Weekend Mirror 5-6 June, 2021

Stakeholders welcome move to hold ‘recalcitrant’ GECOM officers accountable 5-6 June, 2021 / Vol. 11 ‒ No. 75 / Price: $100

Internet: http: //www.mirrornewsgy.com / e-mail: mirror2018.gy@gmail.com

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Regional Disaster Risk Management Systems activated PAGE 15

SOPs handed over to the Police NGSA mock exams set for June 9, 10

‒ following High Court ruling PAGE 7

SEE INSIDE

Caribbean must educate populace on value of local, high-quality foods PAGE 11

Gov’t actively trying to secure more COVID-19 vaccines – Jagdeo PAGE 23

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BIT investing $40M in training programmes in Region Six PAGE 9

─ Over 400 to benefit

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PM calls for funding to support energy revolution in the Caribbean P rime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, at a recent meeting, called for CARICOM member states to receive improved and prioritised access to pubic, grant-based and investment funding to support a “CARICOM energy revolution”.

The Prime Minister, who is the Chairperson of the CARICOM Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED), made the call while delivering remarks at a virtual high-level meeting with CARICOM ministers responsible for energy, heads of international financial institutions, bilateral development partners, and the private sector.

“We are of the firm view that a front-loaded and fasttracked investment surge is urgently needed to achieve, within the next five to ten years, what may have otherwise taken 30 years because time is of the essence,” Phillips said.

He said the region requires an average of US$5.3B in private and public investments for its push towards energy security.

Guyana on its own, he said, requires US$1.1B for a range of energy projects which are expected to add 230 megawatts of renewable generation capacity

to the country’s electricity mix. These projects include the modernisation of the electricity grid, hydropower generation and the inclusion of rooftop solar photovoltaic power.

“This would simultaneously improve our energy security, reduce energy pricing, and reduce carbon emissions from the power sector, among other things,” he said.

LEADERSHIP ROLES Energy security is essential to the region, the Prime Minister said, since energy issues are inextricably linked to climate change.

He said, “The ‘CARICOM energy revolution’ will not only allow CARICOM countries to play the leadership role that we’ve assumed, in global climate mitigation efforts – recognising that collectively, we contribute less than 0.2 % of greenhouse gas emissions – but also facilitate our ability to implement some of the measures that are necessary for our climate adaptation.”

He added that each time there is a natural disaster or climate-related challenge, CARICOM member states suffer. The PM said, “These externalities have consistently eroded the modest economic gains made by

some, and in many instances, exacerbates our inability to attract the right quantity and quality of financing for investments.”

Prime Minister Phillips noted that it is imperative that the region employs modern infrastructure and techniques that are capable of effectively supporting our requirements for, and national aspirations toward sustainable development.

He said, “Countries can recover better from the various exogenous shocks, including those that are caused by climate events and the COVID 19 pandemic, through an accelerated clean energy transition that, inter alia, delivers long term economic growth and job creation”.

The Prime Minister said he is eagerly awaiting the expressions of interest on “our proposal, that will emerge from this meeting, and, more so, the collective actions that will follow in the years to come. Our citizens continue to depend on us for solutions. Let us not let them down, on this occasion.”

Among those present at the meeting were Secretary General of the OAS, His Excellency Luis Almagro and Secretary General of CARICOM, His Excellency Irwin LaRocque.

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

Minister Indar shares transformational infrastructure agenda at Caribbean Webinar

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he Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Hon. Deodat Indar last week 2021 participated in a ‘Caribbean Development in the Construction and Infrastructure Sectors’ Webinar.

Also participating in Thursday’s session were Ethan Talbott, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer- US Embassy, Joanne Littlefair, Senior International Trade Specialist- US Department of Commerce, Izalia Lopez, Director of Promotion- Public Private Alliances Administration and Steve Garibsingh, Vice President Engineering and Programme Management National Infrastructure Development Company Limited.

Other countries which participated in the webinar included The Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America.

During the session, Minister Indar presented Guyana’s long term Transformational Infrastructural plans.

PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE He presented current Infrastructural projects being implemented, which includes: roads, highways, bridges, stellings, sea defences and river transport.

ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE With regards to energy Infrastructure, the Minister presented renewable energy projects being pursued by Government and Oil and Gas infrastructure to support offshore operations.

These include shore bases, lay down yards, chemical storage facilities and a 300 MW gas to power plant.

Minister Indar also cited the opportunities available for input materials for the development of these projects, which include cement, steel, crusher run, bitumen, electrical cables, conduits, et cetera.

AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE With respect to Aviation expansion in Guyana, Min-

ister Indar explained that the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) will soon be completed. The Minister also signaled Government’s intention to rehabilitate and upgrade local Hinterland airstrips, for the ease of mobility into the Hinterland Regions.

CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND THE PROCUREMENT ACT 2003 During his remarks, the Public Works Minister explained the permitting system for new entrances into Guyana with respective to construction work.

He explained the process for various permits that are required for the different types of construction work.

He also took the time to explain the broad principles outlined in the Procurement Act, with respect to Public Procurement.

In closing, the Minister thanked the U.S Commercial Office for inviting him to speak at the event.

$6B for water treatment plants along the Coast − GWI aims for 90 per cent treated water coverage

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he Government of Guyana through the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) has secured some $6 billion from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for the construction of five new Water Treatment Plants in Regions Two, Three, Five and Six. The plants will be constructed in Walton Hall\ Charity, Region Two, Leguan and Wakenaam, Region Three, West Coast Berbice, Region Five, and Tain/ Number 50 village, Region Six. GWI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Shaik Baksh made the announcement during a press briefing on Thursday. He said contracts have been inked for the design of the treatment plants.

“So those will start, we will do the design and go to contracting ad start building the treatment plants…funding, it’s about US$30 million [$6,000,000,000] which have been secured through the Caribbean Development Bank,” Mr. Baksh said.

He said the Government is committed to expanding

water coverage from 52 per cent to 90 per cent in the coastal belt, as part of GWI’s five-year strategic plan for the period 20212025, which is aligned with national priorities and advances the Government’s mission to provide clean, reliable and affordable water.

“We will move towards having water treatment plants in all the other regions. We have another 10 to 12 water treatment plants over the next five years and so, the population can enjoy treated water,” he said.

The new plants will add to the 27 already in place.

Mr. Baksh said there have been significant improvements at the Eccles water treatment plant on the East Bank of Demerara as residents are receiving better quality water.

Works are also ongoing on the East Bank to rehabilitate the water treatment plants at Grove and Covent Garden. These works are expected to be completed

by August.

The CEO said GWI is aware of the need to provide treated water to ev-

ery citizen, and is therefore committed to meeting the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) standard of 0.3 or less milligrams per litre of iron content.

In terms of water coverage on the coast, Mr. Baksh announced that GWI will be drilling wells at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara; Providence and Prospect, East Bank Demerara; Lust en Rust/ Parfaite Harmonie and Parika Backdam, West Bank Demerara and Wakenaam.

Additionally, plans are also in place to install water meters countrywide to monitor, control demand and increase revenue.

GWI serves approximately 173,197 customers on the coast and 6,877 connections in the hinterland regions.

The PPP/C Government allocated the sum of $4 billion this year to procure equipment and improve and expand the water supply network systems across the country to improve efficiency of water supply and expand coverage, reduce the level of non-revenue water and expand meter coverage.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

NGSA mock exams set for June 9, 10

Inter-agency collaboration resulting in speedy relief to flood-hit areas

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he Ministry of Education lead by the Honourable Minister of Education Priya Manickchand over the past few days met with Grade Six teachers and parents of Grade Six students from the 11 education districts (Regions 1 to 10 and Georgetown) regarding the writing of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) 2021.

They were engaged in separate Zoom meetings and told of what the Ministry has done and how their children will be assisted to write the NGSA on August 4th and 5th 2021 and the mock examinations to be held on June 9th and 10th and in July 2021.

The first mock examination will be treated as a practice examination for students and a diagnostic examination for teachers who have not seen their children for over a year.

The students have the option of writing the first mock examination in school under strict COVID-19 protocols or have the examination papers uplifted from their respective schools, completed at home and returned to the school to be marked by the teacher.

Additionally, parents can decide that their child will not write this examination at all. Considering the national situation regarding major flooding in the regions, the examination can also be written on other dates but as close

as possible to the scheduled dates.

The Ministry is also working on a solution that would allow students to take the paper one aspect of the mock examinations online using a platform provided by the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry of Education is hopeful that the second mock examination can be held in schools under strict examination guidelines to provide all students with the examination experience before sitting the NGSA in August in their respective schools.

Parents and teachers were also told that it is not mandatory for students to be dressed in their school uniform when writing the mock examinations and the NGSA. However, students must be appropriately dressed and there must be no writing printed on their clothing.

Meanwhile, The Ministry has executed several initiatives to assist our Grade Six students and teachers as they prepare for this year’s examination. These initiatives include creating a consolidated curriculum, launching the NGSA Booster Programme and the Quiz Me Platform available on our website.

The Ministry has also distributed to every Grade Six student in the public school system a study package containing notes, textbooks and

workbooks to help each child prepare.

All the materials contained in this package that was produced by the Ministry of Education are available on our website at: www.education.gov.gy.

Further, to make our website more accessible, the Ministry has collaborated with Digicel and GTT to have our website zero-rated. This means that there is no charge to your data when accessing our website and the resources.

Over the coming days, each student will receive a Care Package containing face masks, vitamin support, hand sanitizer and stationery items to be used when writing their two-day examination.

Teachers will also receive a Care Package containing face masks, face shield, vitamin support and hand sanitizer.

During the meetings, Minister Manickchand also encouraged parents and teachers to get vaccinated so that they can protect themselves and their loved ones from the effects of COVID-19. She said that the more Guyanese that are vaccinated, the sooner the country can return to some form of normalcy.

The Ministry of Education will continue to engage in similar consultative exercises to ensure our stakeholders are properly informed and given a chance to be a part of the decision-making process.

More than 203,000 persons receive COVID vaccine M inister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony says Guyana is moving closer to achieving herd immunity as some 203,847 persons have to date received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

This amount represents 41.9 per cent of the country’s adult population. Some 70,778 persons or 14.5 per cent of adults have also been fully immunised.

“We have been working in terms of getting more people vaccinated, and in terms of the age categories that we are looking at persons 60 years and above. We now have about 70.5 per cent of

those persons receiving the first dose of the vaccines.

For 40 to 59 years, we have about 38.3 per cent of persons in that age group receiving their first dose, and for persons 18 to 39 years, 33.7 per cent have received their first dose,” Dr. Anthony said.

The Minister also noted that despite flooding across the country, vaccination is ongoing. He said, “In some of the regions, there are particular areas that have been flooded. So, in those areas obviously, we’re not able to do vaccination there, but we do have fixed sites that continue to work in

every region and we are still pushing the mobile sites to get out and get people vaccinated.”

Dr. Anthony noted that several areas in Region Nine have been affected by flood waters. Additionally, medical teams in Regions Seven and Eight have shifted their focus on monitoring flood related health issues.

At the same time, Minister Anthony continues to persons to get vaccinated to protect themselves from developing a severe form of COVID. [SEE RELATED REPORTING ON PAGE 23]

– 54 persons in shelters in Regions Nine, Ten irector General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig says the collaboration among agencies has resulted in aid being brought promptly to persons affected by flooding.

Lt Col. Craig made this statement at a press briefing on Wednesday (June 2, 2021). He said, “The Hydromet Services continue to monitor weather and issue alerts and warnings. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority has been conducting drainage assessment and providing remedial works where necessary.

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health continue to conduct assessment in the affected areas and providing required interventions as needed.”

Five of the eight Government shelters, established with strict COVID-19 guidelines in place, are currently occupied. Shelters have been established at Tabatinga Sports Complex, Arapaima Primary, and Culvert City Nursery in Region Nine and at the Aroaima Nursery, Aroaima Primary, Kwakwani Primary and Hururu Community Centre in Region Ten.

“We have at the Tabatinga Sports Complex four persons. There is no one at Arapaima [Primary] at this moment and no one at Culvert City [Nursery]. At Aroaima Nursery School we have 16 persons, Aroaima Primary School, we have two, Kwakwani Primary School 31 and at the Hururu Community Centre we have one person,” he said.

The Director General said shelters will remain open until the water recedes and persons no longer need accommodations.

Over 6,900 households across the nation have been severely affected by the flood. Craig said, “In Region Two we have over 1,500 households impacted, Region Three about 600, Region Six about 2,800 households, Region Nine about 1000 and Region Ten about 1000 households.”

Lt. Col. Craig added affected persons are being given food hampers and sanitation supplies. To date, the CDC has distributed 15,000 hampers across the country.

Some 2,000 of those packages were distributed in Region Five today.

The Director General also

noted the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency stands ready to assist Guyana if the need arises.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips this week inspected the CDC’s hamper preparation at the National Gymnasium. The Prime Minister commended the CDC operation.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha also conducted assessments at Belle West, Belle East, Goed Fortuin and Canals Number One and Two in Region Three. He committed to providing excavators to desilt the canals and drains to allow the water to run off faster. The Minister also visited communities in Region Five to assess the situation and provide support.

Additionally, on Tuesday, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Hon. Deodat Indar provided relief supplies to residents in Belle West who were severely affected by the floods.

The Ministers are part of a larger outreach team conducting flood assessments and distributing relief hampers across the country. The outreach is being spearheaded by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. The CDC is continuing assessments in Regions Seven and Eight.

City Hall gets $30M to advance construction of admin building M inister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, on Thursday (May 27, 2021) handed over a 30-million-dollar cheque to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to advance the construction of City Hall’s administrative building.

The cheque was handed over to Chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee, Mr. Oscar Clarke in the presence of Minister within the Ministry, Anand Persaud at the Ministry’s Boardroom in Kingston, Georgetown.

During brief remarks, Minister Dharamlall said the initiative is a fulfillment of a promise made by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali when he met with Mayor of Georgetown His Worship Ubraj Narine and Deputy Mayor Mr. Alfred Mentore, to support the restoration of the dilapidated City Hall building.

“The Government will support $30 million towards the construction of

the admin building and City Hall has agreed to put an additional $50 million during the course of this year. We expect that the resources are going to be used very wisely. We are hopeful that by now the city would have already publicly tender for this work,” Minister Dharamlall said.

In 2019, the Ministry provided an initial sum of $65 million to commence the construction of the administrative building located in the compound of the City Hall.

As part of the PPP/C Government’s support to the M&CC, an additional $100 million will go towards the restoration of the historic City Hall building. Minister Dharamlall said the restoration project will commence soon. “There are many staff who are currently at the City Hall building and we are hopeful that as soon as the admin building has gotten to a stage where those staff will be accom-

modated, that the restoration will begin,” he said.

Minister Persaud said the restoration project is still at the discussion stage with the relevant stakeholders. He said plans are in train to address parking and drainage in the capital.

Meanwhile, Mr. Clarke said construction of the building started in 2019.

With the additional funds, it is expected to be completed by the end of the year. “This cheque is coming at a good time. The monies will take us a far way,” Clarke said, noting that the tendering progress for the works is ongoing.

The City Hall building houses the offices of the Mayor of Georgetown, the City Council, the City Engineer and other personnel.

City Hall was designed by architect Ignatius Scoles and the foundation stone was laid by Governor Henry Turner Irving on December 23, 1887. It was officially opened on July 1, 1889, by Governor Viscount Gormanston.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

EDITORIAL

PPP/C government’s commitment to people demonstrated

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he commitment of the PPP/C administration to the Guyanese people has been demonstrated, tangibly, across several regions of the country that are battling floods, due to adverse weather conditions.

And the rapidity in the response underscores, among other things, the benefits of having forward-thinking leaders. This was seen in the investments that have been made to address drainage and irrigation. Just after taking office, priority was given to capital expenditure for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to ensure that its capacity to work was bolstered. In December 2020, the NDIA signed contracts amounting to over half a billion dollars for the procurement of machinery to aid in their mandate of improving drainage and irrigation across the country. Millions more was spent earlier this months. The foresight to ensure investments are made in the right areas has proven crucial, given that the negative impacts of the flooding being experienced is not more widespread.

Additionally, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, himself, this week pointed out that had it not been for the Northern Relief Channel constructed at Hope/Dochfour, East Coast Demerara, the majority of villages on the coastland would have been devastated with flood waters, much like it was in 2005, when boats had become the main form of transportation. The $3.6B Hope Canal Project is a massive, multi-component channel which utilises a sturdy, eight-gated sluice to release excess water into the Atlantic Ocean, at times when the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) reaches maximum capacity. Ever since the structure was put to the test in 2015, authorities had lauded the channel’s capabilities of drastically lowering water levels in the overburdened conservancy, which is was also being served by an insufficient release channel located at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

Further, what was pointed out as critical in protecting the Guyanese people is vigilance. This was clear following President Ali’s spontaneous, late-night, inspection of kokers and pump stations around the city and down the East Coast of Demerara on Sunday night (May 31, 2021). During his visits, the President had discovered that the pumps at several stations, including Riverview and Kitty, were off. At Riverview, the Koker doors were closed and the worker was asleep. The President expressed total disbelief at the level of carelessness shown and had said: “This is what we are talking about, I came out here myself to verify tonight. The main pump to drain the city is turned off. Up to today (Sunday), we said the pump must be on 24 hours….while we have to deal with the heavy rainfall, we have to deal decisively with the irresponsibility and the negligence. I have to come out here at this hour to find that the pump is turned off.”

Simultaneously, in addition to works to prevent flooding and efforts to curb flooding, relief efforts are underway.

The economic consequences of the flooding gave rise to the need for support to households and this was responded to.

The CDC has distributed 15,000 hampers across the country, with additional supplies to be delivered over the weekend.

There has been inter-agency collaboration among to ensure prompt response to the affected residents.

Some of the worst hit areas are Regions 9 and 10. To date, five of the eight Government shelters, established with strict COVID-19 guidelines in place, are currently occupied.

Shelters have been established at Tabatinga Sports Complex, Arapaima Primary, and Culvert City Nursery in Region Nine and at the Aroaima Nursery, Aroaima Primary, Kwakwani Primary and Hururu Community Centre in Region Ten. What is clear is that increasingly extreme weather events have resulted in massive socio-economic losses and the nexus between this and climate change is clear.

In total, over 6,900 households across the nation have been severely affected by the flood.

Currently, the PPP/C government is planning for countrywide consultations on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which are set to begin in July 2021. And, as part of the national consultation, the LCDS Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) will be re-established to guide the LCDS as it did in the period from 2009 to 2015. The Steering Committee will include representatives from all major civil society organisations, the private sector, conservation organisations, indigenous peoples’ organisations, organised labour and other stakeholders. This will allow the stakeholders to offer their ideas and suggestions, and to help shape the approach for how Guyana can achieve developmental goals that will benefit people across the country.

That said, Guyanese battling the consequences of the flooding can, undoubtedly, rest assured that their interests will always be represented by the PPP/C Government.

PNC, David Granger must accept that electoral reform is a must Dear Editor,

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uring his tenure as substantive and caretaker President of Guyana, David Granger displayed varied dispositions. These serve to evidence evolution of measures from a behind-the- scene pretentious orchestrator to directing consistently increasing displays of various forms of cognitive dissonance.

Amidst the increasing public calls for his replacement by elements within the PNC, one has to ponder whether the obvious darkening shades of irrationality and bordering senile degradation are the real contributors.

Published media articles report former President David Granger’s declaration of support for the evidence-driven, callous and fraudulent actions taken by the Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield. These are no longer unbelievable nor surprising. Notably, he was at one point labelled ‘a Sanctimonious Gangster’. Mr Granger played, and remains rigid in the role of, the pious, manipulative deflector, although the grounds for such have been publicly eroded, even within his support base.

An article published in a section of the media, titled “Granger endorses Lowenfield chopping of 115,000 votes” dated June 30, 2020, reports that “President David Granger last evening endorsed a controversial report by Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield which invalidated the votes of 25% of Guyanese electors.” This was done while the whole world stood up in objection to the ransom-permitted election fiasco during the five months following voting on March 2, 2020. In particular, these were against the Lowenfield report to GECOM on June 23rd, through which he disenfranchised 115,787 voters by invalidating approximately twenty-five percent of the votes cast.

More recently, Mr Granger emerged from his slumber to make shallow pronouncements regarding our necessary electoral reforms. He emphasised that the Guyana Court of Appeal should rule on electoral matters, not the Caribbean

Court of Justice (CCJ). Could rational thinking citizens accept such gullibility?

It is not forgotten that the Judiciary in Guyana came in for serious criticisms consequent to their unacceptable ruling that thirty-three is not the majority of sixty-five in the resultant matter related to the December 2018 No-confidence Motion.

Furthermore, the Guyana Appellate Court, in rulings on various election-related matters that were subsequently examined by our Apex Court, revealed questionable shortcomings and an insult to our commitment to the foundations of an acceptable final Regional Justice position. Notably, on the issue “Votes Cast”, the matter brought by the APNU was thrown out after CCJ President Justice Adrian Saunders made his ruling.

Granger’s ramblings that the Court of Appeal, in his view, is competent to rule on internal electoral matters is a manifestation of emerged senility.

The PNC and David Granger must accept that Electoral Reform is a must.

The Carter formula concerning the Chairman and the Commission is still an appropriate base position from which we will appreciate reviews towards a better formula. Lest we lose sight that the ideal of the reforms is to improve the system of producing acceptable results from transparent, free and fair elections, the unnecessary hypocritical ramblings to stymie the process by rejecting international assistance will dissipate.

It is obvious that, out of justified necessity, a review of the mechanism towards the appointment of the Chairperson and Commissioners, as well as their scope of performance and delivery, must be looked at. Notwithstanding, while we are looking at these details, we must not forget that it is not the two major parties selecting the Chairperson and the Commissioners.

The Parties (political), the Political Parties in Parliament, are supposed to nominate six names and send them to the President for his consideration for the Chairperson. In the current system,

the Government will nominate three Commissioners, the Opposition Parties in Parliament normally nominate three Commissioners. Hence, it is expected that the PNC/ APNU will nominate two and the others will get an opportunity to nominate one of the Commissioners.

Further, there is also a need for the re-examination of the Representation of the People’s Act (RoPA). Electoral Reforms are a must, and we should not have a system where Commissioners are perpetually on the Commission.

Such corrections are necessary to counter the loss of delivery of constitutional objectivity in favour of partisan party advantages.

Editor, the recent ruling by Chief Justice Roxanne George, that the Statements of Poll for March 2020 Elections be provided to the Police and Director of Public Prosecutions, is solid in law and must be applauded. It establishes that the Judiciary has ensured the affirmation of the significant central democratic pillar that will ensure the conduct of appropriate investigations regarding the anomalies in these elections. No longer will the shielding of these corrupt officials be tolerated.

The Chief Justice has consistently delivered solid and sound judicial decisions in response to repeated attempts by the conspirators to subvert the will of the people, and those who have sought to twist the laws of our country. There has been an erotic, eerie silence since she decided on the SOPs, particularly from the camp of the PNC, as main stakeholders to benefit from the plot.

One would hope that the strong messages would likely deter future considerations toward the obvious mindset of the leading power-hungry cabal.

Then again, one has to consider the increasing delusional traits being perpetrated by the likes of David Granger, to see the new deflections and whether a new frenzied ploy will be adopted by the cabal.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Court clears the way, Lowenfield must now come clean Dear Editor,

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he verdict is out, the SoPs must be turned over to the DPP for the commencement of prosecutorial proceedings into the malpractices of the March, 2020 General and Regional Elections. These documents, which hitherto were hidden from public view and kept as private property, would now have to be turned over to the relevant authorities for the trial to move forward.

We are now about to see the criminal trial of CEO Lowenfield, a man who thought within himself that he could have stolen an election with impunity. I

am talking about one of the most barefaced acts of fraud ever to plague this country since Independence.

Now, why he attempted that feat right before the eyes of an international audience is one of the things we are going to get to the bottom of as this trial continues. One possible reason I can come up with is that Lowenfield had reasoned that he had done it in 2015, so why not do it again? This is the only rational reason that I can come up with at this stage. Maybe other reasons might emerge as the trial proceeds; however, mine still holds supreme thus far.

For five long months, numerous

court cases were filed, trying to block the publication of the elections results, while The CEO kept coming up with repeated doses of fraudulent figures. These manoeuvrings can only be summed up as the manifestation of a well-thoughtout plan, one of which Lowenfield thought would somehow evade public scrutiny. Well, all of that façade he was putting up will come crashing down as the trial begins.

Judging from the actions of Lowenfield, one is forced to ask the question: Why did GECOM hold an election in the first place, when the sole purpose (Turn to page 5)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

We must overcome all in our history that might restrain our progress Dear Editor,

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ith regard to our natural resources, I believe like every Guyanese that we should always be looking to get a bit more directly and/or indirectly, but however well intended, it is inaccurate and there is great danger to believe and worse in preaching that we Guyanese are receiving crumbs from the ongoing extraction and commercialization of our natural resources, gold and oil. WE ARE NOT. To judge whether we are receiving crumbs or not, we must think of all the benefits we are receiving. They may be considered in three groups: i) Royalty, and/or a share in profits. Royalty is a percentage taken off-the-top, before anything else. Royalty and profit-share may be taken in kind or in cash assuming sales at prevailing world market prices (not a giveaway sale to some family member: although there have been lots of arguments about sale prices within a group of companies when there are no world prices). ii) Taxes – Corporate income tax; taxes on imports, on purchases, on sales (if applicable), etc. These may be waived to the extent allowable by law, and as stated in the general regime. Note that these incentives and waivers are monies “foregone” by the Treasury, not paid out by the Treasury. iii) Employment and personal income tax; the provision of organization and structure, purpose and training to the workforce employed; supporting “local content” businesses; direct and indirect infrastructural development, etc.

In certain circumstances like the opening up of new distant hinterland areas, some economists may calculate and argue that benefit (iii) is important and great enough to waive altogether or to put benefits (i) and (ii) at the lowest lawful values, so that development can happen. Note also that if the project does not proceed there are no cash benefits (i) and (ii). All the benefits are only enjoyed when there is an ongoing project – No project: No benefits. Note too that our investment regime of incentives, waivers and pre-qualifications is based on the nature and size of the investment – the regime is available to everyone whether local or overseas Guyanese, or foreigners of all nationalities.

Some countries may find it economically and financially beneficial to subsidize a key activity to a certain extent: a number of Caribbean Governments used to provide some cash support to hotels and airlines bringing

in the tourists to keep the air-fares low and the tourist flow high. The benefit is in the employment and economic activity created by the spending of the tourists. We must think about all that we would not have had if there was no project, before engaging in any talk about crumbs. What is often forgotten when one reads about 1000 ozs of gold mined and sold at US$1800/oz or one million bbls of oil recovered and sold at US$60/bbl, is the cost of recovering and placing the commodity in the world market. Those who say we are receiving crumbs are ignoring those costs, thinking that “our” gold and oil and other natural resources are being recovered and put to market at negligible costs. It is the easiest thing to forget the costs and the work and sacrifices involved when counting the money the other guy is receiving.

Those of us who lived through the nationalizations of the 1970s and early 1980s (like I did) would know that it is a real challenge to keep costs less than world market prices over which we have no influence. Indeed for most of the time we owned and ran the bauxite operations it was more a situation like costs $120, world market price $100.

Over the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s many believed that we were getting crumbs for our bauxite (and most likely we were, then) and that was part of the drive for nationalization but when we owned it over the 1970s, 80s, 90s, 2000s we were putting in lots of money from our Trea-sury to keep the operations from closing (as subsidies to those communities including myself and family). Allow me now to respond directly to a question put to me earlier: if I (a Former Prime Minister and Minister Responsible for the GGMC) do not subscribe to the notion that Guyana and Guyanese are receiving crumbs then should I not show gold and oil contracts from other jurisdictions that are worse than the Aurora Gold and Exxon oil contracts.

I do not have any contract for any particular company in gold or oil in some other country, to show. But the matter does not end there – Governments and Companies are required to publish and make available lots of information in different places/agencies, local and foreign as required by law. Indeed as far as I can tell all the “secrets” that are being revealed have been taken from publicly available documents. Experienced, knowledgeable persons readily perform overall comparisons which show that we are at least middling, in what our Government receives directly in royalty and/or profit share and

Court clears the way... of the CEO is to subvert it and install whomsoever he wishes? Why conduct an election when a single official can decide which party wins and which party loses? Isn’t this the sum total of what we witnessed this past year?

This is the clear logic that we are faced with.

So, I must say to Lowenfield: ‘You have to come clean this time around’ as to why he attempted that rigging stunt of his, as well as the intellectual authors behind his fraudulent

(From page 4)

actions.

Barring this, he would have a torrid time convincing a court of law, or any court for that matter, why the full brunt of the law should not be his portion.

I say do not waste the court’s time, because it will only lengthen your sentencing.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

taxes. In the case of gold, our GGDMA had obtained sponsorship about the year 2000 for one of the International Financial Services Companies to compare the investment regimes in about 20 significant gold producing countries. Our regime was about the most demanding (taking the most) with Royalty at 5% when most were at 2.5 or 3%; and our Corporate income tax was the highest. At that time of falling gold prices, our GGDMA argued for a lower royalty and we eventually settled for a sliding scale of reducing royalty for selling prices below US$400 an oz. About ten years later, with gold prices running high, our Government argued for an upward sliding portion of the sliding scale and set royalty at 8% for gold prices over $1000/per oz for large scale operations. Small and medium scale operations were exempted as they receiv-ed no waivers on their general purchases.

I can maintain with all confidence that our gold mining regime is not a regime of the least Government take – crumbs. Concerning what we, Guyanese and Guyana, receive from our oil, I will take refuge in a number of writings in prose and poetry (appearing in all our newspapers over recent months, and presentations at Moray House) of that Guyanese émigré living in Midland Texas – Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh. In particular I will refer to his article, which appeared in Stabroek News of March 2nd, 2021, “Guyana got 17.4% of oil sales in profit for 2020”. I quote one paragraph: “To be clear Guyana got 17.4% of sales in its share of the profits plus 2% of sales in its royalty receipts, making a total of 19.4%. Not bad in a generally dismal year for the oil industry, especially for Guyana’s two main partners in this enterprise – ExxonMobil and Hess Corporation, both of which reported substantial losses for 2020.” You don’t have to take my word that we are not receiving crumbs – go back and read the whole article and others by Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh and other commentators too. Some contracts may have a royalty of say 15%, seven and a half times Guyana’s 2%, they have no profit share, so for the year in question they would have received 15% of the oil,

Guyana would have received somewhat more – 19.4%: not a bad share, not crumbs, but we would not have complained if it were a little bit more. As indicated here one has to read and compare agreements/documents in total so as not to get carried away wrongly with a comparison of one or two headings only.

I think that I have justified my view that we are not receiving crumbs and dribbles.

Indeed our question should not/ never be whether we are receiving crumbs or not, but about what alternatives are realistically available to us? What better alternatives can we make accessible to ourselves and apply ourselves at? In my experience getting bogged down in arguing and lamenting whether we are getting crumbs is to wallow and get lost in feelings of self-pity and victimhood; it provides us a cop out from doing anything constructive whilst inculcating destructive moods and attitudes and opening the door to recurring tantrums which get us nowhere.

However, addressing the questions of what alternatives are realistically available to us, and looking to make better alternatives accessible to us, gets us knitting our brows, rolling up our sleeves and getting into action: gets our creative juices going, challenging ourselves and developing ourselves and country.

We Guyanese are a people of less than one million: with our history of slavery, indentureship and colonialism, in a world of 7,000 million we are understandably suspicious but we must be fair and reasonable.

Our challenge is to avoid and overcome all in our history that might restrain our participation, survival and success in this huge evolved world of today and tomorrow, finding strengths in our history to serve us today, and developing partnerships with foreign peoples and countries of the world, for our mutual benefit.

Sincerely, Samuel A.A. Hinds, Former President and Former Prime Minister, Former Minister of Mines and Minerals

6

Online learning a catalyst for tertiary education equity and opportunities in Guyana (Part 2) Dear Editor,

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ver the last few decades there has been a rapid growth in the number of online-distance education institutions. A major concern has centered on the quality and effectiveness of the learning, ie, whether this mode of education was as effective as classroom-based learning.

With the exception of degrees and other qualifications granted by a few well-established distance education institutions, such as for eg, the University of London and the Open University in the UK, and a handful of similar institutions around the world, many employers in the US, but mostly in developing countries, have been reluctant to hire graduates of online degrees.

This concern has spawned a number of studies on the effectiveness of this mode of learning and the positive findings have begun to change this employer-posture.

There is now strong evidence that suggests online learning is generally at least as effective as the traditional format. For eg, one systematic analysis has found that student learning outcomes for online learners were as good as or better than those of traditional learners regardless of background characteristics, and that the students were greatly satisfied with online learning. Another study which examined the relationship of sense of community between traditional classroom and the blended format or combination of online, electronic and face-toface learning, found that students in the blended format had a stronger sense of community than students in the traditional format. Further, in

a study that compares learning outcomes for students who self-selected into the online format for a macroeconomics course, researchers found that after correcting for sample selection bias, test scores for the online format students were four points higher than for the traditional format. Furthermore, these learning improvement and cost saving gains are expected to increase as new tools and software for online learning are developed and tested continually. Finally, a team of researchers at Stanford Research Institute International conducted a systematic search of the literature from 1996 to 2008 and identified more than a thousand empirical studies of online learning and found that students in an online format performed modestly better than those in the traditional format.

There is also evidence that learning online can be more effective in a number of ways. On average, students retain 25-60 percent more material when learning online compared to only 8-10 percent in a classroom. This is mostly because students learn faster online. E-learning requires 40-60 percent less time to learn than in a traditional classroom setting because students can learn at their own pace, going back and re-reading, skipping, or accelerating through concepts as they choose.

The availability of broadband high-speed internet and modern communication technologies, such as, smart phones, smart television and other similar devices/gadgets, have allowed an increasing number of people around the world to work and study from their homes. Students in online programs come from all over the world,

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021 thus, class discussions feature a broader range of perspectives, helping learners enhance their academic as well as own cross-cultural understanding. Online education inculcates or improves virtual communication and collaboration skills and offers a broader, global perspective. Students also have the opportunity to network with people from around the globe, and also broaden their perspective on world-socioeconomic and political affairs. Finally, by successfully earning a degree online, the learner has demonstrated time management, self-motivation, the ability to tackle multiple tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing work conditions.

A salient feature of online education is the type of pedagogical approach used. Different online pedagogical approaches promote different learning experiences through varying the source of the learning content and the nature of the learner’s activity. In traditional didactic or expository approach, content is instructor- or computer directed and typically presented in the form of text, lecture, or instructor-directed discussion. Another approach stresses collaborative or interactive learning activity, in which the nature of the learning content is emergent as learners interact with one another and with an instructor or other knowledge sources.

The emergence newer technologies brought a pedagogical shift in online learning from merely transmission of knowledge to active and interactive learning. A third characteristic was commonly used to categorize online learning activities is hinged on whether the activity is synchronous, ie, with instruction occurring in real time, whether in a physical or a virtual place, or asynchronous, with a time lag between the presentation of instructional stimuli and student responses, allowing communication and collaboration over a period of time from anywhere and anytime. A synchronous activity offers greater spontaneity, making learners feel connected with others, which theoretically promotes collaboration. However, students may feel pushed or pressured to respond or hampered by technology breakdowns. Therefore, asynchronous activity offers greater flexibility to learners because it allows them to respond at their convenience. Further, the time lag offered in an asynchronous activity allows for more thoughtful and reflective learner participation.

Some of the most important benefits of online learning include its effectiveness in educating students, its use as professional development, its cost-effectiveness to combat the rising cost of postsecondary education, credit equivalency at the postsecondary level, and the possibility of providing a world class education to anyone with a broadband connection.

However, the main positive attribute of online learning was the flexibility of the approach, both in terms of time and geographic location.

This flexibility was also linked with a positive perception of self-reliance.

However, the factors that significantly predicted completion rate included start date, course length and assessment type.

Note, however, the effectiveness of online learning varies amongst age groups. The general consensus on children, especially younger ones, is that a structured environment is required, because children are more easily distracted. To get the full benefit of online learning, there needs to be a concerted effort to provide this structure and go beyond make-shift presentations which merely replicate a physical class/lecture through video capabilities. It requires using a range of collaboration tools and engagement methods that promote inclusion, personalization and intelligence.

SALIENT CHALLENGES OF ONLINE LEARNING Online education is not without its distractions, some of which have received attention earlier in this presentation. Students without reliable internet access and/or technology struggle to participate in digital learning; this gap is seen across countries and between income brackets within countries. For eg, in the US, there is a significant gap between those from privileged and disadvantaged backgrounds: whilst virtually all 15-year-olds from a privileged background

said they had a computer to work on, nearly 25 percent of those from disadvantaged backgrounds did not. Similarly, while some schools and governments in many countries have been providing digital equipment to students in need, many are still concerned that the pandemic will widen the digital divide.

Further, it is believed that the unplanned and rapid move to online learning, with no training, insufficient bandwidth, and little preparation, will result in a poor user experience that is unconducive to sustained growth. However, others believe that a new hybrid model of education will emerge, with significant benefits and that the integration of information technology in education will be further accelerated and online education will eventually become an integral component of school education.

Additionally, there are some privacy issues.

There are direct legal ramifications of concern to students, as a result of sharing individual grades among group members and providing public feedback in blogs. Privacy issues also occur in more nuanced ways, such as open access to each other’s work, transparent reflections, public comments, critical analysis of the assignments, and collaborative evaluations of students’ work.

IN A NUTSHELL The journey of distance learning continues into the 21st century. It has become a social, collaborative, personalized and interactive experience that generates two powerful, mutually reinforcing success accelerants: first, the longterm desire to learn, to better one’s position in the world; and, secondly, the pleasure of participating in a learning experience that is continually exciting, rewarding and creates a valuable sense of social connection.

Today’s distance learning, ie, online education or e-learning, is no longer a one-way communication. Technology advances have allowed for teaching face-to-face at a distance.

The speeding up of chips and the introduction of broadband technologies brought about this veritable revolution. Learners can now communicate with one another and their professors, so that they learn interactively. In essence, distance education has now become a valued component of many education systems and has progressed in areas where traditional schools, colleges, and universities have had difficulties in meeting demands.

GOAL is bold initiative which adds to the education value chain and aims to level the education playing field and make higher education accessible to everyone everywhere in Guyana.

This means that learners, other than the usual ‘cream of the crop’ students, will now have opportunities to pursue higher education. More importantly, if affords the lesser qualified and needy citizens options of vocational programs at the tertiary level. Like students elsewhere in the world, those in Guyana would grow to appreciate the way that online learning frees them from the constraints of time and space, and allows them to gain reflection as well as to think quickly and critically in real-time and thus gain knowledge and skills at their own pace and from the comfort of their homes in villages and remote areas of the country. While some people may continue to ponder the change from faceto-face classroom delivery to online/distance delivery mode, others would quickly realize that the flexibility of the classes will not only help alleviate their tight schedule, but will also help save money on their commute.

In sum, online distance learning would level the higher education playing field, and in so doing, serve as a catalyst for education-training equity, fulfilling aspirations and creating opportunities for learners even in the most remote parts of Guyana. GOAL, as a national entity, not only refreshes, or brings new hope, but also undoubtedly ushers the dawn of a revolution in higher education in this evolving oil and gas economy.

Sincerely, Ronald Singh [LLM, MS, Deputy Director (Student Affairs), Guyana Online Academy of Learning]

7

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

SOPs handed over to the Police ‒ following High Court ruling

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he Statements of Poll (SOPs) for Region 4, Guyana’s largest voting district, were handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday (May 31, 2021).

This followed a ruling on May 27, 2021 by acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, following an application made to the High Court by prevent the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar AliHack, SC, and Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie.

The DPP and Acting Police Commissioner had initiated legal proceedings in the High Court, seeking orders to obtain certified copies of the SOPs and SORs from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, which are currently lodged with the Registrar of the High Court.

The decision to move to the High Court came after the Police Commissioner wrote the Registrar of the High Court, Sueanna Lovell, to obtain the certified copies

of the documents, but was informed, by way of a letter, this could not be done without an order from the Court.

The Acting Chief Justice on January 18, 2021 had ordered that the SORS and SOPS be lodged with the High Court for “safekeeping”, after she struck out one of the elections petitions – Petition 99 – which sought to overturn the results of the polls. The request for the documents to be lodged at the court was made by Attorneys-at-law Douglas Mendes, S.C., and Kashir Khan, who brought to the court’s attention that the Representation of the People Act allows for the Chief Elections Officer to destroy all elections documents after a 12-month period would have elapsed. Accordingly, Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield on January 27, 2021 delivered the SOPS and SORS to the Registrar of the Supreme Court.

According to Ali-Hack, the SOPS and SORS are

necessary for the fair hearing of the charges as they constitute relevant evidence for the prosecution to prove the commission of the offences related to the March 2020 Election debacle. The DPP, in her application to the court, had said, “If the prosecution does not have these documents, the hearing of the charges instituted will be inordinately delayed, because hundreds of witnesses will have to testify, in their stead, in the charges instituted, causing the case not to be afforded a fair hearing within a reasonable time.”

Further, pursuant to the Representation of the People Act, the DPP pointed out that the documents are public records for which there is no restriction such as privacy, privilege, or secrecy. As such, the DPP submitted that: “There is no restriction to the Police obtaining them…by the common law and statute, namely Section 50 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act, the Commissioner of Police and any member of the Police Force have the lawful right to collect and recover all documents and property

which are relevant to the investigation and prosecution of any criminal offence.”

PERSONS CHARGED To date, several persons have been charged in relation to electoral fraud and misconduct in public office.

Earlier this year, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan ruled that the electoral fraud charges against PNCR Chairperson, Volda Lawrence; APNU+AFC activist, Carol Joseph, and embattled Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, will be disposed of summarily. In effect, this means that the cases will be tried in the Magistrates’ Courts. As a result of the Chief Magistrate’s ruling, Lawrence, Mingo, and Joseph have all pleaded not guilty to the charges. They were instructed to return to court on June 11, 2021, for disclosure of statements. Afterwards, the Chief Magistrate will set a date to begin their trial. The

trio is represented by Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, Lawrence was slapped with two charges of conspiracy to commit fraud at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. She was placed on bail.

Joseph is charged jointly with Mingo for forgery.

They, too, have been placed on bail.

Mingo has been charged with several counts of misconduct in public office in relation to their conduct at March 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Additionally, in February 2021, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly ruled that a Preliminary Inquiry (PI) will be conducted into the two counts of misconduct in public office against Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers.

This was after she upheld submissions by Hughes for the charges to remain indictable. Myers was not required to plead to the

indictable charges which stated that, during the period March 4 and 14, 2020, she willfully misconducted herself in declaring fraudulent results for the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. She has been placed on $300,000 bail in relation to both charges.

The Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, is facing three counts of forgery and three counts of misconduct in public office. He has been placed on $300,000 bail.

There are also electoral fraud charges against GECOM clerks Denise Bob-Cummings and Michelle Miller, as well as GECOM Elections Officer Shefern February and Information Technology Officer Enrique Livan. They, too, have been released on bail.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has hired a team of lawyers to prosecute these cases on the State’s behalf.

8

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

GECOM Commissioners move motions to remove Lowenfield, Myers, Mingo T

he statutory meeting of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday (June 1, 2021) saw three motions being oved for the immediate dismissal by of: Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Election Officer, Roxanne Myers; and Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

All three are currently before the courts facing charges related to misconduct in public office.

The motions were supported by government-nominated GECOM Commissioners, Sase Gunraj, Bibi Shaddick and Manoj One of the letters written to the embattled GECOM Narayan. officials by the GECOM Chairperson

Clairmont Mingo

Keith Lowenfield

Roxanne Myers

The motion to dismiss Lowenfield was tabled by Gunraj and Shadick and listed 20 grounds on which he should be dismissed. The Commissioners said that Lowenfield breached his functions, duties, responsibilities and obligations when he neglected to ensure due adherence and compliance with the statutory process outlined in Section 84 of the Representation of the People Act (RoPA), Chapter 1:03

by Mingo, who was under his direct supervision. Mingo, according to the Commissioners, failed to follow the stipulated process of adding up the Statements of Poll (SoPs) for his District and Lowenfield aided in his noncompliance. Lowenfield is accused of also 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 per-

formance 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. In her case, the motion was submitted in the names of Shadick and Narayan. They argued that she also went out of her way to facilitate a meeting in a GECOM facility by then Foreign Affairs Minister Karen Cummings where she threatened to revoke the accreditation of international observers. Myers’ order to have the Guyana Police Force remove Commissioner Gunraj and political party representatives from the GECOM Command Centre during the tabulation of the SOPs is also listed as one of the reasons she should be dismissed from her substantive post as DCEO. Meanwhile, Mingo is accused of discarding his

oath of office and failing to act fairly and impartially or legally in the discharge of his duties. The grounds for Mingo’s dismissal surround his tabulation of the SOPs in which he clearly manufactured numbers to reflect a win by the APNU+AFC Coalition. It also concerns his conduct and defiance of the court orders mandating that he follow the outlined statutory process to acquire his final tally of the SOPs. The three have been informed of the motions by GECOM Chair, retired Justice Claudette Singh, and were given until June 15, 2021 to respond to the allegations.

The trio is expected to respond on the matters of: failing, neglecting and abdicating their functions, duties and responsibility to ensure both compliance with the provisions of the Constitution and Guyana’s electoral laws, etc.

9

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

BIT investing $40M in training UG, AG discuss new agreement for automatic programmes in Region Six ‒ over 400 to benefit admission of law grads T to Hugh Wooding

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epresentatives of the University of Guyana met with the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, to discuss the terms of a new agreement with officials of the University of the West Indies and the Council of Legal Education of the West Indies, for the continued automatic admissions of graduates of the University of Guyana (UG) Law Programme into the Hugh Wooding Law School and other related matters.

The meeting took place on Monday (May 31, 2021).

The visiting delegation comprised of Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Dr. Paloma Mohamed Martin, Registrar of the University of Guyana, Dr. Nigel Gravesande and the Head of the Department of Law of the University of Guyana, Ms Kim Kyte-Thomas, Attorney-at-law. Also in attendance were Ms. Prithima Kissoon, State Solicitor, Public Trustee and Official Receiver, and Ms Raeanna Clarke, State Counsel.

During this visit, the delegation raised four principal issues with the Attorney General, namely: • The execution of the new and long-term agreement with officials of the University of the West Indies and the Council of Legal

Education of the West Indies for the admission of UG graduates.

• That the number of Guyanese graduates of the UG Law Programme gaining automatic admissions of into the Hugh Wooding Law School should be increased from 25 (twenty-five) students to 40 (forty) students.

• Settling the number of non-Guyanese graduates of the UG Law Programme gaining entry into any of the three law schools in the Caribbean Region namely, the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica, the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and the Eugene Dupuch Law School in the Bahamas.

• The inclusion of the University of Guyana in deliberations of the Council of Legal Education on the issues affecting the University of Guyana. In respect of this issue, it was noted that the University of Guyana is one of the Universities given express recognition in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and accordingly should be properly included in deliberations of the Council of Legal Education.

The Honourable Attorney General, who is an executive member of the Council of Legal Education, intimated his commitment to attend the next meeting of the SubCommittee of the Council of Legal Education and the

University of Guyana on this issue and expressed his commitment to moving these arguments forward. The Honourable Attorney General was also keen to highlight that Guyana was one of the few States to make prompt and timely payments to the Council of Legal Education.

The Attorney General also used this opportunity to introduce the delegation to the State’s new prosecutorial programme which seeks to build capacity and improve the proficiency of police prosecutors and requested that the programme be done at the University of Guyana.

The Attorney General explained that the programme will be annual and one-year in duration.

The programme will cater for approximately 40 (forty) students who possess a Bachelor of Laws (LLB). These students will be trained to prosecute in the various Magistrates’ Courts throughout the country. The Legal Affairs Minister indicated that the syllabus is being completed by a consultant and with UG’s agreement, the programme will start in the academic year commencing September, 2021.

The UG delegation welcomed the idea of the programme and pledged to accommodate the programme at the University of Guyana.

$200M to upgrade Herstelling and Providence roads - Minister Croal ‒ tenders to open this week

M

inister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal said some $200 million has been earmarked for the upgrading of roads in Herstelling and Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Minister Croal made this statement during his guest appearance on 94.1 Boom FM ‘Jump Start’ programme Tuesday (June 1, 2021). He said, “That is to move some of the main road to asphaltic and some of the others where we are starting up at least to the crusher run. I can tell you that the tenders should be opened some time this week. So, very shortly after the weather, those works will commence.”

A concrete bridge will also be constructed to replace the wooden structure in Her-

stelling.

Minister Croal said there are also plans to rehabilitate roads in housing schemes countrywide that were neglected over the past five years. His Ministry will be collaborating with the Ministries of Public Works and Local Government and Regional Development to carry out the upgrades through the miscellaneous road project.

Additionally, the Minister said construction will soon start on the young professional homes in Region 10. “Very shortly you will see Amelia’s Ward coming on stream. We are building about 40 houses this year and after that we have Region Six in the Hampshire area,” he said.

President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali first announced the construction oof homes for young professionals during an

outreach to Linden in January.

Similar structures will be built in Cummings Lodge, Prospect, Providence, Little Diamond and Great Diamond in Region Four; Onderneeming and Wales in Region Three; Ordnance/Fortlands, Hampshire and Williamsburg in Region Six. The Ministry is building 1,000 young professional and low-income housing units this year as part of the Central Housing and Planning Authority’s National Housing Development Programme.

The PPP/C Government is committed to allocating 50,000 house lots over five years as outlined in its manifesto, averaging 10,000 lots per year. The Ministry has since held several housing drives where close to 4000 lots have been allocated.

he Ministry of Labour’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) is investing over $40 million in 29 technical and vocational training programmes in Region Six, targeting some 400 persons in New Amsterdam, and Central and Upper Corentyne.

Minister Joseph Hamilton visited the Region on Monday (May 31, 2021) where he assessed the programmes that were recently launched in New Amsterdam. He was accompanied by BIT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Richard Maughn, Region Six Senior Technical Officer Mr. Clarence Shako and other technical officers of the Ministry.

The team visited the heavy-duty equipment operation training programme at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute, the care for the elderly programme at the Hope Wellness Centre, and cosmetology courses at Shaunna’s New Look Salon and Deborah Fantasy Salon, respectively. He also checked-out the garment

construction classes at Upper Class Community Developers, and the commercial food preparation course at Letta’s and Fordy’s catering.

During his interaction with trainees and facilitators, Minister Hamilton said the programmes form part of the Ministry’s plans to train some 3000 persons in more than 100 skilled areas this year. They also seek to equip persons with the necessary skills needed to enter the world of work, and align with Government’s policy of providing quality education to all citizens.

“All programmes are free of cost. All the equipment and tools you utilise for the programme we make them available. When you finish the programme, if you decide on another programme the following year, you can do so,” he told the students.

He said the programmes cater for every citizen regardless of their location or background and will be extended to retirees and persons living with disabilities.

Minister Hamilton said as Guyana develops, there will be need for more skilled per-

sons. Some 80 Berbicians are participating in the heavy-duty equipment operation training programme at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute. “These are skills that are needed and people get paid a lot of money for it.

From this you can also get skilled in other areas. You have to be multi-skilled and multitalented to survive this world,” he told the students.

Meanwhile, the CEO of BIT said the programmes are also being used as stepping stones for persons to gain entry into higher institutions of learning. Mr. Maughn said BIT continues to collaborate with other institutions including the GuySuCo Training Centre and the New Amsterdam Technical Institute to execute some of its programmes.

The Ministry has already appointed two BIT officers to Region Six, who would be working with residents to craft training programmes based on the needs of their communities. The team will be visiting programmes in the Central and Lower Corentyne over the next two days.

$7.7M heavy-duty bridge for Meten-Meer-Zorg

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ver 1500 residents of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD) will now have access to a $7.7 million heavy-duty bridge, which was built through a partnership between the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Engineering Corps.

Minister Nigel Dharamlall said the collaboration has resulted in a significant reduction in the cost of the project. He said, “About 70 per cent of the original cost of the project and that is quite significant to the value for money approach that our Government has been pursuing and we expect that this is one of the approaches the public works departments and other departments…that

they will heavily place value for money.”

The Regional Administration had estimated the project at some $10.5 million. Minister Dharamlall said collaborations like the one with the GDF will see the Government conducting more infrastructural works countrywide.

The Minister encouraged residents to care and maintain the bridge as it is one of many initiatives that will be undertaken to boost the community’s development.

Meanwhile, Brigadier Gary Beaton, Project Engineer of the Engineering Corps, said he was proud of the project built by young, skilled ranks who are committed to the Government’s vision of improving the lives of Guyanese, especially at

the community level. “This significant yet simple ceremony marks the fulfilment of duty which allows us to move onto another task as conceptualised by His Excellency and Commander-in-Chief President [Dr. Mohamed Irfaan] Ali. The execution of this project allows the unit to practice what they trained for. It is also giving them the platform to bond with the different communities in Guyana,” he said.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Sheik Ayube and Regional Executive Officer, Mr. Jagnarine Somwaru also attended the commissioning ceremony.

Last year, President Ali charged the GDF to play a greater role at the community level to advance the country’s development.

10

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

POSITIONS FROM FREEDOM HOUSE

Claims without merit, credibility continue to be peddled I t must be now evident to all that Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon and the APNU/AFC are desperately attempting to gain some type of approbation with the in-

ternational community after destroying their credibility and whatever semblance of relationship which existed by their five years of constitutional violations, their

refusal to accept defeat by a No-Confidence Motion, and their vulgar attempt to rig the 2020 national and regional elections. For these atrocities, they were roundly con-

demned by the international community and responded with indecent and vitriolic abuses and insults.

Recently, every time an occasion presents itself, they

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make a public appeal to the international community.

The latest such appeal follows Mr. Paul Slowe’s dishonest attempt to implicate President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali in some constitutional wrongdoings.

Mr. Harmon and the APNU/AFC would like Guyanese and the international community to forget about the blatant attempt by Simona Broomes to direct the Public Service Commission to halt promotions of public servants upon the instructions of former President David Granger. Legal proceedings were filed and Attorney General Basil Williams consented to an Order before the then Chief Justice that the letter constituted political interference with an independent, constitutional tribunal in contravention of the Constitution.

They would also like Guyanese and the international community to forget that Carvil Duncan, Chairman of the Public Service Commission was summoned to the Office of the President

by President David Granger and Joseph Harmon and threatened that if he does not resign; there would be ‘blood on the carpet.’

When Duncan challenged the attempt to remove him from office, Attorney General Basil Williams threatened the Judge who was hearing the case in open court, causing the legal proceedings never to be determined.

Harmon and the APNU/ AFC would also like Guyanese and the international community to forget that he, Harmon wrote to the Police Service Commission on behalf of President Granger,

instructing the Commission to halt Police promotions.

Again, it is a matter of public record that Harmon’s letter was challenged by Court proceedings and a different Chief Justice ruled that he was guilty of violating the Constitution by politically interfering with an independent constitutional body.

So Harmon and the APNU/AFC should be the last to speak about these matters. His outpourings therefore, constitute hypocrisy, duplicity and the shedding of crocodile tears.

As for Mr. Slowe, he is alleging that the President attempted to influence him in a conversation since last year but kept that a secret and perhaps, no one would have heard about it, had he not been slapped with a Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) fraud charge along with a charge for sexual assault.

This gentleman who now presents himself as a paragon of virtue saw nothing wrong in receiving millions of dollars from the Guyana Police Force while he is the Chairman of a constitutional commission, wielding disciplinary powers over the very Force.

This same gentleman is being accused by an Assistant Superintendent of Police of attempting to sexually assault her in his capacity as Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

Clearly, in the face of these very serious allegations, Mr. Slowe has become a desperate man.

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali has already rejected these allegations. They are simply without merit or credibility. (People’s Progressive Party May 31st, 2021)

11

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Caribbean must educate populace on value of local, high-quality foods T

he Caribbean has the potential to produce most of the food products it imports and those countries must educate their populations about the value of eating high quality, local produce, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The President made this statement during his keynote address at the virtual CARICOM Regional Dialogue on Food Security on Friday (May 28, 2021). He said, “We cannot continue to eat third quality or second quality food when we can produce first quality food. We have to be brave. We have to be brave in addressing these issues. We can’t walk along the side-lines anymore,” President Ali said.

Dr. Ali is the lead Head of Government in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet with responsibility for Agriculture.

The President says the Dialogue plays an important role, as it allows participants to deliberate on strengthening regional food security and response mechanisms to the threat of climate change.

The Head of State noted that CARICOM has been proactive in responding to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including in the food systems. It has since established a Ministerial Task Force to advance food, nutrition and security.

Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mu-

stapha says the lucrative agriculture sector is key to transforming the Caribbean region’s food systems. He said, “Our Heads of Government have recognised the value of taking a more holistic view of our food system when our Taskforce was established earlier this year. The Region’s food system transformation is at the core of our development aspirations.”

Minister Mustapha said solutions will be different for each Member State because of the countries’ unique features. He noted however, that the Region can shape the context and arrange the solutions for its food system.

The Minister added that in the coming years, the members of the recently-established Ministerial Taskforce will strive to ensure that all activities are geared towards transforming the Region’s agri-food system.

“We envision a modernised e-agriculture sector with enhanced incomes, enhanced productivity, value-addition, increased market access, and the production of safe and nutritious agricultural commodities that CARICOM will produce for itself and the global market,” the Minister explained.

Meanwhile, Barbados Prime Minister Hon. Mia Amor Mottley shared similar sentiments on utilising

local products. “Our governments cannot continue to be spending hundreds of millions of dollars on chronic non-communicable disease.

We have had an over reliance on antibiotics, whether in our livestock, much of which we import, and indeed on some of our crops, and ultimately, all of those feed into our environment,” she siad.

Additionally, Minister of Agriculture of Antigua and Barbuda, Samantha Marshall, said the Region is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. She noted, however, that shortfalls in capacity are significant hinderances to instituting policies. She said, “One of the critical areas we need to begin focus on if we are going to access and embrace innovation, and become more resilient and more sustainable for productive agriculture and food systems, is that we need to develop our human resource capacity to that level to give the necessary support.”

Minister Marshall called on partners within the Food and Agricultural Organization, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA); United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinators and the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide technical support in these areas.

Statement of His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on statements made today by Mr Paul Slowe, Chairman of the Police Service Commission

I

find it convenient and opportunistic that Mr Paul Slowe would make the accusation that I tried to influence him and the work of the Police Service Commission. This is not only far from the truth, but it is a malicious attempt to change the narrative.

Mr Slowe, like other independent commissioners, the judiciary, and I had a meeting.

At that meeting, I raised various concerns with him that were brought to my attention without prejudice.

As President, my desire is to see these Commissions function professionally and independently.

If Mr Slowe is saying I tried to influence him, where are the results of that influence?

Where is the result? It is clear as day that Mr Slowe is bringing the independence and professionalism of the PSC into question when he aligns the PSC with opposition member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul and retain Opposition members of Parliament Roysdale

Forde, Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Amanda Walton Desir to institute proceedings against the Government of Guyana.

This action of Mr Slowe is what he should explain. How can an independent commissioner align himself with a political party and a political party member’s action against the government? Where is the independence?

It is therefore not only opportunistic but a total lie that my meeting with Mr Slowe was to exercise any influence. This level of distortion and public mischief by the Chairman of this Commission exposes his leadership and alignment.

My meeting with Mr Slowe was within the first few months of my Presidency, more than eight months ago; the question is, why only now?

I guess his unprofessional exposure and links are making him desperate. (May 31, 2021)

Issue of non-functioning kokers, pumps...

Ali says no excuse for irresponsibility T

here are no excuses for the irresponsibility shown by some pump attendants who neglected their duties on Sunday (May 30, 2021) night, according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali. The Head of State made this pronouncement during a spontaneous, late-night, inspection of kokers and pump stations around the city and down the East Coast of Demerara. He said, “There must be consequences for your actions and unless we are prepared to hold people responsible, we are not going to see the full potential or the full results of the investments we are making.”

During his visits, the President had discovered that the pumps at several stations, including Riverview and Kitty, were off. At Riverview, the Koker doors were closed and the worker was asleep.

The President expressed total disbelief at the level of carelessness shown.

“This is what we are talking about, I came out here myself to verify tonight. The main pump to drain the city is turned off. Up to today (Sunday), we said the pump must be on 24 hours….While we have to deal with the heavy rainfall, we have to deal decisively with the irresponsibility and the negligence. I have to come out here at this hour to find that the pump is turned off,” he said.

The President, who had journeyed out to ensure that all that can be done was being done to ease the burden of flooded streets and homes after continuous torrential downpours, said that he was

disappointed in the lackadaisical approach, especially when the lives and livelihood of citizens are at stake.

Ali said, “Tonight we are not here to go after anyone, or to be critical of anyone or to get anyone. Tonight we are here because we all have responsibilities as leaders and when you know that you’re putting investments in, the people expect to see the return. But when you have conditions where personnel and other functionaries within the system of governance, whether it’s the Mayor and City Council or other bodies, are not pulling their weight, or not providing the leadership, mismanaging the situation, then we will have difficulties.”

LIVES AT STAKE The President reminded that across the country, Guyanese are living under tremendous stress as many have seen their homes flooded, crops and livestock destroyed and their livelihood affected.

“We can have the best infrastructure; we can create the best environment, but if we don’t manage that infrastructure, if we don’t manage the environment, if we don’t take care of it, if we don’t ensure that we work efficiently, it’s for nothing. And this is more than efficiency, you have to work conscientiously. People’s lives depend on it,” he said.

He pointed out that the floodwaters and the rainfall do not discriminate and have nothing to do with politics, but affect all Guyanese. The President said, “So, as a

caring Government, we are out here. Not only am I out here, but different Cabinet members are also in different areas… the situation is very, very difficult at the moment… At the end of the day, people are suffering and that is what worries me; that is what bothers me.”

There were several pump attendants who were attentive to their jobs and the President was quick to commend them. He was pleased with the work done and the commitment shown at the pump stations in Meadow Bank, Central Georgetown, Kingston (while assessing the Lamaha Street pumps), Liliendaal and Hope Canal.

MODEL FOR THE FUTURE President Ali also said that the Hope Canal, a signature project of the last PPP/C Government, continues to prevent massive flooding in several East Coast communities and may be replicated in other parts of the country.

“This facility has really helped out tremendously and it is facilities like this- the Hope Canal- that we may have to replicate in Berbice and in other areas to drain directly from the backlands straight out to the ocean,” he said.

The Canal has massive drainage capabilities and has been instrumental in keeping floodwaters at bay during the current rainy season.

When he visited the station, all eight sluice doors were opened and were taking off large volumes of water from nearby communities.

12 12

WEEKENDMIRROR MIRROR22-23 5-6 JUNE, WEEKEND MAY, 2021 2021

GUYANA ONLINE ACADEMY OF LEARNING TEL: 592-226-8732 || 592-225-8430 EMAIL: scholarships@mps.gov.gy Application Form for Academic Programme Section 1: Programme Selection

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WEEKEND MIRROR 22-23 MAY, 2021 Disciplined Service Staff WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

13 13

Student

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Section 4: Motivational Statement * Write in not more than 500 words, a statement of what motivated you to want to study your programme of first choice, how will this programme support your personal growth, and how Guyana and your community will benefit from your newly acquired knowledge upon the completion of the programme of study. [Type or Upload]

Section 5: Declaration By singing the form button below, you agree that the information you have given on this application is true and correct, and forms part of the application, and that you have not withheld any information. You agree that if any information on this application is not found to be true, GOAL reserves the right, at any time, to cancel/reject your application and/or ask you to withdraw from the programme and be liable to repay the cost of the services you may have received under this programme.

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Application forms can be done online from the Ministry of Education website at http://education.gov.gy/ or the Ministry of Public Service Website at https://scholarships.dps.gov.gy/ . Applications can also be submitted in hard copy to the Ministry of Public Service at 164 Waterloo Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown.

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Passport size Photo [upload in jpeg format] Copy of all academic certificates [upload in pdf format] Proof of Identification: copy of National ID or Driver’s Licence [upload in jpeg format] Motivational Statement [upload in pdf format] Letter of support from current employer (if employed) or any one in authority to attest to your personality [upload in pdf format]

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

Flood affected Guyanese benefit from support Members of the PPP/C government, over the weekend, fanned out across the country to provide necessary support for those affected by the floods. Cabinet members, including President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips, were in Regions 3, 6, 10 and 4.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

Gov’t praised for ‘quick response’ Region 10 leaders happy with President, gov’t speedy to Region Nine flooding response to flood R

L

eaders in several Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 10) communities have heaped praise on President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his Administration for the speedy response to flooding there.

Toshao of Hururu and its satellite Bamboo, Mr. Mark Gomes, said he was particularly touched that the President himself travelled to the area to assess the flood damage and to ensure that the people were safe. “Couple of days now the entire village under water, being overtopped by the river which is from the heavy rainfall. All crops; permanent crops, cash crops, everything perished at the moment. But I must thank the Government, they are doing a great job, present Government is giving us a lot of support. I am very thankful to the President,” he said.

Another resident, Ms. Cheryl Simeon, who represented her community at a planning meeting with Minister of Public Works, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill, who is spearheading the relief distribution exercise on Monday, said this was the worst flood the community has experienced. “First time in history we are suffering, our farms are down, even our permanent crops gone.

Yesterday, the President came and we are happy that he has responded. We requested water tanks because we have trouble with our water system, and I’m happy and thankful that help has come.”

Another resident, Mr. Dayne Schultz of Ladern’s Ville said he was pleased that hat his community was not forgotten. “The entire

community is under water, we are very thankful for the help we are getting from the Government at the moment,” Schultz said.

Each of those communities, along with central Kwakwani and a few others further up the Berbice River, will on Monday receive those promised food hampers and cleaning agents from the Government.

The Government will also be providing temporary housing for families whose homes are completely inundated.

The community leaders were tasked with taking an account of everyone affected by flooding in their respective areas, after which, relief items would be distributed equally. The temporary housing facilities are being set up by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

Regional Disaster Risk Management Systems activated

R

egional Democratic Councils (RDCs) have activated the Regional Disaster Risk Management System (RDRMS) to ensure timely assessment and response in communities affected by flooding, due to continuous heavy rainfall across Guyana.

The RDRMS is a component of the National Disaster Risk Management (DRM) system which is designed to eliminate fragmentation through integration, decentralize risk governance and common understanding of DRM roles and responsibilities. Under this system, each region was able to develop its own Disaster Risk Management System in keeping with the wider national mechanism.

Over the past 12 days, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), which functions at the national level, deployed teams to conduct rapid assessments and verifications of flood reports across the country. These were done in collaboration

with agencies including the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and Community Development Councils (CDCs).

In an effort to ensure that affected residents receive adequate food, clothing and shelter, thousands of food and cleaning hampers have been distributed in Regions 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10.

The hampers being distributed include personal and feminine hygiene items, sanitation supplies, water purification tablets, cement and temporary accommodation equipment. Through the Regional Democratic Councils, additional hampers were distributed to flood affected residents in Regions 5, 6 and 10. Residents of Mahaicony Creek, Region 5 also received livestock feed.

The CDC has established shelters to accommodate affected residents in Lethem,

Region Nine with additional shelters to be established in Kwakwani and other affected communities along the Berbice River. The Commission has committed to continue its distribution of food and non-food items to affected residents as the need arises.

It will continue to work with the RDCs to ensure that timely assessments are done in keeping with the processes set out in the Regional DRM Plans. The CDC will also continue its engagement with the NDIA, NAREI, GLDA and MOA to address key emergency concerns as heavy rainfall continues.

The Commission has expressed thanks to those who have donated towards its relief efforts. On Sunday Mid Atlantic Oil & Gas Inc donated a cheque valued $10M to support flood relief efforts across Guyana.

Persons affected by flooding are asked to contact the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on telephone number 226-1027 or 6007500 (WhatsApp).

esidents of Massara, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) have commended the Government for swiftly responding to their needs during the severe flooding in the region.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall visited the community on Sunday, as part of a wider outreach to the region to assess the flood situation and distribute relief supplies to residents.

Toshao Mr. Lenny Moses said the Government’s assistance came at an opportune time as residents have been extremely affected by the flood. He said the situation has made it difficult for residents to access their farms. “I am thankful for their (Government) quick response. Since we notified

the relevant authorities about our current situation, they assured us that they will visit to provide hampers among other relief…so I am very thankful as this Government is indeed a Government that cares about its people,” he said.

More than 100 hampers were handed over to be distributed to persons gravely affected in Massara and satellite village Kwimatta.

Minister Dharamlall said the Government has committed to providing further assistance when needed.

Food hampers and other essentials were provided as well as medical assistance where needed. “We have teams in Karasabai, South Central and Deep South doing the same thing, providing humanitarian support making sure that people are safe and

healthy with the help of our health team to treat cases like malaria and dengue,” the Minister said.

Communities like Apoteri, Rewa and Crash Water also benefitted from the distribution of 50 hampers each, since residents there are also unable to leave their community. “We have found out too that some homes are flooded so we have set up some shelters in all of the villages especially on the high ground where the school are,” Minister Dharamlall relayed.

He also handed over a boat and outboard engine valued at $2.5 million to Rewa, which will aid in the Government’s humanitarian mission. The boat will also be used by healthcare workers and to transport children to school.

M&CC’s negligence contributed to South Georgetown flooding – Min. Hamilton

M

inister of Labour, Hon. Joseph Hamilton on Sunday (May 30, 2021) criticised the Mayor and City Council for its negligence, which he said has resulted in the flooding of several areas in South Georgetown.

The Minister was on the ground to assess the situation which has affected several homes following heavy rainfall Saturday evening.

Hamilton explained that the pumps used to drain the water were not activated in time. He said, “The reports from National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) indicate that many of the pump attendants were asleep this morning, when they should have been working the pumps to ensure that water gets out of these areas. We intervened at the level of the

Ministry of Agriculture NDIA and installed pumps on Sussex Street and Princes Street to help alleviate this problem. And so, if the City Council was properly supervising the staff, the people should not have been suffering the way they’re suffering right now in this part of town.”

In some areas, roads, bridges and yards were covered by more than four inches of water. Sussex Street, Albouystown is among areas gravely affected. Residents complained that the water from the canal overflows and mixes with water from Le Repentir cemetery and seeps into their homes.

Minister Hamilton told residents that the issue will be addressed and assistance will be given to those severely affected. “I made a

request to facilitate some people right now, they’re in need of cleaning materials, and they’re in need of food items, because of this situation that was created by the negligence, I would say, the City Council, not properly, supervising the pumps that we made available to the government, central government,” he said.

A team was also mobilised to clear the canal of vegetation and garbage to ensure the water flows freely.

Minister Hamilton was part of a larger ministerial team spread out across the country to assess and bring relief to persons affected by the floods. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips also visited several affected communities.

16

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

Stakeholders welcome move to hold ‘recalcitrant’ GECOM officers accountable

T

wo majority representatives of Guyana’s private sector have welcomed to move to hold recalcitrant officers of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) accountable for actions that contributed to the five-month delay in finalizing results of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

In a statement the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) stated that it is pleased that that there have been moves towards accountability. The GCCI said, “The GCCI, an accredited observer to the GRE 2020, witnessed several acts of obfuscation, open defiance to

the instructions of the Commission and the Courts, by agents who are duty-bound to uphold the law. Their open defiance and abdication of their statutory responsibility placed Guyana in a precarious situation where attempts at subverting the will of the people could have placed our country in the league of pariah states.

“The GCCI urges that this stark reminder of our difficult history during undemocratic days be used as the impetus to undertake the necessary reforms to the electoral process.

Therefore, the GCCI calls on the leadership of Guyana to ensure that the electoral re-

form process is undertaken, with greatest of urgency. The GCCI anticipates the input and involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, so as to be able to solicit ideas on the strongest sets of reforms as possible. It is imperative that these reforms are undertaken to ensure that the inalienable rights of every citizen of Guyana are protected, and that our democracy a pre-condition to a growing economy - is fortified in its safeguarding.”

The statement from GCCI followed the tabling of three motions by GECOM Commissioners Sase Gunraj, Bibi Shaddick and Manoj Narayan

calling for the dismissal of Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield; Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers; and Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo.

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) also welcomed the recent move from Government-nominated GECOM Commissioners to table three motions calling for the immediate dismissal of three high-ranking election officers who are currently before the courts on electoral fraud charges.

The PSC said, “If it were that the Chairman of GECOM was failing to take action to clean up the Commission on the excuse that elections petitions had been filed on the matter of the elections, this excuse no longer obtains. “…in December 2020, the Private Sector Commission issued a Statement recognising that Local Government Elections are due by the end of 2021, noted further that (Lowenfield, Mingo) and a number of other officials assisting these officers are charged before the Court with “misconduct in public office”

and expressed its concern that none of these officers have been dismissed from their employment at GECOM, nor have they been suspended from duty. “…it is unthinkable and certainly unacceptable that GECOM should proceed to conduct Local Government Elections while these officers remain employed and involved in the conducting of these elections….the country will recall that Mingo, again directed by Lowenfield, aided and abetted by Roxanne Myers, resumed the count and continued to deliberately defy the order of the court, once again using a spreadsheet and then a bedsheet, failing to complete a credible tabulation and verification of the Statements of Poll.”

Notably, President Irfaan Ali has repeatedly stressed Government’s manifesto commitment to electoral reform and indicated that it remains high on the agenda. He had said, “The five months after the elections and even before that, pointed to some striking issues that inherently affected our democracy and caused us much international harm, and harmed the reputation of Guyana.

Our electoral system also showed areas of concern. As a result of this, and in keeping with our manifesto we have committed to ensuring that we look at constitutional reform. Electoral reform is key on the agenda and all of this is aimed at a better country, a stronger democracy and a more functional democracy.”

In the aftermath of the controversial five-monthlong elections last year, a number of high-ranking Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) 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.

The CEO is being accused of attempting to undermine the will of the people by repeatedly refusing to submit the verified results from the National Recount to Chair of GECOM, Retired Justice Claudette Singh, for a final declaration.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

Bank of Guyana projects 20.9% oil-economy growth D

espite concerns of new strains of the novel coronavirus and the possibility of another lockdown in the country, the Bank of Guyana (BoG) has projected that the local economy will record a real oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of some 20.9 per cent while the non-oil economy is estimated to grow by 6.1 per cent.

“This performance is expected to stem from expansions in all the major sectors due to the reopening of the economy as the ongoing vaccination programme continues and the COVID-19 restrictions continue to be lifted. However, the new variants of the coronavirus pose a threat to this outlook, as there is the possibility of another lockdown. Notwith-

standing, the end of year inflation rate is expected to be 1.6 per cent due to increased economic activities as the economy picks up,” the BoG said in its First Quarter Report for 2021.

This projection comes in line with the World Economic Outlook estimating the global economy to grow by 6.0 per cent in 2021 as a result of optimism surrounding vaccine rollouts as well as renewed fiscal and monetary countermeasures in several major economies. However, the spread of new COVID-19 strains, new infection waves and unequal access to vaccines by emerging and developing economies have cast uncertainty on the robustness of the recovery.

Nevertheless, Guyana’s

Central Bank in its report stated that while the local economy continued to benefit from oil production, a mixed output performance was recorded in the major sectors as the non-oil economy is still recovering from the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

It was noted that the agriculture sector recorded increased production of rice, fish & shrimp, sugar, eggs and poultry meat while the forestry subsector contracted.

In the mining and quarrying sector, production of sand, bauxite, stone and gold were lower while crude oil and diamond production increased.

The manufacturing sector also recorded mixed performances with liquid pharmaceuticals, nitrogen gas,

oxygen, paints and alcoholic beverages performing favourably while there was a decline in production of acetylene, ointments, tablets and detergents. The construction sector recorded positive performance on account of increased public and private construction while there were increased activities in the services sector as the authorities commenced lifting COVID-19 restrictive measures.

The inflation rate was 0.6 per cent at end March 2021.

This reflected higher prices in the subcategories of transport and communication, food, education and housing.

However, there were lower prices in the categories of clothing, footwear and repairs and miscellaneous

goods and services.

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS Further, the BoG reported that the overall balance of payments recorded a lower deficit of US$53.8 million compared to US$76.7 million for the same period last year.

“This outturn reflected a reduced current account deficit despite a decline in the capital account surplus. The improvement in the current account resulted primarily from increased export receipts from crude oil notwithstanding higher import costs. The contraction in the capital account was due to lower net foreign direct investments attributable to oil cost recovery by the oil and gas sector,” the First Quarter

Report detailed.

Meanwhile, it was noted that Guyana’s net international investment position (NIIP) was US$7203.6 million at the end of March 2021, a deterioration of US$322.1 million or 4.7 per cent from the end-December 2020 position.

The total value of transactions on the foreign exchange market increased by 7.2 per cent or US$185.9 million to US$2768.6 million. The overall financial position of the public sector – which includes the Central Government and the Non-Financial Public Enterprises (NFPEs) – recorded a surplus of G$14,251 million, at endMarch 2021, reflective of improved performances of (Turn to page 18)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

Bank of Guyana projects... both the NFPEs and Central Government.

The total stock of public debt, which comprises both external and domestic debt, increased by 3.9 per cent to US$2692 million at end-March 2021, compared to the end December 2020 position. Domestic debt stock increased to G$280,650 million or US$1,346.0 million at the end of the first quarter of 2021. Domestic debt service payments expanded to G$29,439 million as a result of principal repayments for treasury bills redeemed for fiscal support.

The stock of external debt expanded to US$1345.9 million, almost the same level as that of domestic debt.

This outturn was on account of a rise in multilateral debt, reflecting increased loan disbursements by these creditors during the review period.

External debt service payments, which accounted for 2.6 per cent of export earnings, increased by 5.2 per cent, mainly due to higher principal payments to multilateral and bilateral creditors.

At the end of the first quarter of 2021, the financial system remained relatively

stable with the Licensed Depository Financial Institutions (LDFIs) being adequately capitalised, highly liquid and profitable.

Further, at the end of the review period, a total of 1608 facilities amounting to $28,759 million benefited from the COVID-19 relief measures that were put in place by Government for the banking sector. The services sub-sector continues to account for the largest portion of the relief, as the sector was particularly affected by the public health measures implemented to curb the

(From page 17)

spread of the virus.

2021 OUTLOOK Nevertheless, the Central Bank noted that interest rates are expected to remain relatively stable in 2021 reflective of the adequate level of liquidity within the banking system. It added that the financial system is expected to remain sound due to measures taken by the Bank to mitigate any threat as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

In its outlook for 2021, the BoG also projects the external current account will improve largely due to oil exports coupled with higher export prices for gold and rice. The total receipts of foreign currency by Central Bank are estimated to increase to US$902.3 million

while total payments are targeted at US$838.9 million.

Additionally, Central Government’s overall balance is anticipated to marginally improve to G$90,285 million as economic activities pick up, leading to increased revenue earnings from taxation despite the anticipated growth in expenditure. The NFPEs overall deficit is expected to widen as the public enterprises slowly recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

“In particular, GuySuCo is anticipated to record an increase in both capital and current expenses as efforts continue towards increasing the capacity of the existing estates and reopening those that were closed. To-

tal public debt is expected to expand to US$3137.9 million, due to increases in both domestic and external debt stock while debt service payments are anticipated to rise. The growth in domestic debt stock will reflect higher issuance of treasury bills for fiscal support while the increase in external debt will stem from greater obligations to multilateral creditors,” the report stated.

It went on to detail that monetary aggregates of reserve money and broad money are estimated to expand in 2021, with the former due primarily to increased net foreign assets of the Bank of Guyana while the latter is expected to stem from higher net foreign assets and Private Sector credit.

WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

COM M ENTARY

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Shameless attempt to change the narrative, shift blame

By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

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wo members of the Police Service Commission have been charged with a serious crime. One of them is the Chairman and he is also accused of sexual abuse. These members of the police service commission should resign.

As serving members of the commission, they breached financial regulations by being paid for a contract with the

same police force they must regulate.

When on July 16, 2017, Joseph Harmon, the then Minister of the Presidency, on behalf of then President David Granger, wrote to the Police Service Commission directing that the Police Service Commission cease any consideration for promotion in the police force until being advised by the President, did Paul Slowe not consider

that as interference in the affairs of the Police Service Commission? Why was Paul Slowe quiet then? To this day, he saw nothing wrong with this directive. The court intervened and declared that the President had no constitutional right to direct the Police Service Commission on whether to promote or not. But Paul Slowe to this day is quiet about an overt interference by Granger in the

working of the Police Service Commission.

Paul Slowe claims he is an impartial Chair of the Police Service Commission. This was of course the same man who publicly declared his full support to APNU/AFC during the 2015 elections campaign, as reported by News Source on March 17, 2015. This is the same man who was in charge of the security for David Granger throughout

the 2015 elections campaign.

This is the same man who has assembled a completely APNU team of lawyers to represent him. The team comprised of Roysdale Forde, Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, Amanda Walton Desir, all presently and APNU+AFC Coalition Members of Parliament (MPs). Which Guyanese believes Paul Slowe is an impartial Chair of the Police

Service Commission?

Paul Slowe, a member of the PNC, who openly campaigned for APNU/AFC in 2015, was unilaterally appointed the Chair of the Police Service Commission since 2018, over the objection of the then Opposition Leader, Bharat Jagdeo. Now he has been charged by SOCU in a matter where more than $10M was paid to him and others (Turn to page 22)

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

Shameless attempt to change the... for the revision of the Police Standing Orders, a revision that was already undertaken and completed just before that contract was awarded.

The monies were paid out for this contract, even though not a word was changed, not a comma was changed, not a period was changed. In fact, Slowe and his colleagues,

all who were senior officers when they served in the police force, never began the revision because they knew it was already done. Excuses are now being presented, including that COVID-19 caused a delay. But COVID-19 did not delay payment for work never started. The courts will decide whether this was a crime or

not. But Slowe faces an even more serious charge. He is now subjected to an allegation of sexual abuse and misconduct by a female officer.

Paul Slowe has in his corner a battery of lawyers, all of whom are senior members of the PNC (APNU), many of whom are presently serving as APNU Members of Parliament. Whether Slowe and his colleagues committed a crime when they signed a contract for something that was already done, when they accepted payment for work they never did is for the court to determine. But SOCU made a determination that a crime was committed and they have charged Slowe and others.

We will all await the court's decision. Whether Slowe is guilty of sexual abuse, as alleged by a present serving police officer, is also a matter for the court to adjudicate.

Paul Slowe has a battery of lawyers and he has nothing to fear if he is innocent.

The President of Guyana or the Government of Guyana have not accused Slowe of sexual abuse. It is a woman who is insisting that she was sexually abused by someone who wields power over her future. Sexual abuse and violence is a major social and criminal challenge in Guyana and around the world. There

(From page 19)

is no way a country can place on the development agenda women and gender equality and ignore the complaint of sexual abuse by women. Guyana has done much to ensure we genuinely create an equal development platform for ALL people, where there is genuine women and gender equality. Guyana would be guilty of mere talk if we ignore the cry of women and girls when they speak out against sexual abuse they personally experience. A Guyanese woman who happen to be a serving police officer, a woman whose future in the police force is dependent on men like Paul Slowe, is accusing this man of sexually assaulting her.

The President has no say in this matter, other than insisting that the justice system take seriously her allegation.

The Government has an obligation to ensure that the relevant authorities address this woman's allegation. It is interesting that there are organizations in Guyana which pick and choose which allegation of sexual abuse they would champion for justice.

The fact is that a Guyanese woman has accused a prominent citizen of sexual abuse.

It is incumbent on the authorities to investigate the claims.

Slowe's prominence in society

should not give him an automatic pass.

It is horrible that Slowe and his lawyers are now engaged in a desperate attempt to change the narrative. They want to make this into a political lynching job. He claims that the President tried to influence him into promoting certain officers. Neither of the two officers that Slowe identified were promoted.

Clearly, the President did not influence him. The only evidence that Slowe presented is identifying two meetings that the President had with him as Chairman of the Police Service Commission some eight months ago. The President has a right to meet with all State Commissions. In fact, the President would be abrogating his responsibility if he does not seek to meet with commissions. Slowe claimed the President tried to "butter" him up.

The Guyanese people must not fall for the oldest trick in history - distracting people from the business at hand. There is nothing wrong in the President meeting state commissions. When Granger met Slowe, was that interference? When Granger decided that the traditional way of appointing the Police Commissioner and other senior staff would be amended, where

was Paul Slowe? He did not find the directive from Granger to halt police promotion as interference, but now claims that President Ali meeting him is interference. This is just bluster to change the narrative, just a desperate attempt to change the subject.

In the case of the officers who Paul Slowe claimed the President wanted him to promote, these officers have a right to represent their case to the President. The President has a duty to inquire about their promotion status. In any case, these officers approached the court to make their own case, claiming discrimination against them by the Police Service Commission.

The truth is that an APNU+AFC supporter has been charged by SOCU, not by the President, for a serious financial breach. This man has also been accused of sexual abuse by a serving officer of the police force. Those are the relevant matters. Making a bogus claim that the President tried to influence him into promoting two officers who were never promoted will not make these charges go away.

Justice demands that Paul Slowe must answer the charges and not try to make the charges disappear by making a bogus claim.

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WEEKEND MIRROR 5-6 JUNE, 2021

Gov’t actively trying to secure more COVID-19 vaccines – VP Jagdeo

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Curfew remains in place until June 30

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he Government of Guyana has extended the national curfew until June 30 with the lockdown hours in effect from 10:30pm to 4:00am, along with restrictions on social activities and other measures.

On Monday (May 31, 2021), the Ministry of Health and National COVID-19 Task Force issued the gazetted COVID-19 Measures for the new month.

People are still required to wear masks while in

public spaces. The Measures also stipulate that all gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people and social activities are also prohibited. Recreational activities at rivers, creeks, beaches, swimming pools, and internal waters remain prohibited.

However, physical exercise is permitted in parks, on roads, seawalls, beaches and near rivers and creeks where persons can be safely distanced six feet from each

other.

The Measures also state that no person shall visit or be permitted to visit any place of quarantine or an isolation facility or prison or correctional facility. Persons are not allowed to visit a patient in a hospital, nursing home, senior citizens’ home or any other care facility.

Meanwhile, places of worship, gyms, fitness centres, and restaurants (indoor and outdoor dining) can operate at limited capacity.

he PPP/C Government is making “enormous efforts” to secure more COVID-19 vaccines for Guyana’s adult population, according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

During a recent interview, he acknowledged that Guyana, like many other developing countries, have encountered difficulties in procuring vaccines. “I want to assure Guyanese that we are taking all steps to get people vaccinated.

We need to vaccinate 500,000 of our adult Guyanese. We can’t wait. Our people are just as important,” he said.

The VP said developed countries like the United States of America, Canada and those in Europe had pre-purchased millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Specifically, Canada purchased ten times more than its population.

He said manufacturers must first satisfy those pre-ordered vaccines before moving to other countries. He said, “The United States has 20 million doses of AstraZeneca that they are not using because they have not had regulatory approval for AstraZeneca, but they will not release this to other countries.”

It is within this context that Jagdeo revealed that Guyana is trying to secure more vaccines for its citizens.

He indicated that the Caribbean region, African nations and other developing countries went through the COVAX mechanism to secure vaccines. However, even this machinery has fallen short in procuring the vaccines.

Guyana had managed to secure 400,000 doses of the vaccine from the Middle

East, Dr. Jagdeo noted. Only 140,000 of the first dose and 40,000 of the second dose were delivered. Currently, 60,000 first doses and 160,000 second doses are outstanding.

The Vice President said, “We have had a hard time getting it transported to Guyana.

The vaccines have to be stored at -19 degrees and therefore, a lot of the carriers don’t want to take the risk. If the temperature rises above that then the vaccines would spoil. But we expect that the 160,000 second dose and the 40,000 first dose will come in time for us to vaccinate more people.”

Notwithstanding these challenges, Dr. Jagdeo said the Government has made “significant strides” in vaccinating citizens against the deadly dis-

ease. So far, 194,749 citizens have received their first dose.

This accounts for 40 per cent of the adult population.

As of last week over, 65,000 persons or 13.5 per cent of the adult population had been fully vaccinated. The VP pointed out that these percentages are favourable when compared to the developed countries.

Dr. Jagdeo revealed that the Government is currently in discussions with the makers of Sinopharm, and vaccine manufacturers in Europe to supply COVID-19 vaccines. The Vice President said the Government has already made a down payment of US$36,000 to secure 150,000 single doses of the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine.

GOAL processing over 5,500 scholarship applications

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he Guyana Online Academy of Learning’s (GOAL) staff is currently processing over 5,500 applications that were received manually and electronically from the 10 administrative regions.

At the conclusion of the exercise, 4,500 scholarships will be awarded to Guyanese from a wide range of programmes including Management, Social Services, Science, Security and Tourism. The scholarships will

be available and accessible at six internationally recognised and accredited universities.

However, incomplete online submissions have made it compelling on GOAL to implore prospective applicants of this format that it is crucial the following documents be uploaded along with the completed application form: • A Passport size photograph • A valid copy of the National Identification Card/Passport (bio-metric page) or Driver’s

Licence • Copies of Transcripts And Certificates of all academic certificates • Motivational statement • A Letter of Support from current employer (if employed) or anyone in authority to attest to the applicant’s character Prospective applicants are also encouraged to review their applications before submitting, and pay keen attention to the requisite academic qualifications for the course

or programme they are interested in and apply for.

Persons can visit GOAL’s website: www.goal.edu.gy to apply online.

Furthermore, applicants who are encountering difficulties with the electronic submission please contact GOAL via email info@goal. edu.gy or call/whatsapp 6437783/687-6331 or assistance and guidance.

The final deadline for submission is June 5, 2021 at 11:59 pm.

No shortage of AstraZeneca, Sinopharm vaccines – Anthony M inister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony says there is no shortage of second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines.

Anthony said preparations were made to ensure that persons would receive their first and second doses of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine. “As I’ve said in the past and I continue to say, the AstraZeneca vaccine, what you get for first dose is the same vaccine you get as your second dose. And because we know this, when we received AstraZeneca vaccines, we kept half of it as the second dose. So, every person who would have received AstraZeneca vaccine. We have your equivalent second dose in storage,” he said.

The same measures were put in place for the Sinopharm vaccine. “As you know, we initially had about 20,000 doses of Sinopharm and the Sinopharm vaccines are similar – what you get for your first dose is the same vaccine you will get on your second dose. Now, we have given out most of the Sinopharm first dose and what we want now is for people to come and get their second dose,” he said.

Minister Anthony again appealed to the public to take their second doses of vaccine. “We haven’t had any case of anybody getting the infection. We haven’t

had any case of persons who were fully vaccinated coming into the hospital. We have had no case, someone who’s been fully vaccinated getting into the ICU nor have we had any case of someone who has been fully vaccinated dying from COVID. So, if you got your first dose, we’re really pleading with people, come and get your second dose,” he said.

Guyana is expected to receive a shipment of the Sputnik V vaccine during this week and another consignment of vaccines from COVAX is due the second week in June.

Additionally, the Government continues to procure vaccines as the country looks to achieve herd immunity.

Minister Anthony says Guyana is also set to receive some 150,000 doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine through a partnership with CARICOM and the African Union. “The African Union is making 1.5 million doses of vaccines available to the Caribbean and Guyana is going to get approximately 150,000 doses. Last week we made a down payment on those doses so, we are hopeful that during June we will be able to get those vaccines,” he said.

To date, Guyana has also received quantities of vaccines from Barbados, India and China.

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