Finance Minister

Human Capital – during World Bank’s Ministerial Conclave

Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni K. Singh recently attended and addressed a Ministerial Conclave on Human Capital convened by the World Bank Group as part of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group’s 2021 Spring Meetings which are currently being held virtually. The Conclave was held under the theme ‘Investing in Human Capital for a Green, Resilient and Inclusive Recovery’.

Minister Singh spoke on the topic of promoting economic opportunities while ensuring environmental and fiscal sustainability. His address focused on the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which is soon to be expanded and which will set out a comprehensive development agenda for the country along a low carbon trajectory. He also focused on the high priority being placed by the Government of Guyana on various initiatives to promote human capital development.

In his address, the Minister highlighted Guyana’s bright economic prospects as well as the country’s vulnerabilities and development challenges, emphasizing that Guyana is rich in natural resources, including oil, minerals, and forests that cover 85 percent of the country’s territory making its economic prospects currently very promising despite COVID-19 and domestic political issues which caused a sharp contraction in non-oil GDP in 2020. He reminded that even with the many challenges, Guyana is still the fastest growing economy in the world as a result of its production of oil, and will remain amongst the fastest growing economies in the next few years. “But we also face extreme vulnerabilities to climate change, as well as significant development challenges. We are well aware of the magnitude of these challenges. They include avoiding the resource curse, promoting a strong and competitive non-oil economy, addressing our infrastructure gap, and improving human development outcomes,” Dr. Singh added.

On the issue of environmental sustainability, Minister Singh highlighted the role of both the original LCDS as well as the soon to be expanded LCDS. He stated that “Guyana’s commitment to low carbon or green growth is longstanding. In 2008, we published what we believe was the first low carbon development strategy for a developing country. The LCDS reflected that Guyana is at the intersection of many different aspects of the climate challenge. On the one hand, our low-lying coast means we are heavily impacted by climate change.”

The Senior Finance Minister then proceeded to highlight examples of some of the impact on the country as a result of climate change. “In 2005, floods caused economic damage equivalent to 60 percent of GDP. On the other hand, our forests make a very substantial contribution in the global fight against climate change. The LCDS paved the way for us to join with Norway in 2009 in the world’s third largest international forest partnership under which the climate services provided by our forests were remunerated for the first time – making available US$250 million of performance-based payment for climate services to finance climate-friendly investments.” He posited further that Government is now preparing an expanded LCDS which will build on the original LCDS and outline a comprehensive low carbon development agenda for Guyana.

Minister Singh assured the Officials that the Government has placed the highest level of importance on investing in human capital development as he elaborated its emphasis on education. He explained that “despite the many competing calls on our finite fiscal resources, we are investing heavily in the social sector – education, health, etc. – as well as in facilitative infrastructure such as information and communications technology. For example, in education, we are investing heavily in early childhood education, universal primary and secondary education, improving access to and quality of tertiary education, strengthening technical and vocational education, improving learning outcomes at all levels, and ensuring lifelong learning – supported with the use of information and communication technology based on lessons learnt during COVID-19 – and all with the aim of improving production and productivity as well as individual and household well-being.”

He added that “on many of these initiatives we are collaborating with the Bank, and we expect the education sector to dominate our portfolio of projects with the Bank in the next programming cycle… this will be in keeping with our emphasis on human capital development both as an input to, and an outcome of, sustainable economic growth.”

In concluding his presentation the Minister reiterated that his Government views human capital development “as both a critical prerequisite for and a critical objective of economic growth”.

The Conclave on Human Capital saw participation from the World Bank Group President David Malpass, other senior executives of the Bank, as well as several Ministers of Finance from around the world.

Kwakwani residents urged to pursue opportunities beyond bauxite

‒ opportunities for training available

Kwakwani residents have been urged by Labour Minister, Joseph Hamilton, to pursue livelihoods in other sectors to enhance their lives and develop their communities.

The Minister was at the time addressing a small gathering at the Kwakwani Primary School during a recent outreach to several villages in the Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region Ten).

The residents were inquiring about the way forward for bauxite workers since the Russia-owned bauxite company RUSAL suspended its operations over a labour conflict back in January 2020. That impasse resulted in workers who had been laid-off, blocking the Berbice River, preventing the movement of the company’s bauxite out of Guyana.

“You cannot sit down and wait for RUSAL and bauxite. The information I received is that RUSAL might not be back here because RUSAL has been able to get a bauxite operation in Brazil that is more lucrative to them. They are able to produce bauxite three, four times cheaper than they were doing in Guyana…That’s why as leaders, we have to be careful about decision making,” he said.

Minister Hamilton also said Linden and Region Ten can no longer be regarded as bauxite areas, and that residents must now focus on the other sectors including agriculture, forestry, mining and tourism.

At the same time, he noted that discussions are ongoing between local and international partners regarding taking over the company in the future.

“I had a meeting with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners about mining and they raised that they are engaging people at the level of UK as a conglomerate to put a proposal to the Government. I don’t know when, I don’t know how, I don’t know how soon,” he said.

In the interim, the Labour Minister presented to the residents a range of opportunities for skills training through the Board of Industrial Training for youths, women and retirees. These include training in areas such as small engine repairs, mechanics, plumbing, masonry, heavy-duty machinery operation, solar panel repairs, cosmetology, and garment construction.

He also encouraged Friendly Society groups to regularise themselves so they can also benefit from training and access small loans and grants to undertake economic ventures. These groups can also bid for small government contracts.

Progress being made with finalizing Natural Resources Fund Act

The Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Act, which is among several oil-related pieces of legislation, is at the Attorney General’s Chambers and will be subjected to a review by an expert who is currently being sourced through public tender.

Attorney General and Senior Counsel, Anil Nandlall, in recent comments on the issue explained that the NRF Act is awaiting the procurement of an oil and gas expert or consultancy firm to scrutinise same.

He noted that bids from both local and international consultants have already been received and are currently being examined by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

It was previously disclosed in February of this year that over US$200 million earned in oil revenues is currently in Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund, with the latest payment made in January this year.

Notably, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had made this disclosure during a press conference. He had explained that US$206.6 million (GY$43.1 billion) is currently in the NRF, including the latest royalty payment of US$8.3 million, which was received in January. “So far, US$21.2 million in royalty payments have been made into the fund. And there are four payments – US$4.9 million, US$3.6 million, US$4.3 million and US$8.3 million in royalty payments, at different times – April 2020, August 2020, October 2020 and January 2021…and then from profit oil, we have March 11 (2020) – US$54.9 million; June (2020) – US$35 million, August (2020) – US$46 million and January 11 (2021) – US$49 million… so we now have US$206.6 million in the fund – US$185 million so far from profit oil and US$21.2 million from royalty,” he had said.

All of Guyana’s oil revenues are being held in the NRF, which is banked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. However, this money has remained untouched, as the protracted political crisis that followed elections sabotaged any attempt to set up a system for withdrawing funds.

It is expected that once the Natural Resource Fund Act, which stipulates that various committees must be established to provide oversight for the fund, is reviewed, it will be brought to the National Assembly by the current Government.

With Guyana emerging as an oil-and-gas-producing nation, this requires the building of human and institutional capacity; crafting and agreeing to some critical policies and legal measures; and pursuing strong support and coordination among a number of governmental and non-governmental agencies.

President Dr Irfaan Ali has made it clear that monies garnered from Guyana’s oil and gas sector will remain untouched in the sovereign wealth fund until a series of reforms are enacted to strengthen the Government’s regulatory infrastructure for the sector. “My Government is focused heavily on transparency and accountability. As you know, we have demonstrated this after the negotiations of the licence for the Payara. Not only did we make the agreement public, but we also made the environmental permit public, so nothing is done in secrecy…I’ve said before, there’ll be an arm’s length relationship with the politicians. We had international experts leading those negotiations and discussions… and, of course, the sovereign wealth fund is important, in terms of not only the securing and safeguarding [of] the funds but also establishing the conditions and the circumstances, through legislation, on which resources will be used,” the President had said during an address to the Forecast on Latin America and the Caribbean Conference last year.

In keeping with its manifesto commitments, the Government has pledged to implement a number of measures to ensure accountable and transparent management of the country’s natural resources including establishing an arm’s length sovereign wealth fund insulated from political interference and upholding the Santiago Principles of transparency and accountability, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Another advance with PPP/C’s infrastructure agenda...

First step of Bartica-Timehri road project started

The Government has started preliminary works to establish a new road corridor between Bartica and Timehri in keeping with a campaign promise.

On Wednesday (April 7, 2021), Minister of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill and a team of technical personnel inspected the proposed route for the road. Former President and Prime Minister, Mr. Samuel as also part of the exercise.

Minister Edghill, in comments on the matter, said, “the possibility of a road from Bartica to Timehri is no longer an idea. It is something that is doable.”

The inspection of the route began with a short boat ride from Bartica to Foulmouth Dock on the Essequibo River, then along a logging trail to Makouria River, then to Sand Hills and Timehri.

Minister Edghill said the project would improve the commute between the coast and the hinterland, by significantly reducing travelling time, since commuters would no longer have to travel to Parika, then journey to Bartica, and vice versa.

Likewise, citizens will not have to travel to Linden, then on to Rockstone, through to Sherima Crossing for a barge, and then make their way to Bartica. Both routes are lengthy.

Minister Edghill said the project would complement a similar road link to be done from Bartica to Parika. That link will eventually see a network stretching from Parika to Goshen and onwards to Bartica.

The Minister added that the project also ties into other major infrastructural works such as the Schoonord to Parika alignment.

Like the other major roadworks, the Bartica-Timehri route will open up new lands, leading to an increase in agriculture, trade, housing and tourism opportunities.

Explaining the path forward, Minister Edghill said, “We will go to the drawing board with the coordinates. We will look at all of the practicalities and of course, the shortest possible route is what we will be examining. We will probably have to get a geologist to do some soil testing to ensure that we have materials in the closest proximity for the building of that road. I would suspect that within another five, six weeks after this trip, my engineers will be able to do some designing and the monies that are appropriated in 2021 will start cutting an alignment.”

Further, he said a process will begin to decide on the best option to facilitate barge crossings where the road terminates at both the Timehri and Bartica sections.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hinds played an instrumental role in Wednesday’s exercise since he has institutional knowledge of the route. Mr. Hinds noted that the new road network is an important component of the Government’s development agenda. He said, “Development is a process that requires us to work at extending roads and infrastructure…This is a step, I think, a good step in the general development of our country.”

The Guyana Defence Force provided support during Wednesday’s exercise.

This year’s budget provides $25.6 billion for the construction of roads and bridges through the Ministry of Public Works.

IMF doubles its growth prediction for Guyana to 16.4%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tuesday doubled its original projection of 8.1 per cent Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for in 2021 to 16.4 per cent. The IMF made the disclosure in its April 2021 World Economic Outlook titled, ‘Managing Divergent Economies’.

According to the IMF, the 16.4 per cent GDP for 2021 is the third highest after Macao SAR with 61 percent and Maldives, 18.9 percent, according to the IMF. Guyana’s GDP grew by 43.3% in 2020 mainly because of the new oil sector.

Global growth is projected at 6 percent in 2021, moderating to 4.4 percent in 2022. The projections for 2021 and 2022 are stronger than in the October 2020 World Economic Outlook.

The analysis and projections contained in the World Economic Outlook are integral elements of the IMF’s surveillance of economic developments and policies in its member countries, of developments in international financial markets, and of the global economic system. The IMF said that the survey of prospects and policies is the product of a comprehensive interdepartmental review of world economic developments, which draws primarily on information the IMF staff gathers through its consultations with member countries.

RETURN TO DEMOCRACY

Meanwhile, Dr. Singh, in comments on the matter, cited a return to democracy, as well as political and economic stability, as a key factor in the IMF’s revised projection for Guyana.

He noted that the IMF’s previous assessments came at a time when Guyana was in political turmoil brought on by the former APNU+AFC Coalition Government’s refusal to demit office.

Singh said, “At the time the IMF would have done their forecast on the Guyanese economy, around September 2020, there would have been a lot of uncertainty and perhaps less clarity on where the country was going and what prospects and opportunities there would be. Since then, of course, things have been clarified. We had a government assume office in August of 2020. We’ve had two budgets, which have now outlined the Government’s economic and fiscal plans. Those, of course, helped to resolve any policy uncertainties that might have existed. The two budgets have sent a clear signal of where our Government is taking economic policies and what our intentions are. And with the benefit of the clarity of signal that we would have sent, I’m not surprised of the upward revision of the growth outlook of the IMF.”

The Minister added too that the IMF projection reflects the growing optimism that has returned to the Guyanese economy. “What that reflects is the remarkable optimism that has returned to the Guyanese economy. For a long period, the reality is that the Guyanese economy has been beset by severe uncertainty going all the way back to December 2018, when the No-Confidence Motion was passed. From the time the No-Confidence Motion was passed, there was some amount of political uncertainty of what will happen. Initially, everyone expected an election would be held within 90 days. That did not happen. And then there was the back-and-forth with various court matters,” Singh said.

He also pointed out that during that time, a number of projects and foreign investments were put on hold, as many adopted a “waitand-see” stance on Guyana’s political scene – a stance that only abated when President Dr Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President in August 2020. “So, the return to democracy in August 2020 and the clarity of the policy signals sent by both budgets would clearly have conveyed to the rest of the world that Guyana is once again back on track, is open for business. Lots of the projects that were put on pause have now restarted,” the Finance Minister said.

The IMF growth projection is a more conservative estimate than the one the Government had. With the measures announced in the 2021 budget, the Finance Minister had said in February that Guyana’s real GDP is projected to grow by 20.9 per cent, with the non-oil economy growing by 6.1 per cent.

REGIONAL DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL, REGION 8 MAHDIA 111- MILES POTARO ROAD COOPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA INVITATION TO BID

The Regional Democratic Council of Region #8 invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for execution of the following projects.

Public orks Capital Roads 1. Construction of All-Weather Road Paramakatoi to Kato Phase 2 (EE. $20,000,000).

Education Delivery Capital Buildings 2. Construction of Monkey Mountain Nursery School (EE. $45,000,000).

3. Construction of Kurukubaru Nursery School (EE. $45,000,000).

4. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB), Procedures specified in the Procurement Act 2003 and Regulations.

5. Interested eligible bidders may inspect the Bidding Documents and obtain further information from the Regional Office, Regional Democratic Council No.8 Mahdia 111- Miles Potaro Road during normal working hours 08:30 – 15:15 hours Monday to Friday.

6. Bid Documents can be uplifted from the Regional Accounting Unit (RAU) Regional Democratic Council, Region 8 on payment of a non-refundable fee of three thousand dollars ($3,000) from Wednesday 31st March, 2021. Method of payment shall be cash.

7. The bid shall be submitted in a plain envelope bearing no identification of the bidder and clearly marked on the top left hand corner “Tender for …………………………… ………………………………………………………”

8. Bids shall be addressed to:

Chairman, National Procurement and Tender Administration Board Ministry of Finance 49 Main & Urquhart Streets, Georgetown, Guyana

And submitted in the Tender Box at the above-mentioned address no later than 20thApril, 2021 at 09:00 hrs. Electronic Bidding will not be permitted. Late Bids will be rejected.

9. Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders or their representatives who choose to attend at 09:00 hrs on 20th April, 2021 in the Board Room of the Ministry of Finance, 49 Main & Urquhart Streets, Georgetown, Guyana. All Bids must be accompanied by Valid Certificates of Compliance from the Manager of the National Insurance Scheme and Commissioner of Guyana Revenue Authority.

10. The National & Regional Procurement & Tender Administration Boards reserve the right to reject any or all bids without assigning any reason whatsoever and not necessarily to award the lowest bidder.

EDITORIAL Return to democracy, political and economic stability

Ayear has passed since the events of March 2, 2020 threw Guyana into a state of uncertainty and political and economic instability. However, in the months since August 2, 2020, when the duly elected PPP/C government took office, changes have been rapid.

The return to democracy, as well as political and economic stability, has turned up tangible results.

Last week, the report by the United States of America (USA) State Department’s 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, made clear that that the PPP/C won by a margin of 15,000 votes against the APNU+AFC coalition. The report said: “National and regional elections were held on March 2. A no confidence vote in December 2018 against the ruling A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition government triggered snap national elections for March 2019. Several rounds of litigation initiated by the coalition government and opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) delayed the elections until March 2, 2020…national and regional elections took place in March, and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won both the presidency and a majority of representational seats. International and local observers considered the elections free and fair. The incumbent government, however, contested the results of the national elections, leading to numerous rounds of litigation over a three-month period that included a month-long recount…the general elections resulted in the return of the PPP/C to government after a five-year hiatus from a previous 23-year administration, which the incumbent government accepted.”

This week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) doubled its original projection of 8.1 per cent Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for in 2021 to 16.4 per cent. The IMF made the disclosure in its April 2021 World Economic Outlook titled, ‘Managing Divergent Economies’. According to the IMF, the 16.4 per cent GDP for 2021 is the third highest after Macao SAR with 61 percent and Maldives, 18.9 percent, according to the IMF. Guyana’s GDP grew by 43.3% in 2020 mainly because of the new oil sector.

Prior to that – in consideration of the major global challenge that is the COVID-19 pandemic – the World Bank in its semi-annual report on Latin American and the Caribbean Region, stated that Guyana’s economy will remain resilient against the effects of the dreaded novel coronavirus. It added that Guyana will maintain its positive growth trajectory as the burgeoning petroleum sector ‘picks up steam’. Of note is that the PPP/C Government, in addition to advancing a robust vaccination campaign, has sought to strike the balance between the economy and the health management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, in all sectors, positive advances are taking place to improve the lives of Guyanese.

Before Election Day on March 2, 2020, the PPP/C has stressed that facts about track record – whether or not the political party in power delivered on their promises made in its manifesto – matter; facts about performance – how well the political party served the Guyanese people – matter; and facts related to whether the Guyanese people can trust the political party in power matter.

After eight months in office, the PPP/C has rolled out policies, plans and programmes, which demonstrate that it is building on its track record and that it upholds its commitment to serving the Guyanese people.

The return to democracy and political and economic stability will, undoubtedly, continue to result in transformations in the lives of all Guyanese across the country.

Amalia Falls Déjà vu

Dear Editor,

For some weeks now, our media was inundated with articles about the proposed “Gas to Shore” power plant. Vice-President Jagdeo has been taking the brunt of the attacks by the critics.

It reminds me of the “Amaila Falls Project” which was frustrated by similar daily attacks from the Opposition and the regular critics. This was even when all – I repeat, all – the information was shared with the Opposition parties, who had no suggestions nor criticisms when the Government representatives met them on more than one occasion. Yet the APNU voted against it in the National Assembly, and Blackstone, the US investor, walked away from the project. That was a sad day for this nation.

Many of those who were screaming against Amalia then have resumed their attacks on this new project.

What is amazing are the shouts that no study was done. Clearly, no one in Government is so irresponsible as to not have studies done on such a project. I have no doubt that feasibility studies have been done or are in the process of being done, and the results are very positive; so much so that they have generated confidence in Government’s officials to state that the project would be beneficial.

That is not hard to understand if we look at the price of fuel alone. I believe the Government is being conservative when it says that the price of gas would be half as much as heavy fuel oil. From speaking to persons familiar with generating power from gas, I believe that savings on fuel would be much greater than what the Government has stated.

This means that we could save more than US$150M per year in fuel cost. That alone suggests that we should vigorously peruse the project without undue delay.

The argument that it would encourage investments in manufacturing and processing has been made already, and need not be repeated again. We need just to emphasise that we can expect vigorous economic activities once we have cheap energy due to increased employment and greater production.

Apart from just generating power, much more can be done with the gas. Liquid gas would be produced and sold cheaply on the local market. All of these would earn Guyana substantial revenues.

The Vice President has been pilloried for using the term that, from the financial position, it’s “a no-brainer”. I think he is right even if it cost US$1B to construct. The prospects and benefits would show that the payback on the investment could be relatively very short because of the high profitability of the project.

I feel compelled to point this out, since our country and our people have lost a lot because of similar attacks on the Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project. We have been deprived of having cheap energy, and that has retarded growth in our economy and prevented the country from lifting more people out of poverty.

This project has even greater possibilities and benefits for our country than Amaila did.

Let us not allow the same fate to happen to this gas-to-shore project that Amaila suffered. It would be a great tragedy.

Knowing the PPP/Civic as well as I do, I’m sure that as more concrete information becomes available, it would be shared with the public. Then I have no doubt that we would all agree that taking the decision to proceed is really not difficult.

Hopefully, we would be able to convince the “Doubting Thomases”.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar, Former President

International recognition of 2020 elections’ results welcomed

Dear Editor,

Easter Greetings to all Guyanese! May the hope and promise of this auspicious occasion serve to inspire the necessary moulding commitments that continue to harmonise unite our nation!

At the time of penning this article, it is one month since that faithful March 02, 2020 elections day, when our citizens demonstrated affirmatively against the mushrooming oppression of the previous PNC/APNU/AFC regime. Subsequently, our country became a spectacle of global focus, demanding the attention of the most powerful advocates of democratic rights. The final true results were affirmed only after five gruelling months, with the strong united front from local protectors of democracy and the help of the International Community.

No doubt, the strategic and constructive leadership of PPP/C General Secretary Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, together with our new President Dr. Irfaan Ali, proved to be visionary. Guyana’s path is now clearer, and Guyanese are certainly delighted, happy, and grateful for the support of the US State Department, Canada, the European Community, the Commonwealth, Caricom, and other countries for their recognition of the 2020 elections’ results.

The vile nature of the PNC- led APNU/AFC cabal was on full public display as they attempted to upturn the true result of the elections. Corroborating the clandestine operations were infiltrated elements of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), including senior administrative personnel under the control of a tainted Chief Elections Officer. The US Human Rights report addressing the matter refers to the APNU/AFC’s blatant and contemptuous refusal to accept the results of the National and Regional Elections held on 2nd March 2020.

Further, the report condemns the APNU/AFC reaction to the passing of the successful No-Confidence Motion, and also chided the approach of the judiciary which led to the procrastination of Elections in Guyana. Matters such as these, however, were manipulated to influence the turbulent five months in which the APNU/AFC squatted in office as a de facto Government. During the period, the Guyanese people had to live with serious Police excesses, which led to the brutal murder of several persons. Our country became a shadow of itself under the flagrant violations, but was certainly focused on having the related attending situation resolved peacefully.

Guyana certainly set the pace regarding the peaceful approaches to struggle for free and fair elections. This, however, could not have been achieved without the tremendous support from observer missions and international organisations, and the wider diplomatic community. Certainly, the superior leadership of Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo served as a mould, uniting all the forces in Guyana in the struggle for free and fair elections.

Guyana must join with the world and condemn the brutal murder of peaceful protesters in Myanmar (Burma) for a similar cause. At this juncture, the PPP/C Government must lead the mobilisations and commence consultations with the wide stakeholder groups in civil society to ensure that we put in place all the necessary electoral reforms to stop all forms of rigging.

The PPP/C must implement legislative reforms that require a simple majority in Parliament, and lead the concurrent systemic cleansing of all aspects of the electoral body. GECOM must ensure actions are taken to realign the functionality of the organisation with our constitutional ideals for acceptability.

Differentiation of roles and functional responsibilities between the GECOM Secretariat and Commission must distinctly be defined, as we can no longer risk the abusive capitalisation on vague legal interpretations.

Further, given the Guyana peculiarities, the Chairperson of GECOM must

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FITUG calls on all Guyanese to exhibit responsibility to mitigate COVID-19 spread

Dear Editor,

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is deeply concerned by the rising number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities in our country over the last few days. Statistics emanating from the Ministry of Health has informed that as many as fourteen (14) persons have lost their battle to the dreaded virus since the start of the month while several scores of Guyanese have become infected during the period. At this time, the Federation extends it deepest sympathies to the relatives and friends of those who lost their lives and wishes those who have become infected a speedy and healthy recovery.

In recent days, we have come to learn that a possibly new variant of the dreaded virus has entered Guyana. The Health Ministry has warned that this new strain is more contagious and seems to affect younger persons. Against this background, the FITUG urges all Guyanese to act responsibility and adhere to the COVID-19 protocols as we seek to minimize the rapid spread of the virus. We have seen in the media and elsewhere, over the weekend, the strong presence of the disciplinary forces to avert the large public gatherings customary with Easter. The actions which seem to have been effective, we hold, should have not been necessary. We believe, as responsible people, it is incumbent upon us all to take sober actions to staunch transmission of COVID-19. We are hopeful that in the coming days and weeks, that we can see greater responsibility by Guyanese to bring the pandemic under control.

We recognize too the congregation of persons at bars, shops and other business places. While we recognize that businesses have been severely affected by the pandemic, we urge business owners to also demonstrate some sense of urgency and seek to promote practices that allow businesses to function while mitigating against the spread of virus. It is in the long-term interest of our nation. The FITUG is conscious too that large gatherings are not limited to businesses but extend to social and other gatherings. These they are equally irresponsible and those who encourage such congregation should be appropriately sanctioned.

The FITUG notes the active efforts of the Government to bring the pandemic under control. Already thousands of vaccines have been secured and we are aware of efforts by the Administration to obtain more vaccines. We note too that many Guyanese have been vaccinated. This is welcome news and demonstrates a responsible attitude. We have heard too apprehensions of some who are refusing to being vaccinated. Such talk is not helpful to defeating the pandemic and allowing life to return to normal. The vaccines utilized in Guyana have been utilized in many countries with good effect. Moreover, our health professionals have testified to the safety of the vaccines. We, therefore, encourage all eligible Guyanese to be vaccinated at this time. The Federation also encourages employers to allow their employees time off to be inoculated while providing adequate protection at the workplace.

The Federation strongly holds that our collective, responsible actions can go a long way to bringing the pandemic under control. We, therefore, must adhere to the advice of health professionals, observe protocols, and obtain vaccines. We remind it is our actions that will ultimately staunch the pandemic and the ambivalence of some is not helpful at this time.

Sincerely, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

International recognition of...

(From page 4)

assert herself, face the reality, and cleanse GECOM of all the riggers who are before the courts for fraud.

There must be explicitly clear distinctions between the GECOM Commission and the Secretariat. Roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined, in keeping with our laws and regulations. Further, circulars, contracts, job descriptions, and job specifications must be put in writing. Reforms must take into consideration administrative, financial, accountability, procurement, audit, as well as adjustment of disciplinary penalties to sufficiently deter all wrongdoings.

GECOM MUST put on its agenda local government elections (LGEs) scheduled for this year. Standard operational procedures have to be activated to put in place appropriately competent staff and operationalise the necessary new period of continuous registration, followed by a period of claims and objections. This will cleanse and update the Voter’s List, realising an acceptable position from which the Commission can proceed.

GECOM must get down to the serious task of employing staff who would win the trust and confidence of the nation. The training of staff must be objective, and never again be allowed to be infiltrated by the PNC cabal who have, in the past, largely employed their tugs and fraudsters. Therefore, stakeholders’ concerns with the attitude and performance of the Election Day staff must be also addressed and remedied for the successful execution of the LGEs this year.

We will forever be grateful to the US and the international community for their contribution to, and recognition of, our 2020 elections’ results.

Kudos to Irfaan Ali-led administration for taking the COVID threat very seriously

Dear Editor,

Over the busy Easter weekend, I, like many Guyanese, chose to relax with good friends and catch up on the things that are important to us.

I noticed there was a heightened presence of members of the joint services closely monitoring the seawalls.

I was pleased, despite the few instances of bars being closed at 9:30pm and customers expressing their discontent, that the ranks who were present refused to give in or relent on their instructions. I wish to say publicly that I support this restriction and am quite pleased at the enforcement of the laws and regulations that are in place to protect us all.

Those brave ranks are just carrying out their operational instructions to ensure that we are all going to be safe in our homes once we are following the COVID guidelines. Do not curse, abuse and refuse to comply with the instructions of the lawmen or else you will be charged and prosecuted.

And where there are instances of police harassment, report it to the hierarchy of the force. But first ensure you have the evidence to back your accusations against the lawmen.

I want to urge the party-going crowd and socialites to understand the impact that the pandemic is having on the world we live in, and in our lives. There are 10, 580 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Guyana to date with 247 persons losing the battle to this dreaded pandemic.

I see this Irfaan Ali Administration taking the COVID threat very seriously and they are in order. Let’s do our part to save and protect our human resources from the COVID-19 epidemic and all of its strains now.

Regards, Alvin Hamilton

COVID-19 vaccines are safe, whether people get it in a hospital, church, mandir, masjid

Dear Editor,

There are more than 100 fixed-site vaccination centers in Guyana where people can get their COVID-19 vaccines. These sites are open every day. There are also some out-reach sites which individuals and groups have organized. These sites are temporary, usually lasting for a day. There are three conditions for the MOH to send teams to these sites – first, the number of persons to be vaccinated must make sense for the Ministry to send a dedicated team for a day; second, residents in the community are not prevented from getting vaccines on the basis of religion, politics or any other factor and, third, the persons meet the eligibility requirement. At the moment the eligibility is based only on age – 40 years and older.

With due respect to Swami Aksharnanda, I believe that his letter published in the newspaper is unfortunate and misrepresent the facts. The COVID-19 vaccines are being administered to persons resident in Guyana across the country, every person. As stated before, there are more than one hundred (100) fixedsite places that vaccines are being administered on a daily basis at this time. All of these fixed-sites are government health centers or hospitals. None of the fixed-sites are in any private facility or any masjid, or any mandir or any church.

The MOH has urged faith leaders, political leaders, NGOs, businesses etc. to help mobilize persons for vaccination. Mostly, community leaders have come together to organize persons within their communities. Sometimes, they mobilize persons at a school, other times at a masjid, other times in a mandir and still other times in a Christian church. At none of these sites are persons vaccinated on the basis of religion. I have personally been at many of these sites. I will continue to visit these sites. To vaccinate people, we will go wherever we are invited. What we will not do is a vaccination exercise where vaccines are provided only for a specific group, based on religion or politics or some other factor.

This model has been used before, for blood drives, where we have gone to churches, madirs, masjids. and the blood drives were never restricted to persons of only one religion, even if the drive occurred at a specific church, or mandir, or masjid. The Swami knows this well. Our people are among the world’s most tolerant of each other’s religion and we share religious events and each other’s space for many, many decades. I have been honored and privileged for decades working in solidarity with our religious leaders. Everyday, I sit with these leaders in the same room in various communities and we work together without any animosity or tension. The vaccine is important to people, not at which site they get it.

CIOG, Dharmic Sabha, the Presbyterian Church and many pastors have worked with us so far. Yesterday, the Canefield/Enterprise NDC hosted a vaccination day. The NDC councilors, the imams, pandits and pastors got together and organized the event. The original suggestion from the community was that the event be held at a recreational center across the NDC. But the technical persons suggested that it was too small to accommodate the number of persons that was expected. The recommendation among the community persons was that the ideal place was the Dharmic Veda Center. Almost two hundred persons were vaccinated yesterday at that center – they were Christians, HIndus and Muslims. The site did not matter, what mattered was these persons had an opportunity to get a vaccine.

Two weeks ago, the NDC at Success organized a similar outreach. They chose the masjid at Success as the most suitable site. Two weeks ago also the CIOG hosted a vaccination event for the residents of North Georgetown. Most of the people were not Muslims. The Dharmic Sabha’s Kendra Center hosted a vaccination outreach last Saturday. Many persons were from different religious backgrounds. The #52-#74 NDC has organized a vaccination outreach. I met them yesterday, brothers and sisters, who were Muslims, Hindus, Christians, working together to ensure that those 40 years and older in their community are fully vaccinated. They chose a Christian Church as the most suitable venue.

At this time, we need all hands on board. It is unfortunate that religion has crept in to the process we have developed in the rolling out of the vaccine. I hope the Swami, on second thought, would see that far from favoring one group or another, we are trying to reach everyone. I invite him to join us in ensuring that persons who reach the eligibility come forward to get their vaccines. The vaccines provided from the government fixed-sites are not better than the vaccines at outreach sites – whether these are schools, a business place, a Masjid, a Mandir or a Church.

Sincerely, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Advisor to Minister of Health

Guyana is becoming increasingly multicultural

Dear Editor,

Guyana is becoming increasingly multicultural. This multiculturalism is manifested in the fact that Guyanese of different ethnicities and religions participate in major religious and national festivals such as Easter, Phagwah and Mashramani.

I believe we are today much more tolerant and accommodating of our diversity especially when it comes to race and religion. This speaks well of us as a society and as a nation. Let us continue to embrace the principles of love, peace, brotherhood and compassion. These are indeed the defining characteristics of a morally just and enlightened society.

Yours truly, Hydar Ally

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC, says he is satisfied with the Court’s swiftness in handling the election petition. The Attorney General shared this view on Wednesday (April 8, 2021), following the hearing of Election Petition No. 88, before Chief Justice (Ag.) Madam Roxane George.

Petition 88, argues that the Recount Order was illegal and unconstitutional and therefore the declaration of results based on the recount is illegal and unconstitutional.

With the Chief Justice’s judgement set for April 26, 2021, the Attorney General said he was satisfied with the timeline of the procedures. He said the process was concluded with “admirable speed” as opposed to the election petition filed in 2015 by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) that is yet to be heard.

“You see how radically different this one was heard and determined… Within eight months, within a year, the petition is going to be heard and determined – long before a year – and I think that that is reasonably good speed for a system like ours… I think that the timeframe in which this one was conducted was remarkable.”

The court proceedings focused on oral arguments from several attorneys, including Dominican SC Anthony Astaphan, who is representing the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM); Trinidadian, SC Douglas Mendes, representing Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo in his capacity as General Secretary of the PPP/C; Trinidadian SC John Jeremie, who is leading the team of lawyers representing the petitioners; and Mr. Nandlall himself, who is representing the State.

The petitioners, Ms. Claudette Throne and Mr. Heston Bostwick are asking the Court to declare the election results null and void. In further seeking to do so, the petitioners are challenging the national vote recount process, Section 22 of the Elections Laws Act and Order 60 of 2020, which governed the recount.

Mr. Astaphan in his rebuttal said GECOM did not err in the management of the national recount. He asked the CJ to dismiss the matter if no claimed breaches are proven in the High Court.

Mr. Mendes, on the other hand, argued that the formation of Order 60 was lawful, as it is empowered by Section 22 of the election laws. He said if the Court establishes that Section 22 is constitutional, then a substantial section of Ms. Thorne and Mr. Bostwick’s case will collapse. With no evidence to prove that there were irregularities or illegalities from the results of the national recount, the Attorney General argued that the case was without merit. He said, “One can’t turn a blind eye to the composition of GECOM. GECOM is made up, at the end of the day, by APNU+AFC and the PPP/C. And these are the parties, along with the Chairman, who sat and decided to do a recount, and draft up rules to regulate the recount and then participated in the recount… [Just] because the recount that does not go your way, you want to break it up and to cry illegality and unlawfulness.”

Election Petition No. 88 is one of two petitions filed by the Coalition following the declaration of the March 2 elections results in August last year.

Petition No.99, which challenged the final elections results, was nullified on the grounds of non-compliance of service on the second named respondent, former President Mr. David Granger.

Petition 99, argued that fraud was committed in the March 2020 Elections and over 115,000 votes were affected, benefiting the PPP/C. So far, Petition 99 has been thrown out and the other will move forward. Petition 99 of 2020 was filed on September 15, 2020, by APNU+AFC Coalition agents Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse. Thomas and Nurse named Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield; David Granger – APNU+AFC Coalition; Horatio Edmonson – Federal United Party; Bharrat Jagdeo – People’s Progressive Party/Civic; John Flores – Liberty and Justice Party; Asha Kissoon – The New Movement; Vishnu Bandhu – United Republican Party; Adebin Kindi Ali – Change Guyana; Patrick Bourne – People’s Republic Party, Jonathan Yearwood – A New and United Guyana; Shazam Ally – The Citizenship Initiative; and Gerald Perreira of Organisation for the Victory of the People as respondents. The Attorney General Chambers also joined the proceedings. The dismissal of Petition 99 is being challenged by the Coalition in the Appeal Court.