to return State property PAGE

4 Patricia Shepherd admitted to the Bar

THE newest Attor- Shepherd holds a Legal Wales in November 2018. encouraged her to rely on the ney-at-Law admitted to Education Certificate (LEC) She also holds a Bachelor training she received at the the Bar is Patricia Lorraine from the Hugh Wooding Law of Laws with (Hons), which Hugh Wooding Law School Shepherd. She was admitSchool, which she obtained she received in 2016 from the and the BPP Law School in ted to practise law in the on April 20, 2020. She is also University of London. ShepLondon. Courts of Guyana on Monan internationally accredited herd comes to the profession In turn, Shepherd day before the Honourable civil/commercial mediator, armed with a Diploma in thanked the honourable Justice Gino Persaud. which she obtained from AlBusiness Management, and judge for granting her ap

Her application was preternative Dispute Resolution a Certificate in Industrial plication. She paid homsented by Attorney-at-Law - Online Dispute Resolution Relations and Management. age to her family for their Kim Kyte-Thomas, in associInternational, London, UnitShe is now attached as an support and motivation ation with Attorneys-at-Law Sharon Small and Faye Barker. ed Kingdom in 2018. Shepherd holds a Bar Professional Training CerAssociate at the Law Firm of Kyte Small Barker, Attorthroughout her journey. She also thanked God for his never-ending grace,

The application was tificate from the BPP Law neys-at-Law. mercy and provision during heard, via Zoom, and was School, Leeds, United KingJustice Persaud welher journey, and thanked attended by her parents, Lildom, which she obtained in comed her to the Bar, and the law firm of Kyte Small outie Seymour and Richard 2018, and was admitted to impressed upon her the imBarker for their training Shepherd and other family practise as a Barrister before portance of preparation in the and support. members. the Courts of England and conduct of her practice, and

Kingelley Village to be regularised, says AG

UPON the instructions of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Attorney-General (AG) Anil Nandlall met with the residents of Kingelley Village, West Coast Berbice in respect of a claim by Lin- coln Lewis that his forepar- ents owned the village.

In the company of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Region Five, Member of Parliament (MP), Fizal Jafferally and former MP, Harry Gill, Nandlall told residents that, from all indications, the land is State Land and that the government will regularise their occupation in due course.

Most of the residents disclosed that they have been living in the village, in their individual homes, from birth and their parents lived there as well.

Some of them are now eighty years old. In short, their occupation of that village dates back to over a century.

Trade unionist, Lincoln Lewis, also made his claim of ownership to a Commission of Inquiry, in respect to ancestral lands, established by former President David Granger.

Mr. Nandlall prepared a written statement on behalf of the residents and submit- ted it to that commission. Additionally, Nandlall filed Applications for Prescriptive Title for more than 20 of these residents and all were granted.

Some persons received their transport already. The Registrar of Deeds’ Report disclosed that there was no titular owner of the land. No one, including, Lincoln Lewis lodged any opposition to the Applications for Prescriptive Title as is required by the law.

Notwithstanding, Lew- is continues to maintain his claim of ownership and has erected fences in certain parts of the village, in some cases, fencing off persons’ homes. In addition, he has been bullying and threatening the residents and has been charged by the police.

The residents com- plained to the ministers of agriculture, housing and water, local government and the attorney general seeking the assistance of the government.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020–– 09:30hrs & 11:00hrs

Attorney-at-Law Patricia Lorraine Shepherd

Former ministers, others urged to return State property

THE Government of Guyana has called on all former ministers of government, public officers and employees of the State, government, public corporations, State agencies or statutory bodies to return all documents and property belonging to the State.

The government, in a public advisory, has directed the call to the abovementioned functionaries whose services have been expressly or impliedly terminated, and have been sent on administrative leave.

These officers are hereby advised to return those documents and/or properties immediately to the accounting officers of the ministries, public corporations, agencies and/ or statutory bodies where they were previously employed, or may be still employed.

T h e A P N U + A F C Government was voted out of office in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, but the results were officially announced by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) more than five months after voters went to the polls.

Several attempts by actors at GECOM to tamper with the elections results to facilitate a false declaration failed, and the APNU+AFC Government was forced to demit office, in light of mounting international pressure to honour the will of the people.

Prior to demitting office, the Coalition had lost a number of key elections-related court cases, and many of its senior members incurred sanctions by the US in the form of visa revocation.

GUYANA CHRONICLE , Tuesday, August 25, 2020 5 Tabitha Sarabo-Halley says goodbye to WPA

CHAIRPERSON of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Tabitha Sarabo-Halley has left the party just one day after it would have signalled its intention to quit the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition.

Sarabo-Halley, who served as Minister of Public Service under the previous APNU+AFC administration, was selected by APNU as the WPA’s representative to Parliament, but the decision did not sit well with the executive of the WPA.

In a recent show of its power, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the largest party in the five-party APNU coalition, unilaterally decided on the persons who will represent the coalition in the National Assembly.

The list was dominated by members of the PNCR, and included just one member of the WPA, while other “small parties” were neglected.

With its 233,336 votes at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, the new People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government will be allocated some 33 seats in the National Assembly.

The APNU+AFC, with 217,920 votes, will have 31 seats, while the joinder list of A New United Guyana (ANUG), the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) and The New Movement (TNM) with 5, 214 votes will be allocated one seat.

“To our utter embarrassment, not for the first time, the WPA was informed by the media that APNU had decided on its representatives for the next National Assembly,” said the WPA, adding: “It was only after we sent a letter to you enquiring about the state of affairs that we were informed by the General-Secretary of the PNC/R, that the Chairperson of the WPA (Tabitha Sarabo-Halley) is one of the selected persons.”

This, of course, was done without any engagement with the WPA, thus denying the party an op

Former WPA Chairman, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

portunity to determine who its representative should be.

The party has viewed this as disrespectful, insulting, a gross disregard for principle and unacceptable. This, the party believes, is just a precursor of what is to come.

In an attempt to “flex its muscles”, the WPA had requested that their representatives for Parliament and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) be removed.

While it was not confirmed that the party’s request was the reason for Sarabo-Halley’s resignation, multiple sources confirmed that she left just one day after the request was made.

Efforts to contact Sarabo-Halley for a comment were futile, but the Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed that the executive arm of the WPA was not engaged before such a decision was made.

Sarabo-Halley, as a representative of the WPA, was expected to take up a seat in the National Assembly, but it is unclear whether her decision to leave the party will make way for another WPA member to be nominated, or the former chairperson will “sneak in”

through another party within the coalition.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported that after almost a decade of ‘bludgeoning’ from the PNC/R, the WPA has decided to “walk away” from the Coalition, but had offered an ultimatum, which, if fulfilled, would have seen them rescinding their decision.

APNU, which comprised the PNC/R, the National Front Alliance (NFA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP), and the Justice for All Party (JFAP) and WPA, was formed in 2011, but had recruited the Alliance For Change (AFC) to form a larger coalition, the APNU+AFC.

Righting the wrongs

CHARLES DICKENS’ character, Mr Micawber, disgustedly exclaimed “The law is an ass,” and this became clichéd over time, for obvious reasons: Not so anymore in Guyana – not under the watch of Mohabir Anil Nandlall, who has been vested with the portfolio of Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs by the current PPP/C Government.

If an analogy could be drawn on cricket and the law, then Guyana’s Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs could be acclaimed to be hitting boundaries all over the legal arena.

The current AG under the PPP/C administration, Anil Nandlall, has stamped his name and fame in the corridors of Guyana’s and CARICOM’s history for posterity, ranking among the greatest of the Caribbean legal luminaries; defeating his adversaries in and out of courtrooms, hitting boundaries unceasingly. He has practically, Like Dr Cheddi and Mrs Janet Jagan, and their protégée Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, become a legend in his own lifetime. He is certainly the nemesis of former AG, Basil Williams, whom he has bowled out in the courtrooms of Guyana and the Caribbean Court of Justice, time and again.

The protracted period between Guyana’s 2020 elections and the declaration of results saw Nandlall, already a shining star in the firmament of Guyana’s legal fraternity, blaze like the sun in courtroom after courtroom as the illegal APNU+AFC coalition government led by the de facto President David Granger, under various guises, brought a multiplicity of legal challenges in attempts to rig the elections results, the SORS and SOPS, both of which showed the PPP/C – a partnership of the PPP, again teaming up with its partners in civil society, winning the elections with a comfortable majority, a fact acknowledged by the regional and international communities.

The part Anil Nandlall played in these courtroom battles unquestionably precipitated the synergies that allowed the Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (Ret’) Claudette Singh to declare PPP/C the rightful winner of Guyana’s 2020 elections.

Anil Nandlall’s role in the PPP/C construct – in or out of government is a quintessential factor, perhaps even more important than the presidency, to Guyana’s returning to – and sustaining democratic norms and conventions.

The governing party under President Ali’s leadership was aware that the coalition administration had been bleeding the nation’s coffers and decimating the country’s resources to benefit themselves, relatives, financiers and cronies, to the detriment of Guyana’s economic growth and social development, to the extent that people, even their own supporters, were starving.

However, the magnitude of the coalition government’s corruption is only now being revealed as every PPP/C Government’s sectorial head is discovering corruption by the former coalition administration on such a massive scale that explains why Guyana has once again become bankrupt under another PNC-led dictatorial regime.

It is only now that Anil Nandlall’s importance in the role he has been assigned under this new governmental construct is being recognized by all and sundry, because he is tasked with fighting the legal battles of the poor, voiceless and vulnerable, simultaneous to his onerous responsibilities of recouping the nation’s assets and prosecuting the fraudsters and criminals who wantonly stole monies, land and resources that belong to the people of Guyana, and even those who committed electoral fraud; all under the sheltering umbrella of the de facto coalition government.

Within his own Ministry, the AG has discovered financial anomalies that have jeopardized many initiatives; i.e the expenditure of in excess of $92M on a Law Reform Commission; albeit with no work having been done.

During a virtual press conference last Saturday, the AG disclosed that a building had been rented and had housed a secretarial staff since the Law Reform Commission Bill was passed in 2016, but remained inoperable for years, which has prompted the funding agency – the Inter-AmericanDevelopment Bank (IDB) to threaten to abort the project because of non-compliance with contracted schedule of implementation of operations.

Minister Nandlall revealed an astounding outlay of monies expended for no returns and no work over a period of time that depleted the funds of over $92M to benefit friends, families and cronies.

However, the AG assertsthat the new PPP/C Government will be making efforts to swiftly address the matter, declaring: “We will begin to move swiftly to establish this Commission… so as to not have the project pulled by the Bank, but we will, in due course, refashion the legislation so that the Commission can be constituted in a manner that reflects the best interest of the country.

The AG had also informed the nation that the coalition government had kept secret the fact that Guyana was benefitting from US$8M, since 2017, aimed at initiating a project to curtail prison overcrowding.

In another instance of open fraud, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member Christopher Jones was arrested for the theft of State assets, valuing over $4M that were found by police at his Lot 609 Conciliation Street, Tucville, Georgetown home.

These and more horror stories of corrupt acts in every sector that left Guyana bankrupted by the coalition are engaging the attentions of the AG.

Anil Nandlall is on a mission to hold persons accountable for attempting to subvert democracy in Guyana; as well as for the theft and/or misappropriation of State monies and other assets.

Simultaneous to all these onerous undertakings on behalf of the State, the AG is also fulfilling the PPP/C Administration’s pre-election promise of delivering justice to the ordinary men and women who had been oppressed in diverse ways by the bullies in the dictatorial coalition regime; and today, the farmers of Region Five, who have regained their farmlands, are beneficiaries of his representation as a social responsibility.

The Guyana Police Force again under the microscope

Dear Editor,

GUYANA, well in its fourth “honeymoon never begun” ambitious week, is basking with the freshness and relief from an impoverished and treacherous five months siege from the heartless APNU+AFC Party. Perhaps, that is the best part of life if at all, knowing that Guyanese do not have to deal with the cabal and the rigmarole nonsense of the election recount result, for, that is a closed chapter. Is the election petition “water on a duck’s back” and, where is the loud mouth call to “bring it on?” The country is bankrupt and the new government has to perform miracles to financially manage the economy and deal with the COVID-19 repercussions. Guyanese cannot expect to return to a normal life style overnight and still need to depend on the generosity from all sources in order to survive daily. There is no immediate relief valve to control the perpetration of criminal activities; there is no safe mesh to cushion the road incidents; there is no prevention from family violence which is insanely unavoidable; the school children are uncertain about the guaranteed educational facilities to be implemented, whether in school or in-house, virtually; there is no immediate financial incentives for a number of needy families; there is no job assurance for quick employment opportunities and there is no promise that Guyana will have a white Christmas either. Like it or leave it, the choices are limited and chances are, Guyanese will have to suffice and bear the pain a little longer than expected, thanks to the compliments of the departed caretaker who was ruthless enough not to cater to the interest of the nation or the people but to his party and its members. A medal of honor should be given to Mr. Granger for his valor in crime and punishment to the oppressed people of Guyana.

As the daily news are trying to keep abreast with all the anomalies and miscreants from the previous administration, monitoring the latest discovery in embezzlement, misappropriation, corruption and collusion become more pronounced, baffling and unbelievable. No Guyanese, not the man in the street nor in the high society, by no stretch of the

GUYANA CHRONICLE , Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Change Guyana remains strong, says Badal --denies claims that party will be dissolved

POLITICAL newcomers, Change Guyana had entered the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections with high hopes, but after coming out unsuccessful, claims had surfaced that the Party would be dissolved, but those claims have since been debunked by its Founder, Robert Badal.

According to a letter published in the Kaieteur News on Tuesday, the majority of the leadership of Change Guyana made a decision that its dissolution as a Political Party is in the best interest of its members and supporters.

The letter was signed by Chairman of Change Guyana, Nigel Hinds; Prime Ministerial Candidate, Mishka Puran; Vice- Chairman, Ramesh Ramoutar; and Executive Members Ryan Dey and Everton Morris, but Badal said there is no intention to dissolve the party.

When asked if he was aware of a decision to dissolve the party, Badal told this publication: “No. As far as I know, that is not true...I do not know who said that; somebody creating some mischief.”

He confirmed that he has since reached out to executive members of the party, and there has been no discussion related to the dissolution of the party.

Contrary to what is being mulled in the letter, Badal said the party remains strong, and will continue to develop itself as a formidable force in the political arena.

Change Guyana, one of the 16 new parties that were launched in Guyana during 2019 to contest the March 2020 elections, contested in seven out of the ten administrative regions, but failed to secure a seat.

Framers of the letter which was published in Kaieteur News, however, said of the six new parties that actually contested in Guyana’s March 2020 elections, Change Guyana received the second most votes in the Regional Elections, and the third most votes in the General Elections.

“The unique and outstanding contributions made by Change Guyana Party over its ten months of existence – set out core economic and social policies that speak to the socio-economic needs of Guyana, by outlining policies for massive poverty alleviation, focused

house search without a war

Things not right over at the GRDB

Dear Editor, be right? Imaging the corruption so high that thouI like to ask you to please permit me space to sands of bags of seed paddy were sold to selecthighlight this important matter of national ed mills for prices far below the market value. interest. This is evident in the records. These mills paid

I was reliably informed that millions of just over $700 for a bag of high-quality seed dollars of contracts were given to close friends paddy sold to them which cost about $5,000 and associates for services procured at the Rice to produce. Is not this sufficient evidence of Research Station by the GRDB managers. The corruption? process lacks transparency. Hon. Minister of Agriculture please

Investigate or do an audit and you would launch an investigation or audit in those arsee that these managers approved and paid eas and see what you will find. The evidence double the average cost or 100 and more peris there. cent the normal cost for services such as drying paddy, sowing of paddy, fertilising etc. at the Yours truly, Research Station. The same services used by Kumar Ramsingh farmers who paid half the price. How can this job creation, inclusive economic development, restructuring of a burdensome tax system and servant leadership,” said the persons who wrote the letter.

They said the uncompromising and courageous conduct expressed in the party’s writings and actions to ensure a democratic transition, based on the majority votes resulting from Guyana’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, was second to none.

Moving forward, the former leaders and members of Change Guyana can now work independently or collectively towards building a new political movement or political party, or pursue their goals afresh, while always being appreciative of those individuals who supported and continue to seek a change in

Co-founder of Change Guyana, Robert Badal

The letter said the focus of Guyanese in leadership positions must be to significantly reduce poverty across Guyana, and practise inclusivity and diversity in governance and employment at the private and public sector levels. “This must be our continuous pursuit.”

FROM PAGE 6 The Guyana Police Force...

imagination, had any clue as to what was taking place in the public service and the extent of government’s preposterous and sinister transactions. Their crooked activities have such a damaging effect on the economy that the raping of the Treasury to bankrupt the nation and create so many humongous overdrafts seemed as if there was a well deliberate and premeditated plan to defraud the sweat of the poor Guyanese people from their hard earnings and make them suffer more. It is not the public servants who will feel the blunt of the pain because their bread is well buttered from guaranteed salaries. All the former ministers and political appointees have no headaches because of their high pay packets and allowances and perks. It is the ordinary citizens who are jobless, penniless, voiceless and sightless from both sides of the electorate who are badly hurting and a number of them too ashamed to identify themselves any longer as supporters of the villainous group that demitted office. Now that the APNU+AFC Party is not in government, there goes all the promises, bluffs, lies, deceits and propaganda. What will this party tell their supporters now, to hold strain and breath, keep your knuckles and toes crossed and tighten your waists and belts, that they’ll be back to take care of all the unfulfilled pledges and commitments, maybe in another twenty-five years? Who in their right sense will ever believe any word spoken by the APNU+AFC Party or accept their assurances or place their trusts in good faith or swear by their pledges or ever again be fooled by their vows and oaths? Of course, there is always the die-hard and the irrational in a limited capacity and capability who will again fall for the trap.

The Guyana Police Force again came under the microscope last week and many watchful eyes observed more anomalies that lend criticism for controversies. Their handling (mishandling) of the former Sports Director, Christopher Jones, 1:00 AM rant and arrest for simple larceny, provided food for potential political mischief and an early intervention by the newly-appointed Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn. Is it too early to ask if there is any follow up to the case of the 65 missing traffic lights solar panels that disappeared in broad daylight and in view of the public’s eyes (in front Parliament Building too)? What about all those 31 expensive street lights that also disappeared? Mischief is sure a foot at the Ministry of Public Works and Minister Edghill needs to put his foot down and demand answers from the relevant authorities responsible before he goes to work one morning and discovers all the assets from his ministry disappeared into thin air! The atrocious police escapade at the Ashmin’s Building election fiasco needs to be investigated. Is the police still protecting Lowenfield and not Madam Chair? Charging food hamper distributors in Berbice for COVID-19 violation and not APNU+AFC Party protesters in Georgetown is questionable and discriminative. Perhaps, there is need to really rock the boat with the Police Force and not only shake the cradle.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

the political culture of Guyana.

Minibus operators still asking passengers to ‘double up’

--in spite of strict COVID-19 guidelines

WITH the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases now pegged at over 900, it is critical that Guyanese everywhere take heed of the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families against the virus.

Persons are advised to wear a face mask and practise social distancing at all times when heading out into the public, however, one of the biggest issues of the day is the country’s minibus culture, which sees a few operators and commuters not adhering to the health guidelines.

Recently, following the relaxation of a few of those guidelines, several minibus operators have taken it upon themselves to go back to their old habits, one of which is to over-pack the vehicle, asking passengers to ‘double-up’, which leaves little to no room for the practising of social distancing.

Minibuses are Guyana’s primary mode of public transportation, and as such the previous Government had mandated that minibus operators carry half the number of passengers that they usually would, as a means of slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus.

However, Guyana, as al

CUBA, on Monday, commenced a vaccine trial to fight COVID-19 which could save millions of lives globally, according to President of Guyana-Cuba Solidarity Movement (GCSM), Halim Khan.

The trial is expected to conclude on January 11, 2021. He explained that the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices (CECMED) approved studies developed by the Finlay Vaccine Institute.

The research to develop the vaccine, he said, covers 676 people between the ages of 19 and 80 and it will be randomized, controlled, ways, has historically had the misfortune of having an unpleasant minibus culture, and with the current health crisis, it seems to be worsening.

President of the United Minibus Association Eon Andrews, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, revealed that despite the continuous spread of the deadly coronavirus, several minibus operators are still not adhering to the measures to slow it down.

Andrews noted that he adaptive and multi-centred.

He explained that the study will be a “randomized controlled, double-blind trial,” meaning doctors and participants will not know who will be injected with the vaccine candidate.

Recipients, he said, will be selected randomly. Those in the control group will get another vaccine produced in Cuba.

“Its aim is to assess the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate in a two-dose scheme,” Khan added.

The GCSM president noted that the results of that trial would be available on February 1 to be published was initially optimistic that the COVID-19 pandemic would have prompted minibus operators to be more compassionate towards their passengers by putting their safety first during this particular health crisis.

“You have to be concerned about the people that travel with you; the commuters,” Andrews said, adding: “A part of your job is to take them safely and in comfort. The public health ordinance, which takes its guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that there

This photo was taken recently by a minibus commuter to show what they are subjected to daily

must be some form of social distancing or spacing.”

He said that for the safety of themselves and others, minibus operators should ideally only carry half the number of passengers that they usually would. “It has to be 65% per cent, which affords minibus operators to carry two passengers per seat, and one additional in the front seat; no seat should carry more than two,” he said.

He said that he has come to realise that there are still many minibus operators who

President of the United Minibus Association, Mr. Eon Andrews

are not wearing their protective gear while working.

THEIR DON’T-CARE ATTITUDE

He added that this nonchalant ‘don’t care’ attitude of theirs can cause a rapid transfer of the virus, and as such while the minibus association can continue with their sensitisation and educational programmes, stricter penalties are needed for operators to adhere to the necessary guidelines.

Stating that it is the ‘hustle mentality’ that keeps them from placing their health and the health of others first, Andrews said, “They are putting money in front, not recognising that we are in a pandemic… This is a very indisciplined society we are living in; they only react when it affects them personally, or their family, and it cannot go on like that.”

He was, however, quick to point out that there are few operators who have been taking heed with the rising number of cases, and adhering to the necessary guidelines.

“I have found that there are very good service providers; there are persons who are of a very small percentage who understand…They recognise what they have to do to practise social distance,”

He disclosed that the Minibus Association is in the process of engaging the various stakeholders, such has the Ministry of Business, Ministry of the Presidency and the traffic department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to have a number of discussions on the country’s main mode of transportation and the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cuba commences clinical trials on COVID-19 vaccine

he said.

Case against Chief Elections Officer postponed

THE case filed against Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield, was postponed until September 11, 2020, to allow the Director of Public Prosecution, Shalimar Ali-Hack, to further review the file and decide the way forward.

On Monday, August 10, 2020, Lowenfield’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, wrote to the DPP requesting that the three criminal charges of alleged fraud and misconduct against his client be withdrawn.

DPP then took over the case from special prosecutor Glen Hanoman and had vowed to review the evidence in the case to decide if the case will continue against Lowenfield or will be withdrawn. When the case was called on Monday, August 24, 2020, before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, a representative from the DPP told the court that the DPP needed additional time to review the numerous evidence and statements.

Lowenfield was represented by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes and Senior Counsel Neil Boston.

The Chief Magistrate adjourned the case until September 11, 2020.

In July, Lowenfield appeared before Magistrate McGusty to answer to three pri

FIFTEEN persons who have collectively invested in excess of $13M so far in Accelerated Capital Incorporated (AIC) have come forward to make reports to the police against the company, even as the police have confirmed that they will be seeking an extension to keep the company’s operators Yuri Garcia Dominguez and his wife Ateeka Ishmael in custody.

The pair was arrested last Thursday evening, and is being investigated for “financial crimes”, for running what is suspected to have been a “Ponzi Scheme” since October 2019. With the 72 hours having expired on Sunday, the police will need an extension to keep the pair in custody.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed on Sunday that the pair will remain in custody, and that the investors continue to make reports.

“To date, 15 persons; and those individuals in total would have been defrauded of in excess of $13 million,” Blanum said when asked about the latest development with the matter. As to the wherevate criminal charges brought against him for alleged fraud and misconduct. He was not required to plead to the charges and was released on $450,000 bail.

The charges in question were filed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) member, Desmond Morian, and by general secretary of The New Movement (TNM), Daniel Kanhai, on June 30, 2020.

In his private criminal charge, Kanhai is alleging that Lowenfield, between March 5 and June 23, 2020, at Georgetown, in the Georgetown Magisterial abouts of the couple, he said: “They are in police custody; when we charge them we will make it public.”

The pair is said to have defrauded as many as 17,000 Guyanese of approximately US$20 million during the period AIC has been in operation here, according to a report submitted by Attorney-General Anil Nandalall, who has been pushing for it and its principals to be investigated.

Last Saturday Nandlall announced that the government is working to ensure the thousands of Guyanese who invested in the Ponzi scheme operating on the East Coast Demerara are reimbursed the monies they have invested.

“Our main priority is to ensure that if this scheme is unlawful, and from all indications it is unlawful, then our main priority is to ensure that the persons who have put money into this scheme are reimbursed… we also have to build a database of persons who have invested and the amount they invested so that they can be reimbursed if possible,” the attorney-general District, County of Demerara, State of Guyana, conspired with person(s) unknown to

Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield (Adrian Narine Photo)

commit the common law offence of fraud, to wit, by representing to the Guyana Elections Commission, that tables attached to his Election Report, dated June 23, 2020, accurately reflected the true results of the said election, in order to materially alter the results of the said election, with intent to defraud, knowing the said tabulation to be false.

Morian is also alleging that Lowenfield, between March 5, 2020, and June 29, 2020, while performing his duty as the Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, without lawful excuse or justification, wilfully misconducted himself at Georgetown, within the Georgetown Magisterial District, by ascertaining results of the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections for Guyana, knowing the said results to be false, the said wilful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public’s trust in the Office of the Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission.

The second charge which was filed by Morian against Lowenfield claimed that he, those of Dominguez and Ishallegedly, with Region Four District Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, altered

Director of Public Prosecution, Shalimar Ali-Hack

results that had been declared in March for that district.

Recently, Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched a “comprehensive” investigation against the Chief Elections Officer and the Returning Officer for Region Four after it received formal reports of alleged criminal misconduct by the duo.

Police, in a statement, noted that formal reports allege criminal conduct by Mr. Keith Lowenfield and Mr. Clairmont Mingo and others in relation to the March 2, the Central Bank said, adding: “As the investigation continues, the BoG will cooperate with the relevant authorities consistent with its regulatory responsibilities.”

All of AIC’s commercial accounts have since been closed; the largest account in its name is the one at the Bank of Baroda, and the highest balance that account has ever attained was $14.6 million, with a total deposit of $21 million before it was closed in April.

Dominguez also had a personal account at the said Bank of Baroda, in which the highest attained balance was $200,000. That account was also closed in April.

At Demerara Bank Limited, which had denied the company’s application for a Corporate Bank Account, and closed the respective Personal Accounts of both husband and wife in July, the highest balance Dominguez had in his name was $2.3 million, while deposits amounted to $3.5 million.

Ishmael’s account at that bank had the highest balance 2020 General and Regional Elections and events subsequent thereto.

As a result, Police Headquarters noted that legal advice was obtained from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), and the GPF was advised to launch a comprehensive investigation into these allegations in accordance with its mandate.

“The DPP has further indicated that in the exercise of powers vested in her, under Article 187 of the Constitution, she will take over the private criminal charges currently pending in the Magistrate’s Court in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and its aftermath,” police stated.

The country’s Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, had presented results for the March 02 elections, with the exact inflated figures for the APNU/AFC Coalition as declared by District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, which was widely protested as being fraudulent.

This led to a national vote recount, which clearly established that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was the winner of the elections.

The elections’ results were finally announced on August 2, after a five-month

15 investors come forward so far

--as investigations into Ponzi Scheme continue

ACI head Yuri Garcia Dominguez and his Guyanese wife Ateeka Ishmael

assured during a virtual press information on the Compabriefing on Saturday. ny’s bank accounts, as well as

Notwithstanding the volmael, which showed amounts ume of its operations, the nowhere near the monies said company has never been lito have been collected over censed by the Guyana Securithe period it has been in operties Council (GSC) to conduct ation here. securities business in Guyana, “Previous accounts at or to solicit investments from commercial banks showed the public. transactions, including foreign

Last Saturday, the Bank exchange transactions, which of Guyana (BOG) released were small and insignificant,”

delay.

of $459, 000. Ishmael also had a bank account at the Guyana Bank for Trading and Industry (GBTI), which was closed in January, and had deposits totaling $1.5 million; she also had an account at Republic Bank Limited, which was closed in August, and had total deposits of $2 million. The highest balance in that account was at $341, 000.

Attorney for the couple, Dexter Todd, said his clients never intended to defraud anyone.

“We at this stage are still awaiting the police to say exactly what they are investigating. The police are investigating a number of things, but my client would be more in a position to address specific issues when the police say to him what are the specific issues. At this point in time, what we can say for sure is that my client never intended or acted in any way to defraud any person,” Todd said, when contacted on Sunday.

Essequibo businessman donates generously towards COVID-19 relief efforts

OWNER of Ramotar Investment and Rooster brand, Rupan Ramotar, on Saturday, pledged his support in the fight against COVID-19 with a donation of four tonnes of rice to bring relief to those in need during the pandemic.

He made an announcement during a recent meeting with the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the presence of Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.

By Lisa Hamilton AS small businesses in Guyana manoeuver uncertain times amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the Small Business Bureau (SBB) has done its part by disbursing 91 COVID-19 relief grants to date, totaling $15.1M, while 30 more are being processed.

These figures were confirmed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SBB, Dr. Lowell Porter on Monday. The sum provided to each small business depends on their justifiable needs expressed in their application made.

Meanwhile, the 30 additional grants being processed must first be finalised and approved by a committee. “We’re still receiving applications, and we’re still trying to provide,” Dr. Porter said.

Though the Bureau has approximately 10,000 businesses on its database, by law, it can only work with those businesses that have been compliant. Only about 400 of the registered businesses have been compliant.

Asked how the Bureau stands financially with regards to being able to continue providing COVID-19 relief grants, Dr. Porter said that this depends on the amount of subvention received from the government. As a result of the successful no-confidence motion against the former administration and the subsequent five-month-long

Ramotar, who happens to be the President of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce, said the donation is to be given to the needy around the country.

It is his desire to help as many people during the pandemic. He recently donated $1M to the region’s Health and Emergency Committee to help assist in purchasing gears for frontline workers.

He said the ECCI will supervise the distribution and members will be tasked with identifying the vulnerelection, the country still possesses no 2020 Budget, and the SBB has therefore been relying on past finances it has been provided.

In 2019, it received $170M, and Dr. Porter said that the SBB will be looking to advocate for a larger subvention moving forward, but understands that some constraints might exist.

“It’s kind of tricky, because, remember, we have six months already that went past with us actually doing nothing [because of COVID]. We couldn’t travel, couldn’t do anything, but work on the grants for the COVID-19 and conduct training. So, we’ll have to wait and see,” he said.

The aim of the SBB is to strengthen and sustain small businesses, through the provision of relief grants to sustain business operations and retain employees. It also provides training and development support to establish and market businesses through Online platforms, diversify businesses and forge supply partnerships.

As it relates to training, Dr. Porter said that the COVID-19 pandemic has further energised the SBB to move its training Online, so that small businesses in Guyana’s hinterland and far-out regions can have equal access to development.

“We want to actually be able to go out into the Regions, because those are some of the areas that really need help, but the restrictions, due to COVID-19, have made that impossible. One of the things that we’re trying to develop is virtual Online training. It will be made available to clients, so that they can work at their own pace without having to actually come to a physical training,” he said.

Businessman Rupan Ramotar; Region Two Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt; and Minister Dharamlall at a recent meeting

able areas in need. Upon hearing this, Minister Dharamlall was happy that the businessman came onboard once more to assist in the fight.

Region Two Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, also thanked the businessman for his timely intervention, especially at a time when there is lack of resources to fight the pandemic.

ECCI Vice-President, Suean Sewnarayan also gave in the distribution process. Sewnarayan said the ECCI has been generous over the months and has made several donations to the Suddie Public Hospital.

She, therefore, thanked the business community for their continuous support. So far, over 200 hampers were donated to the needy by the chambers to various communities throughout the country.

SBB disburses 91 COVID-19 grants, 30 more pending –– 15.1M in relief grants thus far

SBB’s Dr. Lowell Porter

her commitment to helping

The SBB boss noted that there would be a cost to developing such an initiative so plans towards this are still in the works pending the 2020 Budget.

Minister Parag pledges more professional public service

NEW Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag, has pledged to improve the professionalism of Guyana’s public sector, announcing the establishment of a code of conduct and ethics that she said will be enforced to achieve the desired results.

The Department of Public Service will no longer fall under the Ministry of Presidency but is being reverted to an independent ministry, with three programmes under its command, namely, policy development and administration, human resource development and human resource management.

Having been in office for just over two weeks, the minister said she has observed that the ministry has been running on very low human resource skills. Further, she has noted that the processing time prevents the efficiency and expediency within which things can be done in the public service.

For instance, there is no timeframe for when allowances are granted, or for when vacancies are to be filled. “We have this scholarship department which has no timeframe from the time an application is made to the time of an award. So those are things that I wish to place timeframes on,” she said during a virtual press conference on Monday.

“Those were my first observations and the things that I believe I need to change immediately,” Parag continued.

She stressed that her ministry is committed to fostering a professional public service; a culture of excellence by driving change and innovation, facilitating continuous professional development, implementing administrative reforms, creating conditions for conducive work environment, and promoting and maintaining ethics and accountability in the functioning of government agencies delivering services to the public.

Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag

sary. This will be able to tell of their level of performance with respect to their job description and will allow the ministry to be able to inform them where they are lapsing.

“And it will allow them to interact with the public in such a way that the public will walk away feeling like they’ve just been professionally dealt with,” Parag noted.

However, the consequences of not adhering to the new code have not yet been worked out, but the minister noted that it will be enforced. “I am looking to improve the professionalism of the public service so that when the public comes to deal with them, they will be dealt with in a courteous and polite manner.”

Towards this end, she is examining training that has to do with interfacing with customers in the public service.

Parag offered that her ministry will also be looking to upgrade its website so that a number of processes might be able to be done online, making them expedient and efficient.