Weekend Mirror 28-29 May 2022 by Weekend Mirror

Norton ‘devising manufactured hurdles’ to delay progress with important appointments – Teixeira 28-29 May, 2022 / Vol. 12 ‒ No. 24 / Price: $100

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PAGE 24

PPP/C gov’t inherited a deficit of 80,000 jobs – Jagdeo PAGE 3

PNCR-led Coalition attempting to delay electoral reform PAGE 2

‒ Wants review of March 2020 Elections before reforms are enacted

Democracy quintessential to our freedoms, development and implementation of transformative agenda PAGE 14

SEE INSIDE

GOAL scholarship extended to women in Maritime for years of service Vision 25 by 2025 ‘very realistic’ PAGE 7

PAGE 10

‒ Ali says action-oriented approach being taken

How long does COVID-19 linger in your body? PAGE 23

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

GECOM records over 63,000 transactions to date during Continuous Registration A

total of 63,421 transactions have been completed since the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) commenced its continuous registration exercise as of May 24, 2022. These transactions range

from new registrations, replacement identification cards, changes and corrections and transfers. GECOM has indicated that, as of May 24, 2022: • 19,606 persons, who are

18 years and older and are therefore eligible to vote, have been registered; • 25, 310 persons between the ages of 14 and 17 years have been registered and will be issued national identification cards;

• 3,964 persons have applied for transfers to new addresses; • 5,899 persons made changes and/or corrections to their particulars; • 6,896 persons sought to have replacements for

their national identification cards; and • 1,746 persons sought to have their photographs retaken. GECOM has 29 offices across the country. Each registration office operates from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. On the weekend, persons can visit the offices

between 10:00 am to 2: 00 pm. Some $4.1 billion has been approved for GECOM this year, to carry out its work programme. From this amount, over $700 million has been earmarked to host this year’s LGE. The continuous registration exercise is expected to conclude on May 29, 2022.

PNCR-led Coalition attempting to delay electoral reform ‒ Wants review of March 2020 Elections before reforms are enacted

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meeting was held last week between the Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), as well as the Chairperson, retired Justice, Claudette Singh. However, progress in moving forward the enactment of electoral reform continues to be stymied by the APNU+AFC Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners. The GECOM Chair, along with Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud, handed over their submissions on the proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA). These include recommendations on: consolidating the electoral laws for easy reference and compliance; recommendations on the absence of statutory provision for the GECOM Chair or Commission to receive copies of the Statements of Poll (SOPs) to aid it in the declaration and publication of election results; and the authentic identification of Election Day staffers. The GECOM Chair also recommended that the changes address the need for voting by members of the Disciplined Services, specifically for balloting to be done no more than 14 days earlier or later than 10 days before Election Day. The government-nominated GECOM Commissioners also made submissions, which were reviewed by the GECOM Chair and had the benefit of the Chair’s comments and recommendations. The Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners prepared nothing. Instead, they are insisting that the Commission hold internal talks first. Commissioner Bibi Shadick, in comments on the issue, said, that the Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners suggested that discussion with the At-

torney General be put off to facilitate the in-house discussions. However, she pointed out that the Attorney General made it clear that there is a deadline to be kept. No formal statement on the matter has been issued by GECOM, as yet. REVIEW BEFORE REFORM The APNU+AFC Coalition, in addition to its GECOM Commissioners, in recent weeks have been maintaining a new position – one that was not proffered in November 2021 when the proposed electoral amendments were advanced. They are calling for a review of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, before any focus is placed on reforming the electoral laws of Guyana. In a statement, on May 10, 2022, the Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners said, “We further reiterated our previous position that GECOM should conduct a review of its conduct of the 2020 elections as the precursor to making any submission on electoral reform.” On May 17, 2022, during a news conference, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, called for a comprehensive review of what took place in March 2020. Opposition Parliamentarian and General Secretary of the PNCR, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, who was with Norton for the press conference, said, “A thorough review by GECOM of its performance in managing recent elections. The plethora of faults and irregularities (intended and unintended) in the 2020 elections alone must not be brushed under the carpet to resurface again. They must be swept out for good. To achieve this, a thorough and honest review must be conducted as a necessary first (Turn to page 2)

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

PPP/C gov’t inherited a deficit of 80,000 jobs – Jagdeo T

he PPP/C government is working diligently to meet and even surpass its manifesto promise of providing 50,000 jobs for Guyanese. This reassurance was given by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Tuesday (May 24, 2022) during a follow up visit to Region Two, where some 2,000 persons are benefitting from the administration’s part-time jobs initiative. “That’s always our aim. Now you will recall that in the period before the pandemic, because of the taxation policy of the last government, we lost in almost every sector, in mining and the forestry sector, in the sugar industry. Many people were laid off,” the Vice President said. This action by the APNU+AFC, led to the loss of 35,000 jobs before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, followed by the shutting down of the country.

The Vice President added that this exacerbated the situation with another 35, 000 to 40,000 jobs lost. “So we started in government with a deficit of about 80,000 jobs. And this is why we took the step unlike many other countries that had shut down totally, we said we’re going to try to address the pandemic and still keep the country open. Had we not done that, then we would have been in a worse situation today,” Jagdeo said. He noted that the government’s policy of keeping the country open while aggressively tackling the pandemic through vaccinations and capacity building in the health sector resulted in Guyana emerging in a better position than many developing countries around the world. The Vice President said, “So because we took that approach, we managed to get the economy going again, even though

it was very difficult in the two years, because you had read we could never have had a gathering like this one here to bring people together in the last two years, but now that we we have done that we have recovered, we’ve started working on all the big initiatives for the country. They are transformative initiatives to to generate the jobs of the future.” The Vice President spoke about the government’s co-investment programme, which involves a collaboration with the private sector in lucrative areas that will lead to the creation of thousands of jobs across the country. Jagdeo had initially committed to providing 800 of these jobs along the Essequibo Coast, however this amount has been increased after the government received some 2, 500 applications. Following this over-

Vice President Jagdeo, interacting with residents during an outreach to Region 2 this week

PNCR-led Coalition changes... step. Here, we agree with GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander that GECOM itself must not conduct such a review but should commission it.” Notably, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), in response stated that the call from the Coalition camp for a comprehensive review of what took place in March 2020 before electoral reforms are addressed is nothing but a delay tactic. “Recall that every report from the international Election Observer Missions, including the CARICOM team, detailed what took place at the March 2020 Elections – every Guyanese is aware of what took place during the March 2020 electoral process, civil society is aware, the international community is aware. It would seem that the only ignorant

party, by their own claim, is the PNCR/APNU/AFC,” the party said in a statement issued on May 18, 2022. The PPP made clear that the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition is the only party with an interest in keeping our electoral laws vague and ambiguous, hence the delay tactics. ONGOING CONSULTATION The recent submissions are expected to be taken together with those made by other civil society stakeholders to take proposed changes of Guyana’s electoral laws to the National Assembly. Notably, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on October 2021 made clear that the long-awaited legislation to improve Guyana’s electoral system is a priority for the

(From page 2)

PPP/C administration. He also assured that there be an efficient timeframe for the processing of the legislation. Ali had committed, since his first day of assuming office that the five-month-long elections process that Guyanese painfully endured, will never again occur. Guyanese were subject to a five-month wait for the final results from the March 2020 General and Regional Elections because of the actions of several persons involved in the process at the GECOM Secretariat and other elements. Amendments to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA), both the substantive act and the regulations, have been in public circulation since November 2021, after being released by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance.

whelming interest, government has taken an aggressive step to provide some 1,200 additional part-time jobs along the Essequibo Coast, making way for 2, 000 residents to gain employment through the massive recruitment drive. The successful applicants signed their one-year contractual agreements today and will begin working from June 1 to May, 2023. The employment drive caters for one person per household to be employed, with the long-term intention to hire as many persons as possible. “Here on the Essequibo Coast, it is very difficult to get job creation because most of the investors they prefer to go to Region Three and Four, they have a large population, closer proximity to market, they can export whatever they produce,” Jagdeo explained, while addressing

the prospective government workers. He emphasised the need for them to adopt a welcoming attitude while serving the people during working hours. The administration is also looking to establish call centres that could see close to 1, 000 persons being employed. “The government will build a factory shell for untrained people and then the investors would just operate this and this is just the beginning to generate more jobs on the Coast,” he added. The job opportunities allow for the employees to work for 10 days and earn up to $40,000. The work is being offered in specific areas within government ministries including health, agriculture, education and local government. “We expect you to work regardless of where you’re placed because people are placed in different facilities… It’s a

community spirit we want to build also because many of you will be working for the government in ensuring that you see improvement in services in your community,” he pointed out. Further, Dr. Jagdeo noted that there are also opportunities for the new employees to advance their studies in a number of areas, through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme. Government will be embarking on numerous transformational projects and partnerships that will see the modernisation of non- oil sectors. The Vice President also urged persons to take full advantage of training opportunities in technical and other areas, as these skills will soon be widely needed, owing to major investments stemming from the oil and gas sector.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

EDITORIAL Another attempt to contrive political capital after frustrating electoral reform?

robust legal framework or regulatory architecture is seen as a critically important pillar of supportive infrastructure that is needed to support credible elections. Most all Guyanese are aware of this fact, following the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. Corrupted officials, included the sacked Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, attempted mischief, which was thankfully exposed by the many stakeholders. Further, at almost every step of the way to finalizing the election results, multiple legal actions, some of which reached Guyana’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), were advanced. In every action that was advanced a loophole in the legal framework was being abused to undermine with will of the Guyanese. Thankfully, the rule of law prevailed, despite the machinations of the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition. Not unexpectedly, what followed from the PNCR/APNU/ AFC were baseless allegations of electoral fraud and related disinformation intended to undermine fundamental trust in the electoral process. Since then, over the past six months, in a process that bolstered democratic channels of communication and accountability, national consultations on proposed electoral reforms have been ongoing. Amendments to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA), both the substantive act and the regulations, have been in public circulation since November 2021, after being released by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance. To date, civil society has participated; the GECOM Chairperson, retired Justice, Claudette Singh, and Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persuad, have participated; and the government-nominated GECOM Commissioners have participated, among other stakeholders. The PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition has failed, over the past six months, to participate in the national process to amend Guyana’s electoral laws to strengthen our electoral system and reduce the scope for the mischief that played out at the March 2020 General and Regional Elections – mischief orchestrated by the PNCR-led Coalition and its elements with the Guyana Elections Commission – mischief that included the signature of the Volda Lawrence on the March 5th manipulated declaration by Mingo. This failure extends to the Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners. Instead of electoral reform, the PNCR-led Coalition is calling for a review of the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. On May 10, 2022, the Coalition-nominated GECOM Commissioners said: “We further reiterated our previous position that GECOM should conduct a review of its conduct of the 2020 elections as the precursor to making any submission on electoral reform.” On May 17, 2022, during a news conference, Opposition Parliamentarian and General Secretary of the PNCR, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, said: “A thorough review by GECOM of its performance in managing recent elections. The plethora of faults and irregularities (intended and unintended) in the 2020 elections alone must not be brushed under the carpet to resurface again. They must be swept out for good. To achieve this, a thorough and honest review must be conducted as a necessary first step. Here, we agree with GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander that GECOM itself must not conduct such a review but should commission it.” Further, in what is a clear start to contriving political capital, while delaying the move forward to ensure that electoral reforms are enacted, the Coalition is also insisting that there be no delay in the holding of Local Government Elections. Why would Guyanese want to go to the polls under the same legal framework that has scope for the mischief that played out in March 2020? It is clear that the only political party with an interest in keeping our electoral laws vague and ambiguous is the Coalition, hence the delay tactics. The green shoots of reform must not be allowed to be trampled. Our country must be able to move from defensive risk management in our electoral process to a forward-looking stance based on strategic resilience – ensuring that we build on the democratic gains we have made, not regress.

Another third force, or farce? Dear Editor,

have noted, with keen interest, a letter in a section of the media, making another call for the formation of a thirdforce party to hold the Government accountable. This party, according to one letter writer, must comprise of “decent people”. I have also noted that even though the unaccountability, corruption, mismanagement and large-scale thievery of the Coalition is well documented, the letter writer gave an elaborate list of allegedly “untenable and bad or questionable practices under this government”, and made a passing remark of what pertained under the previous Government. The corruption and mismanagement under the Coalition are not mere allegations, but indisputable evidence is available. There is a huge similarity between the contents of the letter in question and what the AFC’s Founding Principles outlined in that party’s Action Plan of 2005. This letter in question spoke as follows: “The coming together of small parties in a new third force might be enough to galvanise meaningful support to displace the two behemoths”. The 2005 AFC Action Plan made similar statements: “Trotman and Ramjattan bemoaned what they described as Guyanese being exploited by the PNC and the PPP, and concluded that neither Party was of any good for Guyana”. In 2011, the AFC and the PNC had a majority in Parliament, and the

PPP became a minority Government. According to the letter writer’s theory, the AFC should have been the “counter-balance against bad governance”, but he admitted that this never took place. He admitted that “The AFC had let us down during its marriage with the PNC. So the nation can no longer depend on it for good governance as a third force”. But was this scenario not clearly visible for all to behold when, after 2011, the AFC fully supported the PNC to derail the PPP Government’s socio-economic policies and make the country ungovernable? And which eventually led to the No Confidence motion? The AFC was never interested in being a “counter-balance”, and this was as bright as daylight. The AFC simply wanted to be in Government by the shortest route possible. The goal was to cut up the Government and share it. The unsatiated lust for power became paramount to everything else; yet, some Guyanese were so blind that they felt the AFC would have been able to control the excesses that the PNC is noted for, and they voted for the Coalition. The AFC became as gluttonous as the PNC. Together, the AFC and the PNC embarked on a most notorious journey to bankrupt the Treasury in the shortest time possible. How can any sane-minded individual even try to put the PPP and the PNC in the same light? The PPP, in 23 years, brought Guyana out from being a poor and highly indebted country to a middle-income one. The PNC had devastated the socio-economic fabric of this country.

What happened from 2015 to 2020 during the Coalition’s reign? The PNC and the AFC resumed here the PNC had left off in 1992. How can a reasonable person conclude that the PPP Government is the same as the Coalition? Where is the evidence? It will take volumes to even outline the vast socio-economic development taking place since the PPP took Office in 2020. The PPP had to undo the countless wrongs of the Coalition, and then resume its developmental policies once again. It is clear that while the Coalition destroys, the PPP builds. They are opposites! In conclusion, once again there is a call for a third force, and the agenda is quite clear, but will some plead ignorance again? This is not about making the Government accountable, but to aid in the removal of the Government and to resume a PNC dictatorship. Apparently, the PNC is resorting to an old technique. The UF did this, and the AFC perfected it, and now the same old strategy is being put into action. Everyone knows about Mr Trotman and the Nassau Connection. He never left the PNC, and those “decent people” who are called upon to defect will undoubtedly be the same. Guyanese can be assured of a Third Farce. Maybe some Guyanese have short and selective memories, and the five months of the worst attempts to usher in a dictatorship will be forgotten. Those who do not remember the past… Yours sincerely, H Yusuf

GECOM must be proactive, decisive in the effort to hold free and fair elections Dear Editor,

he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as the Administrator of Elections legislation, must within, ensure the organization’s obligatory compliance with binding requirements on the institution of these and other applicable laws. The lack of internal and externally potent, proactive, and decisive actions to deter evidence of non-compliance at various levels within the existing legal framework, was insufficient to arrest open lawlessness by staff and remains a grey area of concern. The debacle and mayhem that took place at the hands of some GECOM officials during the infamous five threatening months in 2020, was inevitable. The catastrophe emerged almost unimpeded, with the acceleration of bright beacons of suspicious activities and policies from the GECOM Secretariat. These were characterized by flagrant and unbelievably late obligatory public notifications of impacting requirements and preparation in the lead-up to the March 2020 Elections. Notwithstanding constitutional

autonomy enshrined in measures of GECOM operations, the enforcement of the Auditor General's observations and previous recommendations as main counterchecks of GECOM’s financial prudence was largely ignored. These signals informing the need for swift intervention were rendered toothless against revealed evidence of several malpractices under the responsibility of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO). James Patterson, former president Granger’s unilaterally appointed Chairman of GECOM initially led the lawlessness absorbing the responsibility for the brunt of irrational supporting propositions of APNU Commissioners. Patterson’s ejection by the CCJ was followed by CEO Keith Lowenfield taking up the mantle, ignoring written and public objections for as long as he was allowed to act as a lone ranger in rolling out decisions usurping the Commission’s Authority. These were individually and severally coupled and delivered, with the absence of necessary broad consultations of opposition parties and shaded by far too obvious political partisanship of key operators. The

framework highlighted a glaring lack of the necessary prudency to provide transparent results, and the acceptable embracing confidence of the majority of citizens. For the then main PPPC Opposition, the hope that exposure and embarrassment may have forged measures of adjustments towards improved decency by officials; and in the applied procedure to improve the transparency of the process did not make much of a difference. Rather, the Lowenfield cabal appeared more and more focused on imposing strategic elements of surprise, imbalance, and uncertainty, that overwhelmed the importance of ensuring untainted GECOM officials operating in a framework that would turn out legitimate expectations. Instead of fixing matters, the CEO chose to halt the submission of statutory reports. He appeared seemingly certain, that his cabal could get away with ‘murder’ even if there were no accountability and transparency. In the circumstances, the PPPC and opposition party’s only solace had to be committed (Turn to page 5)

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

Guyana is heading in the right direction Dear Editor,

eading that “Guyana targets aquaculture, soya, poultry (in order) to cut food import bill,” is very heartening. This utterance came from President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who delivered a keynote address at the inaugural Agri-Investment Forum and Expo. His audience comprised regional Heads of Governments and their Cabinet members, Caribbean Community officials, diplomats, dignitaries and invited guests, who were seated at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre this past Thursday. The address was timely and it got the deserved attention of our leaders in the region. Now, I want to put things in perspective, so that we can grasp the import of what President Ali really said. According to the State

of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 report, “Projections now show the world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, Zero Hunger, by 2030, and, despite some progress, most indicators are also not on track to meet global nutrition targets. The food security and nutritional status of the most vulnerable population groups is likely to deteriorate further due to the health and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic” I hope that this will remain with us, and that it will motivate us to rally behind the efforts that are ongoing in Guyana. The inner details from the expo show that “Guyana is looking to upscale its food production in key areas, to avoid the pitfalls of food insecurity challenges.” This is like a go-go-now situation, more so, that it is

not only the effects of the global pandemic that we have to counter, but the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine. With this background, “President Ali pointed out that Guyana will (rightly) invest heavily in areas such as fisheries. The reason is that “By 2030, less than 50 percent of the marine stock will be fished sustainably,” and thus proper management measures are necessary, even as climate change will push numbers further downwards. After all, Guyana, and the region by extension, want to minimize imports, and hence aquaculture production and expansion must be pushed extensively. The staggering truth is that “In 2020, close to 100 metric tons of fish and fish products were imported amounting close to US$340million.” This is draining us. It is therefore vital that we grasp the necessity to press on quickly towards “… improved management of the fisheries and investment in aquaculture, in order to supply farm fresh and salt-water species to replace declining catches.” I mean we have no choice, or face dire circumstances. I feel very optimisitic that we can make it, as more than G$100 million has been invested in brackish water shrimp production. This is proving a good move so far, as it has realized an increase from 250,000 kilograms a year ago, to 1.2 million kilograms in the same time frame. The word as we know it is that some additional G$150 million is expected to be invested in this said area to boost production

by more than 50 percent, while some $40M will be invested in state research and green programmes of indigenous fresh water species fish, of which trials have already begun. This kind of incremental investment shows wisdom and futuristic thinking, and that is the safe way to go. In fact, as of the present, some 50,000 metric tons of poultry is being produced in Guyana, but (thank God) that number is projected to reach 90,000 metric tons by 2025. In the area of corn and soya, the figure stands at 4300 metric tons, but here too that is likely to increase, reaching some 35,000 metric tons by 2025. The signs are good and things will in all likelihood continue the upward trend. This is because of a whopping G$651 million is said to be allocated to develop the area deemed a “consortium” of farmers. I will not belabour the issue, so, I close with a most importunate reality, that is, “We cannot continue thinking of agriculture, the environment, health, poverty, and hunger in isolation.” This is according to Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) who spoke at the virtual launch of the report. He added that “World problems are interconnected, and the solutions are intertwined. The current pandemic is a wake-up call to all of us.” Guyana, as we can see, is on the right track. Sincerely, H. Singh

Actions taken to bring relief to ordinary Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to fuel steep increases in the cost of energy and food Guyana should be commended Dear Editor, ment which must take into account the full Dear Editor,

here is no doubt that the rise in the cost of living is affecting all our Guyanese people. The government’s announcement of a number of interventions such as the $25,000 cash grant for households in riverine and hinterland communities is a welcome move. News reports quoted the President as saying that some $800M will be put into households in communities across the country. This is quite a significant figure and must be lauded. Secondly, the farming community suffered a triple whammy. Farmers had to contend with the effects brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, then the massive flooding which destroyed crops and livestock, and to make things worse they had to deal with the effects of a steep rise in fuel which sent up transportation and fertilizer costs. This rise was undoubtedly transmitted to consumers as the price for vegetables, oth-

er farm produce, and meat went up significantly. The announcement by the President that the government will purchase $1B worth of fertilizer which will be distributed to all farmers for free is therefore welcomed as it will reduce production costs. These and other interventions, though they might not see a drastic reduction in the price of food and other items, will still provide some relief. Guyana is not alone in terms of feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war which drove up fuel prices. At present, the Guyana government collects zero taxes from the sale of fuel. This along with the other relief interventions should all be commended. Many other countries right here in the Caribbean and across the world have not seen this sort of action taken. Respectfully, Attiya Baksh

n a previous Letter to the Editor, I drew attention to the fact that the war in Ukraine is blowing no one any good, except for the military—industrial-complex which is raking in billions of dollars in profits at the expense of death, destruction and human suffering. The situation has since deteriorated giving rise to steep increases in the cost of energy and food, especially that of wheaten flour of which both Russia and Ukraine are major producers. The price of fertilizer, an important component in the cost structure of agricultural produce, has also skyrocketed. In this regard, President Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C administration must be commended for the several relief measures it is taking to cushion the cost of living, including the most recent decision to provide free fertilizer to farmers. It is time to bring this senseless war to an end which is now approaching its fifth month. The only way out of the impasse, in my view, is by way of a negotiated agree-

GECOM must be proactive, decisive in the... to effective campaigning, publicizing the wicked practices of APNU; strict monitoring in the place of Polls, and secure verifications thereafter! Reliable information confirms that there was no final report and discussion at the GECOM after the 2015, and 2016 Elections, while it is definite that there will be no report on the 2020 National and Regional Elections. After every National and Regional election, it is the necessary protocol for all the Regional Officers (ROs) to provide a detailed report accounting for the results of planned preparatory, actual, and post-election events. These reports are then forwarded to the CEO who would compile the final report for a thorough interrogative discussion with the respective ROs at a special retreat along with the Senior Officials of GECOM. Following the preparation and compilation of the final Commission report, supported by the audited financial accounts ought to be submitted for the scrutiny of the National Assembly.

The billion-dollar question is, why there was no Report prepared since the 2015 National and Regional Elections? The argument that Electoral Reforms are necessary to resolve these issues is useful, but one must consider the involvement of all relevant stakeholders using a phased approach, We must also differentiate between Constitutional Reforms and Electoral Reforms given that some serious but futile discussions about Reforms took place during the ten years following 1995. Notably, in these discussions, the PNCR representatives deliberately frustrated the work of the Special Task Force was set up causing the postponement of Local Government Elections for more than a decade. Consequently, the PPP/C must not allow any postponement of the LGEs but support approaches that will advance the pertinent considerations and collective decision-making. The issues and concerns about the 2020 debacle for five brutal months became clearer

sovereignty of the Ukrainian people and the security concerns of the Russian Federation. The recent decision by Finland and Sweden to seek membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will further complicate the situation in Europe from a security perspective given their close geographical proximity to Russia. The decision of these two sovereign nations, however, must be respected and a way has to be found within the framework of the United Nations Charter and international law to address the security concerns of the whole of Europe, and the sooner the better, not only for Europeans but humanity as a whole. In this supposedly modern and civilized age, there can be no place for a military solution to a security problem given the availability of supra-national institutions for conflict resolution including the United Nations and the Inter-national Court of Justice. Sincerely, Hydar Ally

(From page 4)

for all to see during the publicized recount process. The role of the GECOM Secretariat and particularly those before the Courts for conducting malpractices in the attempt to rig and steal the Elections has been exposed. It is, therefore, necessary to immediately reform such flagrant cover by clearing up and strengthening the statutory provisions concerning the Elections. In particular, the Provisions must strengthen the Registration and the Representation of the People Acts. This Nation must be reminded that at the end of the voting process, all participating parties including the APNU/AFC announced that the 2020 National and Regional Elections were free and fair. However, it was the rogue elements in GECOM that were working with the PNC elements to rig the Elections and activated their backup clandestine plan when the verification showed they were losing. Why? And how did Volda Lawrence's signature get on the GECOM internally controlled documents?

The issues concerning the documents that were not in the Boxes in East Coast Demerara are clear. Those Presiding Officers were told not to put the Poll Books and the documents in the Boxes by Senior GECOM Officials. However, the Presiding Officers had the documents in Brown Envelopes at the GECOM Office in the Splash-Min building. GECOM must therefore cause an investigation of the relevant persons and staff regarding their reports and genuine efforts must be put in place so that this Nation is informed about what happened. GECOM must be proactive and decisive in the effort to hold Free and Fair Elections. The staff of the institution must win the confidence of this Nation by exercising improvement in accountability, transparency, and integrity which must be the hallmark of GECOM. Sincerely, Neil Kumara

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

P P P /C D E L I V E R I N G O N ‘ P L A N F O R P R O S P E R I T Y ’

275 additional shade houses to be constructed ‒ as Gov’t expands initiative

he President’s shade house initiative has been so successful that the ministry will be expanding the project to reach a wider section of young farmers, according to Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha. The project which falls under the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme was launched in January, 2022 with the aim of initially constructing 25 shade houses. However, the government will be constructing an additional 275 shade houses that will benefit farmers across the country. “We are looking to build 100 shade houses at Mon Repos in the first instance,

and also to build shade houses across the country. So, the shade house project is moving very rapidly and we’re hoping that at the end of this 100, we can go to a different part and start build, but in all for this project we’ll be building 300 shade houses for the young people,” the minister said ina recent interview. He noted that the government is close to completing 54 shade houses, some of which are already producing. He said the produce are being marketed and sold locally to consumers including the Marriott, Pegasus and other hotels, as the demand for food items increases.

Additionally, with the shade house initiative moving apace, farmers will be able to cultivate the targeted high-valued crops including carrot, broccoli and cauliflower, but also the initiative has expanded to allow the cultivation of a variety of other crops. Further, the agriculture minister said Guyana plays a significant role in ensuring food security in the Caribbean. As such, the government is currently training and teaching eight students from Barbados to build shade houses, as well as prepare crops for planting. “So, the Caribbean now also looks forward to Guyana to help them to build that industry,” the agriculture minister noted.

West Demerara Regional Hospital gets $30M blood bank

inister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, recently commissioned a $30 million blood bank at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, in Region Three. Speaking at the open-

ing ceremony, the minister said building and upgrading blood banking facilities is an area of priority for the ministry this year. “One of the things that we want to do is to improve health

services generally, and as we look at how we are going to improve health services, we felt that this is a very important area that we have to bring more focus on,” the minister said He noted that the government has been working steadfastly to decentralise blood banking services across Guyana. The minister said over time, every region should be able to provide the service as they will allow persons donating to be screened and treated for various illnesses. “If that blood has a pathogen that we detect then we’ll not be able to use that blood, but it would also tell us that this person has whatever pathogen…and for many years we have been screening blood and we’ve been detecting people with Hepatitis C,” Dr. Anthony related. Additionally, the facility will be provided with all the necessary equipment for blood storage. This will allow the hospital to perform surgeries faster and save more lives. Minister Anthony said within a month, the blood bank will be fully equipped and functioning.

Thousands to benefit from Government’s WiFiGY Initiative

he Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), through the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) has commenced the installation of 1000 free WiFiGY locations or “Hotspots” along Guyana’s coast. The initiative which is being referred to as WiFiGY seeks to provide free internet access to thousands of citizens through the WiFiGY portal. WiFiGY is free internet access provided by the Government of Guyana to its citizens. Connections will be established at public buildings,

libraries, schools, health centres, markets, and other public spaces. These hotspots will be connected via Long Term Evolution (LTE) WiFi equipment, and all have a coverage capability of just under 30 metres both indoors and outdoors while allowing for 100 concurrent users at each site. Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips has indicated that the Government is committed to bridging the digital divide. He said that in its initial deployment, “connections will focus on the coastland

because these locations can be easily connected to the NDMA’s LTE network. However, Government will not only focus on the coast but in subsequent releases, using different types of technology, Government will seek to ensure WiFiGY connections in every region of the country”. WiFiGY signs will be mounted at connected locations to inform citizens of their existence. For more information on the work of the NDMA and other ICT initiatives visit the NDMA’s Facebook page for daily updates.

US$190M Linden to Mabura Hill road contract signed T he PPP/C Government signed a historic contract to commence the construction of the Linden to Mabura Hill road. The signing of the $US190 million contract was done in Linden with Brazilian company, Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A. The project which is being touted as transformational has been in the works for decades, said Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. Minister Singh explained that for more than 30 years securing funding for the project was not possible due to the state of the country’s economy. He said it is possible today, because of government’s willingness to ensure the prosperity Guyanese. “Our vision for Guyana is one where if you are a farmer producing produce in Linden, you must be able to load your produce up and drive it unimpeded to Lethem and beyond to sell it… if you are manufacturing, any item you must be able to sell as easily in Georgetown and Linden as you must be able to sell in Bonfim and Boa Vista,” Minister Singh stated. The Senior Finance Minister stressed that it has always been the vision of the PPP/C to triple the market that farmers and manufacturers are used to, with the construction of the road. “This project, as large and as important as it is, is not a

standalone project, it is part of an integrated plan for a more prosperous Guyana. It is not just a road that is standing out there, it is connected with other things. Of course, it is about improved trade through Guyana, of course it is about generating economic activity in areas such as logistics and tourism,” the Minister explained. Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill in his remarks highlighted the investment opportunities that are now presented to the people of Linden with the construction of the road. The people of Linden, he said should be positioning themselves for the benefits that will be derived upon completion of the road. “I want you to envisage 100 containerised trucks per day minimum coming through from Brazil, they have to come through Linden, you better get your restaurants open. There will have to be fuel stations, there will have to be service, there will have to have rest stops. You know if you have 100 trucks coming through with goods, that is only the business, but what about a tourist? You do not have enough hotel rooms in Linden to accommodate tourists that will be coming as a result of this road. It is time for people to make investments.” Minister within the Ministry, Deodat Indar shared similar sentiments. He also

stressed that upon taking office, the PPP/C government worked tirelessly to pave the way for the construction of the road. “It is not just a road, this will derive benefit for miners who travel this route, it will derive benefit for people in the forestry sector who use this route, it will derive benefit for people who are engaged in agriculture and much more other benefits that we intend to bring to Guyana by connecting the township to Lethem,” Minister Indar stated. Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Guyana, Jane, Miller hailed the project as transformational. Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Works, Vladim Persaud, Chief Executive Officer of GO-Invest, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, representatives from the Caribbean Development Bank, representatives from the construction company and leaders of Region 10 were also present at the ceremony. The all-weather road will be 121 kilometres long and 7.2 metres wide with a two- lane carriageway. It will feature a shared cycle and pedestrian lane measuring 2 metres wide, along with 10 bus stops outfitted with ramps for persons with disabilities. A number of bridges and culverts will be replaced. Some 123 lights will also be installed along with nine vehicle rest areas.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

P P P /C D E L I V E R I N G O N ‘ P L A N F O R P R O S P E R I T Y ’

GOAL scholarship extended to women in Maritime for years of service

hirty-five women in the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Transport and Harbours Department who were celebrated for their 25 years of service, have been offered scholarships through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) for further self-development. This year women in maritime are for the first time being celebrated for their active contribution to the sector. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) last year declared May 18 as ‘International Day for Women in Maritime.” The theme for this year’s celebration is “Training-Visibility-Recognition: Supporting a barrier-free working environment.” At the celebratory ceremony, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, committed to ensuring that the women are provided with the opportunity to receive training. He said, “the government has a policy position where training and self-de-

velopment is important,” as he encouraged women to keep breaking barriers. He said, “Empowering women is making a difference in our country. There was a time where women were owned by men and we had to break those barriers. We have women who have broken the glass ceiling, and we have to continue to empower women into that path. When you elevate yourselves, it is just not just you, it is the whole society that is being elevated.” Minister Edghill further elaborated on the significant role women played in the maritime department over the years. He said, “you are not weak; you are not insignificant. I can say on behalf of the PPP/C Government, you are recognised, valued and we celebrate you for the role you have been playing and continue to play for the success of maritime affairs in Guyana.” Government, through the public works ministry has resumed the cadet programme of which, 50 per cent of the

enrollment figure will be women. This measure is implemented to ensure gender equality in the maritime department. Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, also recognised and applaud the women for their unwavering contribution, and commitment to Guyana’s maritime sector. “I am very

proud of this gathering, very, very proud. It takes some amount of fortitude. Since 2015, the maritime space in Guyana became valuable, and the maritime jobs became more lucrative outside of government. All of the tier one and the subcontractors; all of the maritime operators, everybody is looking for persons with experience in the sector.

You guys did not pick up and you left, you stayed and you served government and continue to do so with distinction. We are very proud of this team, very, very proud and it is led by women. I believe with all of you in Transport and Harbour and in MARAD you would have kept those organisations glued together very strong. And I want to

thank you from the government’s side, and from my side too, personally staying on, making sure that we charter all of the stormy waters in the past. This is a time of glory.” All of the women were awarded with a token of appreciation for their contributions to the Transport and Harbours Department and the MARAD.

$30M Thomas Lands Road being reinforced

he Ministry of Public Works is using geogrid and geocell fabric materials to reinforce the Thomas Lands Road as a substructure to safeguard it from sliding further into the nearby canal. Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, inspected the ongoing works on Wednesday. He said asphalt is being removed and broken up into small pieces, creating room for the geogrid and geocell fabric to be placed to create an improved sub-base. The sub-base will be built with eight inches of crusher- run and two inches of asphalt improving the overall endurance of the

road. The road work is being undertaken by Pooran Manman and Sons Contracting Services and commenced one week ago with a contract period of three months. However, the contractor was urged to complete works before month-end. Minister Edghill stated that the same technology used on the Black Bush Polder and UG roads is being used on Thomas Lands. The new technology is being used to prevent the shoulders from slipping into the canals. It is also being used in the absence of revetment, which will cost triple the current

amount to build the road. The minister noted that roads constructed with canals at both sides are commonly faced with the challenge of sloping. He said, “This road when it was constructed, I don’t think has the same capacity and strength as that same highway out there. In the mornings, what I found happening is that because out there is congested with the traffic, the trucks, the container trucks, everybody start turning into these roads. This was a major situation that developed so, we will have to try and get this fixed. The important thing is we want to be able to have roads that

people can be able to move.” He further pleaded with citizens and truck drivers to observe the weight limit of the roads. Additionally, Minister Edghill highlighted that poor excavation work can also cause the shoulders of the road to slope. He said, “A lot of times when you see excavators cleaning drains, it looks clean but it is actually doing damage to the road, so, we have to be able to get the skill that when people are cleaning to be able to maintain the slope.” Works of similar nature are expected to be conducted in Haags Bosch.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

P P P /C D E L I V E R I N G O N ‘ P L A N F O R P R O S P E R I T Y ’

Gov’t providing training, assistance to Uitvlugt Estate sugar workers W

orkers from the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Uitvlugt Estate, who have been unable to work as a result of the factory experiencing mechanical problems will be provided with assistance from the government. Vice President Bharrat

Jagdeo gave this assurance on Monday (May 23, 2022) when he met with the affected workers, to discuss ways in which the administration can provide support. Pointing to the current labour shortages, Vice President Jagdeo called on those in attendance to take advantage

of training opportunities that are almost immediately available through the government. He said training can be provided to as many as 500 persons in various areas. “These are good paying jobs, but it is the type of industries that people are building into. So, in construction we have unlimited demand for carpenters and masons and welders and electricians to retrain, unlimited demand. A good paying job anywhere at this time, people would recruit you, even for retraining. If you can find me, coming out of this meeting, here and in the community, any number of people we can start the training programme almost immediately and assist you, so that when you come out

you have a skill, that is marketable that will earn you much much more money.” Jagdeo also urged the workers to take advantage of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships programme, noting that while the government had initially promised to offer 20,000 of these scholarships, that number has now been revised upward. When the government took office in August 2020, the Uitvlugt estate, was starved of investment by the APNU+AFC regime, resulting in defunct machinery and low production rates. The Vice President explained to the gathering that there was no economic reason for the APNU+AFC to close down the sugar estates, leaving some 7,000 workers on the breadline. He made reference to the many families that suffered as a result of this inconsiderate

move by the Coalition. “That is why we made a commitment that we have to keep sugar going until every sugar worker, either has a job in a high price industry, converting sugar adding on some value added, allowing them to continue working there or alternately finding a job in another high paying sector for every sugar worker.” The VP acknowledged that transitioning to other professions is not easy, however he assured that the PPP/C government is committed to assisting them fully throughout the process. The Vice President said government is doing its best to keep the industry going because it understands the resulting socio-economic impact of closure. Noting the low wages currently available in the sugar industry, Dr. Jagdeo told the workers if they would like to remain at the estate, gov-

ernment will support the payment of wages and salaries for those who wish to work six days per week. He said the government is prepared to work with them individually to find the best alternative to ensure they remain employed. Small grants are also available to those who want to start small businesses. While highlighting that the industry is currently going through a hard time, the Vice President told the workers that enormous opportunities will soon be available to them. The Vice President was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

Amerindian Development…

FOCUS ON GUYANA’ S FIRST PEOPLE

Diabetic foot care, VIA screening to be added to CHW training D

irector-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, said government will be expanding the Community Health Workers (CHWs) programme to allow for training in diabetic foot care and VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) screening.

According to him, health workers will be upgraded to provide more than just “community health worker basic services.” He said, “They’ll be upgraded to do things like diabetic foot care, they’ll be upgraded, those of them who reach a standard to be able to do VIA.”

He said the expansion will enhance services especially in the hinterland regions where healthcare systems are still advancing. The PPP/C Administration has made training of CHWs a top priority and is being undertaken by the ministry of health. In 2021, 54 community

health workers graduated in Region One, gaining the knowledge and skills to better serve their communities within that Region. Also, the government is currently training persons in the area of nursing assistants. In Region Nine, 62 CHWs were trained and

graduated with 33 others who received training to become nursing assistants. Dr. Mahadeo said the training opportunities have been fruitful, and there is at least one CHW in every health facility across Regions One and Nine. Meanwhile, government is also providing train-

ing opportunities in other areas such as laboratory technician and specialised nursing. With rapid developments taking place in Guyana’s health sector, the nurses training curriculum will soon be updated with recommendations provided by international healthcare organisations.

ICT access being expanded to more remote villages across Guyana

he Information Communication and Technology (ICT) Hub initiative continues to be expanded across Guyana, reaching an increasing number of Guyanese youths. The creation of ICT hubs in the hinterland was reintroduced by the PPP/C

government, after taking office in August 2020. The ICT Hubs will be established in communities which would not have had facilities before and the hubs will be equipped with a minimum of 25 computers. Currently, many of the

Kabakaburi - Region 2

very remote villages still use the traditional form of communicating via radio sets. These sets are old and have not been repaired or replaced over the years. Before 2015, the PPP/C Government had started a programme aimed at modernising Guyana through

ICT. This programme saw ICT labs being constructed and equipped in several communities and schools in the hinterland. Moreover, the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) programme was created in aid of ensuring that every Guyanese, throughout the country,

has access to information technology. The PPP/C Government has committed to prioritizing Information and Communications Technology as a strategic catalyst for accelerating economic and social development across Guyana; particularly in

Karrau - Lower Mazaruni - Region 7

Meriwau Village - Region 9 Kwatamang - North Rupununi - Region 9

Malali - Region 10

Shulinab - Region 9

the hinterland. Reducing many disparities between the hinterland and coastal areas necessitates the use of technology, a critical tool which the new government is looking to afford persons in indigenous communities, through the establishment of the ICT hubs.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Independence impose us the duty to safeguard Guyana’s territorial integrity V

enezuela’s continued disregard for the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) jurisdiction and ability to settle the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy will not deter Guyana, according to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. During his address to mark Guyana’s 56th Independence Anniversary, Ali said, “We do not intend to deviate from the judicial path which has been taken to address the controversy with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Our path to peace is paved with good intentions. We are committed to good neighbourly relations. “…we’ll continue to marshal the best diplomatic efforts necessary to ensure respect all our territorial space…independence impose us the duty to safeguard Guyana’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty. On these issues, Guyana must broker no division. We must continue to stand united in defending our motherland from external threats.” In September 2021, the Venezuelan Government and its opposition coalition – the Unity Platform of Venezuela – agreed to hold a united position on Venezuela’s territorial claim to Essequibo. This

was met by staunch rejection by Guyana. JURISDICTION The ICJ on December 18, 2020 delivered its Judgment in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) – relative to the question of the Court’s jurisdiction. The court ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s case seeking the validation of the 1899 arbitral award establishing the boundary with Venezuela. Venezuela did not take part in the proceedings. The judgment found that both Guyana and Venezuela had conferred authority on the UN Secretary General under Article 4, paragraph two of the February 17th 1966 Geneva Agreement. That agreement allowed the Secretary General to choose a means of settlement under Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations which included judicial settlement. A press statement from the ICJ said, “In its Judgment, which is final, without appeal and binding on the Parties, the Court, by twelve votes to four, finds that it has jurisdiction to entertain the Application filed by the Co-operative Republic of

Guyana on 29 March 2018 in so far as it concerns the validity of the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 and the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary dispute between the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela… (the Court) unanimously, Finds that it does not have jurisdiction to entertain the claims of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana arising from events that occurred after the signature of the Geneva Agreement.” ICJ CASE The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) held public hearings on the question of the Court’s jurisdiction in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) on June 30, 2020. The ICJ had postponed the long-anticipated hearing of the Guyana/Venezuela border dispute case that was scheduled to begin on March 23, 2020, citing the coronavirus pandemic. Guyana is seeking to obtain from the Court a final and binding judgment that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the loca-

tion of the land boundary between then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela. Guyana took its case to the Court following the decision by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in January 2018, that the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela should be decided by the International Court of Justice. In taking his decision, the Secretary-General was exercising the power vested in him in the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom to decide how the controversy should be settled. Venezuela has claimed, in a letter to the Court, that the Secretary-General exceeded his authority under the Geneva Agreement, and that the Court therefore lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate Guyana’s lawsuit. On this basis, Venezuela has indicated that it will not participate in the proceedings.

On November 19, 2018, Guyana submitted its Memorial to the Court refuting Venezuela’s arguments and demonstrating that the Court has jurisdiction. However, under well-established judicial precedent, the Court will proceed to decide if it has jurisdiction over Guyana’s claims, irrespective of whether or not Venezuela participates in the proceedings. MOVE TO COURT Under the United Nations Charter and the Court’s own rules, its final judgments both on jurisdiction and the merits will be legally binding on Guyana and Venezuela, whether or not Venezuela participates in the proceedings. Efforts over more than half-a-century, including a four-year Mixed Commission (1966-1970), a twelve-year moratorium (1970-1982), a seven-year process of consultations on a means of settlement (1983-1990), and a twenty-seven-year Good Offices Process under the UN Secretary-General’s authori-

ty (1990-2017), all failed to end the border controversy. The move to the ICJ was advanced there was no success with a further attempt, using the United Nations’ Good Offices process, to resolve the matter of Venezuela’s renewed claim to Guyana’s territory, the Essequibo County. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in 2015, charged that the signing of the 1966 Geneva Agreement rendered the 1899 Arbitral Award null and void. On 30 January 2018, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, acting under the authority bestowed upon him by the Geneva Agreement, chose adjudication by the Court as the means for resolving the controversy with finality. Guyana commenced proceedings before the Court on 29 March 2018 in accordance with the Secretary-General’s decision. Guyana’s legal representatives before the Court includes the efforts of Sir Shridath Ramphal.

Vision 25 by 2025 ‘very realistic’ ‒ Ali says action-oriented approach being taken

he vision of reducing CARICOM’s food import bill by 25 percent by 2025 is “very realistic”, and the fact that several CARICOM Heads are attending the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo indicates that everyone believes it can be accomplished, according to President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. “There is political will, there is energy in the private sector, there is a commitment from financial institutions, donor institutions, and there is a real targeted approach to achieving this from all Heads,” President Ali said. He added that, “So not only do I believe that it is realistic, I think that it can be surpassed if we continue on this trajectory, and we have strong deadline and implementation plan.” The Head of State said the forum is being used to get over hurdles as it relates to transport and logistics, trade

barriers, technology transfer and getting young people involved in the food production system. Other hurdles include securing financing, acquiring crop insurance, market stability and developing a system that disallows bureaucracy. President Ali said a multifaceted approach is imperative, as the region has no other option. “I believe strongly that we are on a good platform. The outcomes of today’s engagement, the type of commitment from the donor community, from the commercial and financial institutions, the private sector and the willingness to embrace this vision is enormous,” he said. The President noted that discussions are ongoing to have an ‘action-oriented approach’ in dealing with the challenges that may affect the vision of achieving food security for the Caribbean.

“So, there has been a lot of talk about the barriers, but I get a very strong feeling there is now a commitment based on the reality that we need to get past this,” President Ali stated. Earlier in the day, President Ali had made it known that government is working to advance production of vegetables from at 324,000 metric tonnes to 400,000 metric tonnes by 2025. The three-day agriculture event was launched on Thursday at the Natural Cultural Centre followed by the opening of the exhibition that has attracted regional and international investors. Several CARICOM Heads of Government were also present including Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Keith Rowley, Belize’s Prime Minister and Chair of CARICOM, Hon. John Briceno and Barbados’ Prime Minister, Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, among others.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

PPP/C gov’t maintains grassroots level engagement with latest outreach H

aving stressed the importance of outreaches to maintain engagement with Guyanese across the country, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, led a team on a follow-up outreach to Region 2 this week. Notably, Jagdeo, in addressing the importance of

engagement at the grassroots level, had said, “This is an essential part of our ethos as the PPP, which is keeping in touch with people on the ground… the best form of that engagement is to gather your information directly from the people, without that

information being sterilized…the only way you can get a feedback on how your policies are affecting people is go to the ground and listen to them….it is essential for a country like ours to give people that sort of forum.” Jagdeo had also noted that that

a country’s democratic credentials are thought to be bolstered by more formal engagements, such as conferences, etc., but the biggest test of a participatory democracy is how much a government can give people a voice at every level in rural and urban

areas. “This is the ultimate test of a participatory democracy…the NGOs may not like that, some of that, because many of them will never do what we do….to allow free expression without censorship or fear… it is an important thing when people can stand up

and fearless speak…that is good for a democracy…. we see that all as positive, even the criticisms about government services….it gives us an opportunity to fix the issues,” he said. Similar activities are planned for other regions in the coming weeks.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

POSITIONS FROM FREEDOM HOUSE

Democracy quintessential to our freedoms, development and implementation of transformative agenda T he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends to all Guyanese, at home and abroad, greetings on Guyana’s 56th independence anniversary. On June 5, 1958, founder of the PPP and former president, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, posed an important question to the Legislative Council – What do the people of this country want in this phase of our history? Today, 56 years since our independence, this question has contemporary applicability, particularly, given the current

global challenges that impact on our nation, from the global COVID-19 pandemic to climate change. The people of the country answered this question at the March 2020 polls by endorsing the PPP/C’s ‘Plan for Prosperity’. Under successive PPP/C administrations, the foundation for transformative change was laid and, in 2020, this agenda was broadened to include more ambitious targets in all sectors, specifically in education, healthcare and agriculture. Our nation is moving forward

with an agenda for transformation, bolstered by the success of our burgeoning oil and gas sector, which will benefit all our people by: increasing their ability to create wealth, improving their standard of living and wellbeing, and advancing their ability to pursue self-development through education among a plethora of other interventions. From direct support to farmers and school-children, to building the infrastructure for future advances, the PPP/C developmental agenda creates space for all of our people to bene-

fit, participate and lead. The PPP, uses this occasion, to not only celebrate our gains, but recommit itself to the service of all Guyanese in a transparent and accountable manner. As we reflect on the struggles of the pre-independence era, Guyanese are encouraged to reflect on the gains we have made, bearing in mind that our collective will and effort is demanded to move our great nation forward and sustain the our progress. Looking ahead, in light of the prevailing challenges, our

immediate task is to ensure that our democracy is bolstered. A democratic nation, where the will of our people can be freely expressed, is quintessential to ensuring our continued development, peace and progress. Democracy has been, and remains, a pillar of our development. As our people demonstrated during the March 2020 period, the fight to protect our democratic gains is a perpetual effort. This phase of Guyana’s history promises to be an exciting time for positive

change and progress, even as our nation, under the PPP/C administration, reclaims its place as a regional and global leader on issues of food, security, climate change and more. In 1958, freedom was the answer to the question – What do the people of this country want in this phase of our history? – and this notion remains a poignant reminder of how far we have come and how far we have, yet, to go as a people. More recently, PPP Gen(Turn to page 20)

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

Democracy quintessential to our... (From page 14) eral Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, during country-wide outreaches, reiterated the importance of democracy to our freedoms, development and to the implementation of the PPP/C transformative agenda. We are also reminded that the freedom that independence brings is not merely parochial; it comes with a responsibility for all patriotic-minded Guyanese to reject ploys that seek to divide our people for selfish gain; it

comes with a responsibility for our people to hold all leaders accountable; and it comes with a responsibility for each of us to play our part in the prosperity of Guyana that we share as ‘One People, One Nation, with One Destiny’. The PPP, again, extends best wishes to all our people on this momentous occasion. People’s Progressive Party May 26, 2022

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

Cost recovery audits of Exxon’s expenses to be completed by September T he Ministry of Natural Resources on Tuesday (May 24, 2022) signed a contract with a consortium of Guyanese auditors to the tune of some US$751,000 to conduct a cost recovery of ExxonMobil’s post-2017 (2018-2020) expenses. The contracts were awarded to Ramdihal & Haynes Inc., Eclisar Financial, and Vitality Accounting & Consultancy Inc. The local consortium is supported by international firms- SGS and Martindale Consultants. Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, witnessed the signing between Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Joslyn McKenzie and representatives of the auditing agencies at a sensitisation workshop targeting contractors and sub-contractors on licencing requirements under the Local Content Act, at the Duke Lodge, Duke Street, Kingston. The cost recovery audit is expected to be completed by September. Minister Bharrat explained that as part of the contract, the local companies will benefit from capacity building which could see them conducting such audits independently. “So, we actually put that as part of the contractual arrangement between the consortium and our local companies. So, it caters for knowledge transfer training of our local guys,” the minister further explained. He added, “The technical company is needed because our local auditors might be familiar with the auditing of basic expenses- fuel, meals, transportation but when we are talking about jumpers and risers and Christmas trees and FPSO and these technical terms, they will need technical knowledge and expertise onboard.” The Natural Resources Minister said once the audit is completed, it will be made public and submitted to the Auditor General’s Office. “We will look at the findings and recommendations from it (the audits), and I’m sure government will take the appropriate steps to address those recommendations.” Minister Bharrat rub-

bished claims circulating in some sections of the media that Guyana will not be able to make any claims if discrepancies are unearthed during the audit of ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). “…that is not true, we have been in constant engagement with the operator, and they are willing to support and be part of the audit,” Minister Bharrat said. In addition to setting the stage for local audit firms to benefit from involvement in cost recovery audits, the government will also build the capacity of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to conduct its own cost audits for the oil sector. Guyana has received a whopping $150, 021, 165, 894, or US $719, 525, 975.5 earned from its oil resource. The release of this information, published in the Official Gazette, was mandated, following the passage of the Natural Resource Fund Act 2021; a bill that received a whirlwind of criticism from the main Parliamentary Opposition, despite it provides this level of transparency. The $150.02B represents payments for the lift of profit oil and royalty for the period January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022. The data presented, when analysed, revealed that a huge portion of the money Guyana earned from the oil and gas sector came from the sale of oil. Some $133, 131, 536, 503 (US $638, 250, 551.76) was received as profit from the sale of Guyana’s crude, while royalty received accounts for the remaining $16, 889, 629, 391 or US $81, 005, 423.75. When disaggregated by year, Guyana raked in: $31, 058, 253, 225 (US $148, 957, 446.82) in 2020; $95, 607, 580, 801 (US $458, 552, 548.5) for 2021; and $23, 355, 331, 868 (US $112, 015, 980.18) for January to March 2022. Guyana turned an oil and gas giant following the discovery of quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs and its subsequent extraction of its first one million barrels of oil in February 2020.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

COM M ENTARY

Transforming Guyana

– the PPP/C is rapidly changing Guyana’s landscape By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

s Guyana celebrates its 56th independence anniversary, the Irfaan Ali-led PPP Government continues its unprecedented drive towards the modernization and expansion of Guyana’s infrastructure. These two projects will add to a new-look Guyana, a changing landscape, making Guyana look like a high middle-income country. Two of the largest contracts for infrastructural projects ever undertaken in Guyana was signed this past week. Minister Juan Edghill, joined by his cabinet colleagues, signed a $US190 M contract on Monday in Linden with a Brazilian consortium to construct the road from Linden to Mabura, the first phase in the Linden to Lethem Road, connecting Guyana to Brazil. On Wednesday, Minister Edghill, joined by his cabinet colleagues again, signed a $US260 M contract with a Chinese consortium to construct the new Demerara River Bridge. These two projects are not only the largest infrastructure project so far in Guyana, both of them will change the lives of the Guyanese people. The new Demerara River Bridge is a high-span bridge which will allow traffic twenty-four hours a day, each day. No more will vehicular traffic have to wait for hours each day to accommodate bridge opening to facilitate boats to go past. The highspan bridge will also change the landscape between the East Bank Demerara and the West Bank Demerara. This bridge is replacing a bridge, the lifespan of which is long gone. The PPP government before 2015 began budgeting for this bridge. Feasibility studies were done and the bridge was scheduled to begin construction in 2016. But the government changed in 2015.

The David Granger-led APNU/AFC government, under the leadership of then Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, abandoned the plan and discarded the feasibility study done under the PPP before 2015. The APNU/AFC government then repeated at a cost of more than $150M in a solesourced contract then conducted another feasibility study. This study too was abandoned and yet another feasibility study was done. IN the end, after five years in government and after spending hundreds of millions of dollars, never brought the project to fruition. In fact, one of the biggest scandals of the APNU/AFC government between 2015 and 2020 was the corruption associated with the transactions related to feasibility studies for the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge. David Patterson, as the then Minister, and his colleagues who served with him in the disaster known as the APNU/AFC government should bend their heads in shame. Less than two years after returning to government, the PPP government, under the leadership of President Irfaan Ali, has signed the contract to begin construction on a day when the President will mark the flag-raising for Guyana’s 56th independence anniversary in Region 2, Essequibo Coast. The new bridge began its journey to this stage during the presidency of Bharat Jagdeo. Feasibility studies were done under President Donald Ramotar, before 2015, with construction set to begin by 2016. President David Granger, with his incompetent Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, then set about derailing the project, with the only thing to show is one of the most brazen corruption scandals in Guyana’s history as an

independent country. With the project back on track under President Irfaan Ali, the project, from its initial conceptualization to now on the verge of construction, has spanned four presidents. As Minister Edghill described it, this “monumental” bridge will offer easy connectivity to both the existing East Bank Demerara (EBD) Road as well as the new Diamond-to-Ogle bypass road on the eastern side of the river and to the existing West Bank Demerara Road and the new Parika-to-Schoonord Road on the western side of the river. The new bridge will also offer critical connectivity to the new Wales Development Authority, which will be a major center of productive activity when it comes onstream. This new bridge across the Demerara River will be a high-fixed span one with a 50-metre flyover at minimum or “as high as, or higher than, the Marriott Hotel” to allow for marine vessels to pass without any interruption to vehicular traffic. The bridge would land aback Nandy Park on the EBD and at La Grange, West Bank Demerara, from where an alternative highway would be constructed all the way to Parika, East Bank Essequibo. In about two years from now, sometime between 2024 and 2025, this highspan bridge will change the landscape. But even as we contemplate the modern look of our country and improved transportation, the new Demerara River Bridge Crossing will forever be etched into the annals of corruption of our young nation. After abandoning the feasibility study done under President Donald Ramotar, the APNU/ AFC government advertised on December 8, 2015 for expression of interest in the conduct of a new feasibility study for the Demerara Riv-

er Crossing. Twenty-three firms submitted expressions of interest, including a company named Lievense CSO Infrastructure and Environment with Econovision and ACE Consultancy. NPTAB appointed an evaluation committee which shortlisted twelve companies from the twenty-three, including Lievense, and invited these twelve companies to submit proposals to conduct the feasibility. Only two companies, MMM Group (Canada) in association with CEMCO and China Railway First Group CO, Ltd., submitted proposals by the March 15 deadline. Inexplicably, China Railway First Group which was one of the companies shortlisted was disqualified. After a negotiation with MMM Group, the Ministry of Infrastructure under David Patterson ended negotiation claiming that the MMM Group submission was above the budgeted amount for the feasibility study. For many of us, this was a set-up. The Ministry then directly, bypassing NPTAB, requested that Cabinet approved Lievense which had failed to submit a proposal by the March 15 deadline and directly negotiated a deal for the study at a cost of $148M. The corruption was compounded by the fact that the cabinet request from David Patterson was for $161M. We have no idea what happened to the extra $13M. The Minister who was in the habit of receiving expensive gold jewelry from the Demerara Harbor Bridge Authority has not explained why he requested $161M from cabinet for a $148M contract. This remains a mystery to this day. As we eagerly await the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge, the other “monumental” project is also set to start construction. The road between Linden and Mabura is set to

cost $US190M and will be constructed by Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A. from Brazil. The project is a joint undertaking of Guyana, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Development Bank. The project will provide major support to ease travel, trade and general connectivity between Guyana and Brazil and open vast opportunities by linking this country’s hinterland communities to Georgetown. The project is considered the first phase in completing a road link between Linden and Lethem and linking Guyana to Brazil. This project would be the largest project ever funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, and is one of the most historic projects undertaken in Guyana. The road works include upgrading the existing alignment to asphaltic concrete surface; 2 lanes spanning 7.2 metre width; and 122 kilometres with the inclusion of five drainage structures. The bidding process for this project began in October 2021 and concluded in December 2021. Of the 10 prequalified Contractors, the following 5 made submissions: China Gezhouba Group Company Limited, China Railway International Group & China Railway No.10 Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Shandong Luqiao Group Co., Ltd., OECI S.A. (OECI) in JV with Castilho Engenharia E Empreendimentos S.A. (CEE) and Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A. Eventually, Construtora Queiroz was selected and awarded the $US190M contract. Work is set to begin shortly. Embarrassed by the rapid conclusion of the bidding and contract award process conducted by the PPP government, the former minister of infrastructure under David Granger’s government, brazenly tried to take credit for the project. David Pat-

terson shamelessly claimed credit, insisting that the PPP was simply taking to the next step a project that was initiated by him and by the APNU/AFC government. This shameless claim ignored the fact that this is a project spoken of by PPP presidents from Cheddi Jagan to Sam Hinds to Janet Jagan to Bharat Jagdeo and to Donald Ramotar. The PPP under Bharat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar went beyond talk. They began negotiating financing of the project. Discussions were held with the EU, the UK, the CDB the World Bank and through bilateral discussions for government-to government deals with Brazil, India and China. David Patterson, one of the most incompetent ministers that ever served in government in Guyana also claimed that the PPP in 2019 derailed the project because the PPP claimed that should it win the upcoming elections, the project was not a priority. He further claimed that because of this declaration, the UK government pulled out of the 2016 agreement to be part funder of the project. In misrepresenting and misinforming the public, Patterson failed to tell the nation that the derailment of the project had nothing to do with the PPP. In fact, the UK government temporarily halted negotiation with the then APNU/ AFC government because the government had become illegal after the December 21st, 2018 No-Confidence Motion. The insistence of staying in government and not conducting elections as mandated by the constitution caused the UK government to pause. This is the truth. But now, Guyana, on its 56th independence anniversary is forever changing its landscape, making all Guyana proud.

WEEKEND MIRROR 28-29 MAY, 2022

How long does COVID-19 linger in your body? ‒ New report offers new clues (National Geographic) Most COVID-19 patients recover from their acute infection within two weeks, but bits of the virus don’t always disappear from patients’ bodies immediately. Now a new study, one of the largest focusing on hospitalized COVID-19 patients, shows that some patients harbor these viral remnants for weeks to months after their primary COVID-19 symptoms resolve. The study suggests that when the genetic material of the virus, called RNA, lingers in the body longer than 14 days, patients may face worse disease outcomes, experience delirium, stay longer in the hospital, and have a higher risk of dying from COVID-19 compared with those who cleared the virus rapidly. The persistence of the virus may also play a role in long COVID, the debilitating suite of symptoms that can last for months. Estimates suggest between 7.7 and 23 million people in the United States alone are now affected by long COVID. Without immunity from vaccination or a previous infection, SARSCoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—replicates and spreads throughout the body and is shed through the nose, mouth, and gut. But for most infected people, virus levels in the body peak between three and six days after the original infection, and the immune system clears the pathogen within 10 days. The virus shed after this period is generally not infectious. Even after accounting for disease severity, whether the patients were intubated, or had underlying medical comorbidities, “there is something here that signals that patients who are persistently PCR positive have worse outcomes,” says Ayush Batra, a neurologist at North-

western University Feinberg School of Medicine, who led the new study. Batra’s study shows that patients who had prolonged shedding during an acute infection risk more severe outcomes from COVID-19, says Timothy Henrich, a virologist and immunologist at the University of California, San Francisco who was not involved in the new research. But the study doesn’t investigate whether this persistent virus is directly responsible for long COVID. “There are multiple leading hypotheses out there about the cause of long COVID, including viral persistence, and it may be that there are multiple pathways at play, perhaps to some varying degree in any one person,” says Linda Geng, a doctor at Stanford Health Care who co-directs a newly opened Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome Clinic for treating long COVID sufferers. PERSISTING VIRUS CAUSES WORSE COVID-19 OUTCOMES Batra and his team began studying persistent coronavirus infections after observing that some patients who were returning to the hospital were still testing positive for the virus four or five weeks after they were diagnosed with the initial infection. For their new study, the team analyzed 2,518 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Northwestern Medicine Healthcare system between March and August 2020. They focused on PCR tests, which are considered the gold standard, because such tests detect genetic material from the virus and so are highly sensitive and less likely to return false negatives. The team found that 42 percent of patients contin-

ued to test PCR positive two weeks or longer after their initial diagnosis. After more than 90 days, 12 percent of the persistent shedders were still testing positive; one person tested positive 269 days after the original infection. Viral persistence has been noted before in previous smaller studies. Researchers showed that even patients without obvious COVID-19 symptoms harbored SARS-CoV-2 for a couple of months and beyond. In some immunocompromised patients, the virus may not be cleared for a year. Four percent of COVID-19 patients in a trial on chronic COVID-19 infection at Stanford continued to shed viral RNA in feces seven months after diagnosis. However, Batra’s study illustrates that a larger number of patients take longer to clear the virus than previously realized. “Persistent RNA shedding would mean that there still is a reservoir of virus somewhere in the body,” says Michael VanElzakker, a neuroscientist affiliated with Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Tufts University. Such reservoirs are thought to allow the virus to persist over a long period of time and could trigger the immune system to act aberrantly, perhaps causing long COVID. “Some patients, for variety of reasons, are not able to clear this reservoir, or their immune system reacts in some abnormal way that results in these persistent symptoms that have come to be termed as long COVID,” says Batra. Still, many scientists don’t think there is sufficient evidence yet to link the persistence of viral RNA to long COVID. SLEEPING VIRUSES The list of human tissues where SARS-CoV-2 hides long after the initial infection is growing. Studies

have identified the virus, or genetic material from it, in the intestines of patients four months after initial infection, and inside the lung of a deceased donor more than a hundred days after recovery from COVID-19. One study that’s not yet peer reviewed also detected the virus in the appendix and breast tissues 175 and 462 days, respectively, after coronavirus infections. And research from the U.S. National Institutes of Health that’s also not yet peer reviewed detected SARSCoV-2 RNA persisting at low levels across multiple tissues for more than seven months, even when it was undetectable in blood. “It is not surprising to find viruses encountered during the lifetime” surviving in human tissues, says Kei Sato, a virologist at the University of Tokyo. Indeed, Sato’s work has shown that humans frequently accumulate viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, varicella zoster virus (which causes chicken pox), and many herpes viruses in dormant forms. These persisting viruses are typically present at low levels, so only extensive genetic sequencing can identify them. This highlights how complicated it is to prove or disprove the association between persisting SARSCoV-2 and long COVID. Shingles, for example, occurs decades after a chickenpox infection, when the latent virus gets reactivated during immune stress. Likewise, lingering SARS-CoV-2 could cause long-term health problems. Henrich thinks when the

virus is seeded in deep tissues, it potentially causes the immune system to shift into a dysregulated inflammatory state. Such a state is “probably evidence that the virus is capable of persisting, and maybe getting down into sort of an uneasy truce with the body,” says VanElzakker. Still, associating any lingering virus with long COVID will require extensive studies. “We still don't know enough to make strong conclusions about any of the current proposed mechanisms, but research is actively underway to answer those questions,” says Geng. CLEARING UP PERSISTENT VIRUS MIGHT CURE LONG COVID Both Geng and Henrich’s groups have reported preliminary case studies that show an improvement in long COVID symptoms after patients were treated with Pfizer's COVID-19 oral antiviral Paxlovid. Paxlovid stops the virus from replicating, which is why some experts think it can clear any lingering virus. But both authors urge caution before assuming that Paxlovid will be safe, effective, or sufficient and thereby a reliable cure for long COVID. “There are some interesting hypotheses about how Paxlovid may be useful in the treatment of long COVID, but we’d need further investigation and clinical trials before coming to any conclusions,” says Geng. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned against off-label uses of

Paxlovid, which is not approved for long COVID treatment. The agency has given Paxlovid an emergency use authorization to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in those who are at risk of developing severe disease, twice daily for five days soon after a positive test. “It would be important to consider the optimal duration of treatment [of Paxlovid] to ensure longterm and sustained results,” says Geng. President Joe Biden has directed the secretary of Health and Human Services to create a national action plan on long COVID, and the NIH has launched a multi-year study called RECOVER to understand, prevent, and treat long-term health effects related to COVID-19. In the meantime, vaccines not only continue to protect against severe disease, but evidence is also emerging that they can prevent many long COVID symptoms. One new study compared 1.5 million unvaccinated COVID-19 patients to 25,225 vaccinated patients with breakthrough infections, and it found that vaccines significantly reduced the risk of developing long COVID symptoms 28 days after an infection. The protective effect of vaccination got even larger at 90 days post-infection. "Although a majority of people do not develop long COVID, it's certainly a risk, and COVID doesn't stop after the first 10 days of becoming infected,” says Henrich. “For those who don't take COVID seriously, it can be life changing."

Norton ‘devising manufactured hurdles’ to delay progress with important appointments – Teixeira L

eader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Opposition, Aubrey Norton, is “devising manufactured hurdles” to delay the appointment of the important service commissions according to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira. In comments on the issue she said, “Following the Friday, May 13 joint statement after the meeting between His Excellency and the Leader

of the Opposition, the CVs (curriculum vitae) of all of the names proposed by HE was delivered on May 16th at 9 am to Congress Place. To date no response [has been received] except Mr Norton’s recent comment in media [that] he was waiting for justification of those names. “The Constitution does not require HE to do so. This is again LOP devising manufactured hurdles to delay the appointment of the Integrity

Commission, the Judicial, Police and Teaching Service Com-missions. HE is not required to furnish a justification why he chose certain names.” Teixeira explained that for the Police Service Commission the names of all the nominees were approved, unanimously by the National Assembly, yet Norton was insisting on nominees’ CVs. The same is the case with the Judicial Service Com-

mission, according to her, in addition to nominee proposed by the President to be the Chairperson. “The public is aware that he has also asked for the CVs for all the nominees for the Teaching Service Commission,” the Minister added. She pointed out that on the Integrity Commission, which does not require Norton’s concurrence, the President has moved to include this in discussions with the

Opposition Leader, but Norton seems determined to insist justification from the President, which is not required by the Constitution. Notably, last week, in a statement the People’s Progressive Party stressed that there should be no delay in the engagement between President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, in arriving at a consensus that would allow for the appointment of important constitutional bodies. The Party’s comment came in response to claims from the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition that the May 13, 2022 engagement was not in accordance with the requirements of “meaningful consultation” because necessary material was not handed over, to admitting that the additional information and documents requested were received. At a press conference on May 17, 2022, the Coalition’s Roysdale Forde, who was with Norton for the May 13th meeting with Ali, said, “To date, the material and grounds on which the recommendations of persons for appointments to the Constitutional and Statutory Commissions remain with the President. Hence, the consultation process has not been in accordance with the requirements of Meaningful Consultation.” However, the PPP underscored the fact that Norton was “woefully unprepared”

for the meeting, despite being informed of agenda and despite the fact that his own Coalition was involved in the Parliamentary process to arrive at the recommendations for the persons to be appointed to the Commissions, for example the Police Service Commission (PSC). The National Assembly considered by the Parliamentary Committee of Appointments and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for major commissions since April 13, 2022. For example, the House approved were the nominees for the Police Service Commission (PSC), as named by the Parliamentary Committee of Appointments. Those named by the Committee included: Attorney-at-Law Charles Conway; businessman Ernesto Chooa-Fat; businessman Akeem Mohammed; and Pastor Patrick Findlay. The last Police Service Commission expired in August 2021. Looking ahead, the PPP said, “Now that additional information has been provided to Mr. Norton, a speedy conclusion to the process that would allow for the appointment of the important constitutional bodies is expected.” Once the engagement between the two leaders are concluded, appointments of the Integrity Commission, Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Police Service Commission (PSC) and Teaching Service Commission (TSC) are expected to be made.

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