-19 measures in place locally and internationally, the Ministry of Health is seeing an increase in the vaccination rate across the country.

The gazetted COVID-19 measures for November require that persons entering public buildings must be fully vaccinated.

The government announced too, that persons seeking to enter Guyana must also be fully inoculated.

The United States and other international countries have also mandated that persons travelling to those countries must be fully vaccinated.

On Tuesday (November 9, 2021), scores of persons flocked the Ministry of Health’s vaccination site at Brickdam to receive their jab.

PFIZER VACCINES Meanwhile, since government made the Pfizer vaccine available to citizens in Guyana last Monday, per-

sons have been flooding vaccination sites for the United States made vaccine.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has said that he is impressed by the interest being shown by the public in getting vaccinated. He said, “I think by and large, people are coming forward to get vaccinated.

I’ve seen now the preferences to get Pfizer or Sinopharm and those who would have received their first dose Astra Zeneca, they’re coming to get their second dose. So, I think people are trying to get themselves in order to be fully vaccinated which is a positive thing.”

He noted too that as more persons are taking vaccination more seriously, the infection rate is also decreasing. “Because of our levels of vaccination, in Region Four has one of the highest levels of vaccination. And we would have also seen if you have less cases, you would have less hospitalisations and

less deaths,” Anthony said.

Despite, the decrease in cases, Dr. Anthony is urging that there be no complacency towards the established Covid guidelines of regular hand washing, sanitising, physical distancing and mask wearing.

To date, over 388,000 persons, 18 years and older received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while over 255, 000 of those took the second dose. For persons 12 to 18 years, over 28, 000 took the first shot, and over 19,000 returned for the second dose.

Persons who received the first dose of AstraZeneca are advised to get their second dose before the end of November. Also, available also are the AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.

The Ministry of Health has said that there is no shortage of vaccines.

Gov’t working with private facilities to boost COVID-19 vaccination rate among pregnant women

T Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed entry to Guyana from December

M

inister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, said there will be no further extension for travelers to take the second dose of a COVID vaccine to enter the country.

Dr. Anthony affirmed that after November, only fully vaccinated passengers will be allowed entry into Guyana. He said, “After the end of November, the mandate will be fully implemented.

So, unless you’re fully vaccinated, you’re not going to be allowed. So, people have a chance to get themselves in compliance and once they do that, then they will be able to travel freely.”

In the updated COVID-19 guidelines for November,

only fully vaccinated persons will be allowed to enter Guyana. But there have been objections from sections of society, requesting time to be fully vaxxed.

Minister Anthony said the government realised that many Guyanese would be barred from returning to Guyana and has such lifted the policy until the end of November. He said, “The challenge when we did that is that we discovered very quickly that there are some Guyanese who only took one of the doses and some of them took the dose and they have travelled abroad and to get back into the country would have caused

that difficulty. So, we have given them a limited period by which time, if they only have one dose, they have up to the end of November that they’ll be allowed to return to Guyana.”

Minister Anthony said this will further protect Guyana from imported cases.

As there are no vaccination sites at the two international airports, Minister Anthony said passengers desirous of being vaccinated can visit any of the 100 vaccination sites countrywide.

Guyanese are urged to be vaccinated, as it will slow down the infection and death rates.

he Ministry of Health has been collaborating with private health facilities to ensure pregnant women are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said this move has seen an uptake in the vaccination rate among pregnant women.

According to him, pregnant women are now understanding the need to be vaccinated against the deadly virus. He said, “We have seen women coming forward and getting vaccinated. We have also been working with a lot of the private hospitals to ensure that women who go to these private institutions, can access the vaccine. A lot of the obstetricians have come on

board and they are talking to their patients pertaining to getting the vaccine.”

The Minister noted too that it is prudent that pregnant women get the COVID jab, as it has been proven that those who are unvaccinated are experiencing the severe form of the disease.

He said, “So, pregnancy would depress the immune system. So, if you compare a pregnant and a non-pregnant person, the pregnant person, you’re seeing that if they get COVID that more than likely they will get a more severe form of COVID. If they are vaccinated, then they would not get that severe form of covid and therefore, it is important for them to get vaccinated.”

He said that unvaccinated pregnant women are prone to giving birth to premature babies.

The health minister also debunked social media rumors which claim that women are prone to spontaneous miscarriages and continuous bleeding after taking the vaccine. Anthony said, “I think some celebrity in the US made this comment and it went viral. But there’s no scientific evidence to back that up. And so, while that might have spread and people latched on to the sentiments, there isn’t any scientific evidence, no medical evidence to back that up.”

The Health Minister confirmed that the vaccine could be taken at any point during the three trimesters.

PPP/C job creation drive continues T

he PPP/C Administration continues to improve the local business environment, thereby increasing Guyana’s attractiveness to investors and, in so doing, advance its job creation drive.

Ministers of Government participated in a sod turning exercise for the first Hyatt Place Georgetown Hotel, a US$32 million investment by SIR Investments Inc., which will provide job opportunities for 300 Guyanese.

Upon opening in 2024, amenities will include different guest room options, disability outfitted rooms, restaurants and bars, meeting rooms, social lounge, fitness centers, pools, internet and communication links, room service and guest laundry, along with spacious parking spaces.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh thanked the com-

pany for choosing Guyana as an investment destination, given the growing demand for hotel rooms here. He said, “It’s an open secret that international visitors coming to Guyana can’t find a hotel room. We have international delegations saying to us, they can’t get a hotel room. I wish to thank you very much for recognising Guyana’s tremendous potential as a destination for investment. I want to congratulate you and thank

you for recognising Guyana’s potential in that regard.”

President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently underscored the fact that the promise of job creation by the PPP/C Administration is tied to the vibrancy of the private sector, among government initiatives to advance this objective.

Ali had said, “On the push to create new jobs let me just give you a few examples. We have turned the side for about three hotels. We are finaliz-

ing maybe another four…. the construction phase in that industry itself has already generated hundreds of jobs.

By the time we get to the end of the year that will go to thousands. The housing program itself has already engaged thousands of Guyanese, the sugar industry, new investments coming in. Let me give you the example. A survey recently showed that daily, we had 1100 trucks moving from Soesdyke along the East Bank, with sand that is close to 24,000 tons of sand.

Every day each of those trucks would have at a minimum, a laborer, a driver, you then have mechanics that have to support those trucks. And this is just one sector…more than 70 per cent of the mining sector is back in operation. All of this is creating jobs for people, the vibrancy in the private sector, the investment that the private sector is making the new shore based facilities will open up opportunities for thousands of people. Then you will hotels at a minimum

with the plans that we are seeing, we will need about 3000 persons by the time you get up to year to the end of 2023 permanently to service the needs of those hotels.”

The Head of State noted that the push to create jobs is gaining rapid momentum.

“We are going to add to this, the new highways that we're going to build…and all of this is happening in the context of a global economy that is suffering,” Ali said, referring to the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The President assured that the job creation initiatives will continue to be pursued aggressively. “We have made so many advances. This is not about the PPP/C. This is about us, as a people understanding and appreciating the advances that we have made and working together to even move faster ahead with the development of our country,” he posited.

The PPP/C prior to taking office promised the creation of 50,000 jobs in five years.

More gas-fired power plants... (From page 18) the pipeline to transport the gas from the Liza field, a processing plant to separate the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and the Natural Gas, and a gas-fired power plant.

The total capacity to generate electricity with natural gas from all of the plants will be 403MW. Multiple government-commissioned studies have confirmed that utilising natural gas would reduce the cost of power generation.

The studies have also confirmed that substituting HFOs for natural gas will significantly reduce emis-

sions.

LCDS 2030 states that the implementation of this plan would reduce, by half, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with electricity generation.

While natural gas would provide all of these benefits, they will only serve Guyana in the short term, while the country develops capacity for renewable energy options.

In the meantime, the government and the private sector will explore options for solar power, hydro power, wind power and biomass technologies.

ELECT OR A L R EFOR M

The draft of proposed draft amendments Representation of the People’s Act (ROPA) is currently available to the public.

Feedback can be submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance via several platforms: Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/MPAGguyana Email To: ministergt.mpag@gmail.com Mail To: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, 105 New Garden St, Queenstown, Georgetown.

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