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T HE MEDICAL STAFF ATGPHC HAVE JOINED THE SPREADING PROTEST OVER CONDITIONS AT THE HOSPITALS

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STATEMENT OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION LT. COL. JOSEPH HARMON MSM TO THE MEDIA ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 Pg2

OPPOSITION LEADER FORCED TO MEET WITH SPEAKER Pg5 OVER BIAS

Harmon says statement that vehicles were returned damaged is a “total lie” Pg3

74th COVID-19 death recorded 1

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STATEMENT OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION LT. COL. JOSEPH HARMON MSM TO THE MEDIA ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 Budget 2020 Budget 2020 has turned out to be a colossal disappointment. The budget has failed to adequately address the most significant public health crisis of our time- (the COVID-19 Pandemic); it has failed to address the needs of the working man and woman. It highlights the People’s Progressive Party’s – PPP’s- continued failure to keep its promises to citizens of this nation, especially our men and women in uniform and our hard-working public servants. The APNU+AFC is appalled by the callous treatment of ordinary Guyanese by the PPP regime, particularly public servants – our health care workers, our teachers and our joint services. Now that we have completed the Budget Debate and completed a considerable amount of the consideration of the Estimates, APNU+AFC Coalition’s initial reaction to the budget has been confirmed and vindicated. This Budget is defective, divisive and deceptive. The Guyanese people have no doubt that this budget is one designed to benefit PPP financiers. They show their contempt for the hard-working ordinary people of Guyana and bloat the PPP

fat cats who are lining up to cash in at the treasury. Budget 2020 is devoid of any salary increases for public servants even though we all know, and the PPP knows, that Guyana is in its first full year of benefitting from our vast oil resources. APNU+AFC believes that a zero increase in salary for public servants is an insult, a deception and a betrayal of the hardworking men and women of Guyana, including our teachers who delivered such outstanding results at the National Grade Six Assessments; our nurses, doctors and staff in the health sector who have been toiling on the frontlines, at risk to themselves and their families, to keep the majority of us safe during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the members of our joint services. The PPP promised a 50% salary increase for public servants. This regime has delivered ZERO. They have proven that their promises are hollow. They have nothing for our public servants while the PPP is splurging an extravagant $95 million, unnecessarily, on new high-end luxury vehicles for Irfaan Ali, Bharrat Jagdeo and Mark Phillips in the Office of the President. Then we later found another $13M for new

vehicles for Mark Phillips, he later explained that this is an off-road vehicle. Then AGAIN Office of the President allocates millions of dollars for repainting State House. This building was recently repainted after many years. All this money is to be spent on themselves between October and December and there is still a new budget expected for 2021. This is the same PPP which, while in opposition, accused the APNU+AFC of upgrading the old government fleet of vehicles which they left in 2015. There is no need for new vehicles. We handed over an excellent fleet of vehicles. This is the height of wasteful extravagance and misuse of public funds which have become the hallmark of the PPP in government. Fellow Guyanese, you will remember that the APNU+AFC increased salaries by 26%, 10%, 9%, 7% and 9% annually from 2015 to 2019. The minimum wage went from a paltry $39,570 in May 2015 to $70,000 in 2019. Public servants began to enjoy a good life under the APNU+AFC Coalition. However, in just over 50 days, the Good Life has been transformed into ‘Perks for the boys. ’ There is nothing for the working man and woman.

Over the last five years the Coalition Government increased significantly the wages and salaries of the men and women of our Joint Services. These increases will have a direct, positive impact on their pensions. In what can only be described as a bare-faced lie, the PPP’s campaign promise of a one-month bonus to our brave men and women in uniform, has been reduced to a two-week ‘freck’. Another broken PPP promise. Another PPP deception. Another PPP lie. The APNU+AFC Coalition in just five short years, restored public confidence in government, improved the management of the state, renewed local democracy and defended robustly, our country’s territorial integrity. Unfortunately, this regime is more interested in witch-hunting, mass firings, weaponization of law-enforcement agencies and the filing of frivolous charges. This has resulted in many single mothers being on the breadline during this difficult time, and an atmosphere of uncertainty and fear all across the country. Budget 2020 shows clearly that the PPP is more concerned with living the high life in extreme luxury and opulence while public servants and the ordinary man and woman are

ignored and left to fend for themselves on the margins of society. How can a government justify brand new luxury vehicles for Ali, Jagdeo and Mark Phillips but public servants are not being paid on time, are given no increases and have to battle with public transportation and deteriorating public security? PPP violates constitutional provisions Budget 2020 has exposed the PPP’s retrograde thinking. With no real vision and no clear plan, they are taking us backwards. Back to being a dumping ground for old tyres and old vehicles which are a danger on our roadways, a threat to our environment, cost lives and leave ordinary people with considerable expenses for spare parts and repairs. The APNU+AFC Coalition is cohesive and committed. We will not allow the PPP to trample on the people’s gains made over the last five years. Budget 2020 is a clear indication of the direction in which this PPP regime is headed. Instead of a decade of development which we promised and were working on, they have sown the seeds of division, despair and desperation. As the parliamentary Opposition we will not

stand idly by and see our country’s treasury pillaged and our nation divided through political hostility and ethnic disunity. Our goal is a Guyana for all Guyanese, where we replace confrontation with cooperation; dictatorship and one-party rule with inclusionary democracy; and despair with hope. In this regard our Members of Parliament of whom I am very proud meticulously questioned the provisions of this budget which Budget reader, Juan Edghill, boasts was completed in 21 days. Well because of the haste to jump into the public purse, the PPP violated several provisions of the law. COVID cases are climbing While the COVID-19 numbers are climbing, the PPP regime has instructed at some Ministries, a full return to work. Some offices have no space for social distancing. But they don’t care. Meanwhile the COVID-19 pandemic is mismanaged with over double the deaths from the pandemic occurring during the PPP’s brief time in administration than occurred in the first five months while APNU+AFC was in office. In addition, public servants are left empty handed and public safety is compromised.

THE MEDICAL STAFF AT GPHC HAVE JOINED THE SPREADING PROTEST OVER CONDITIONS AT THE HOSPITALS

Part of the protest scence

Nurses attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital downed tools today over increased pay, risk allowance and other emoluments. The first of the protests in the medical sector began in Linden on Thursday. The protest

actions spread to West Demerara and eventually to the Georgetown Public Hospital. There were chants of the demands of the protesting workers. “No money, no work,” they proclaimed. They also demanded their pension and their

gratuity. John Alleyne was one of the protesting nurses. The intention is to continue this action until the nurses and other health workers get their demands. Another issue is the failure of some staff at the hospital who are not on the pension

plan. He said that some of the nurses were on staff before the hospital became a corporation. This has had an impact of such things as the pension. Nurse Alleyne said that the excuse of no money cannot hold water.

Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, said the statement made by the Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, to justify the purchase of new vehicles for top officials of the Government is “totally erroneous” and a “total lie”. $95 million was allocated in the 2020 budget to buy

new vehicles for top officials of the Government inclusive of the President, Prime Minister and Vice President. The reason given for this was that the vehicles were returned to the government in poor condition. “When former Ministers submitted their vehicles we found cracked windshields, the seats were damaged and stained

and ripped up…”, said Teixeira. During a virtual press conference on Friday, Harmon said all the vehicles were returned in “tip-top condition” and are now being used by the new Ministers. “In fact, when we demitted office all vehicles were parked in the Office of the President compound and the new Ministers were there and lining

up as if it was a vehicle market.” Harmon said he did not know what she (Teixeira) was taking about since the vehicles used by former President Granger and former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo were now being used by President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Mark Phillips. David Patterson, the former Minister of

He questioned the reopening of the sugar estates and pouring in billions of dollars. He said that sugar is not profitable and will only be a case of putting money and expecting no returns. Dr Gerald Forde is one of the protesting

health workers. He said that there are many unsolved grievances. Staff from every section took to the streets. There were nurses from the Maternity Unit.

Harmon says statement that vehicles were returned damaged is a “total lie

Pubic Infrastructure, also questioned Teixeira on Monday and voiced his concerns over the three-month time

frame- October 2020 to December 2020within which the allocated funds were supposed to be spent. Teixeira said she was not aware of the type or cost of the vehicle purchases due to the urgency of the budget but that government would make all details relating to the purchase available in 2021.

Letters

Clearing the air on Former Lands Commission the Larry London head chides Kaieteur News for false reporting contract on vehicle purchase

Dear Editor, Permit me to respond to the Kaieteur News front page article dated September 24, 2020. Since my return to the public service in 2016 I have made myself available to the media, always a phone call away. Kaieteur has made very good use of my accessibility over the years. It is surprising, indeed disappointing therefore, that Kaieteur News would publish such a defamatory article without first contacting me. Need I say that the practice of public officials purchasing vehicles from their place of work is age old? Most recently the retiring head of another semiautonomous agency benefited from a similar arrangement. Did Kaieteur News publish this information? The answer is a clear no, and we know why. Regarding the issue at hand, a 2015 model vehicle was purchased by the Commission at a value of just over $11million. The vehicle policy of the Commission allows for a vehicle to be assigned to each manager of the Commission.

Each manager is given an option of purchasing the vehicle after three years at the depreciated value. As Commissioner I became eligible for this benefit and started the formal process to purchase the vehicle in 2019, and not a few days before March 2020 Elections, as stated in the Kaieteur News article. The depreciated value of the vehicle was calculated by the competent authorities at the Commission. This value is used across the Commission, and is detailed in the Transportation Policy that was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors. It should be noted that under the Department of Lands and Surveys senior staff were entitled to duty free vehicles. When the Department became a Commission in 2001, the staff were transferred to the new body with all benefits. A c c o r d i n g l y, staff under the new arrangement at the Commission approached the then government and requested that the terms of their employment be honoured with respect to the duty free vehicles for staff. However, the issue

remained unresolved for over fifteen years. When I became Commissioner/CEO of the Commission, this matter was brought to my attention. I took the decision then that if my staff cannot access their entitlement, then I would not utilize the duty free concession that was part of my contract. This resulted in me not utilizing two such concessions. The Board of Directors at the time, having been brought up to date on the situation, drafted and unanimously adopted a vehicle policy. The Board was of the view that similar to other categories of public officials, the GLSC staff should have access to duty free vehicles, or an alternative system that will allow them to receive the same benefits. The vehicle policy put in place by the Board adopted some aspects of other government agencies policy. Currently all managers of the Commission benefit from this policy. I am calling for an immediate retraction of this story, failing which I will have to seek legal recourse in this matter. Trevor L. Benn

Dear Editor, Since consideration of the budgetary estimates commenced on Monday 21st September, 2020, I noticed with dismay the attitude of members of the PPPC Government which came to office unrepentantly through the use of fraudulent votes via General and Regional Elections held earlier this year. There is a discernable desire to criticize, cast doubt and to render nugatory, with suspicions of corruption, the good work of the previous administration. At the same time, they forget an important part of the last sentence in the short prayer said by the Clerk before the commencement of proceedings of the National Assembly. Those few words are, “and where words come from the depth of truth”. Having read the newspaper reports publishing versions of two Ministers on the Larry London contract to supply birth certificates to the Department of Citizenship, I have detected an issue which deserves intervention to clarify the grossly misunderstood and misrepresented contractual

arrangement. Three newspapers covering the same issue reported differently. First, the Guyana Chronicle publication on September 22, 2020 reports “‘Coalition’ gave Larry London $23m to print birth certificates”. Stabroek News of the same date quotes the Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs as saying, “Teixeira in responding revealed that the APNU+AFC government had entered into a US$150,000 contract with party operative Larry London for the purchase of birth certificates”. Kaieteur News screamed, “Teixeira revealed on Monday that the former Government awarded $30m to a barely discernable US registered company, Universal Procurement Services Inc. for the procurement of 20,000 birth certificates during the period 2019-2020”. As the former Minister of Citizenship within the Ministry of the Presidency during the last Administration, it is now necessary for me to present the position of the APNU/ AFC Government on this matter which is being tarnished by

the PPPC because the birth certificates were single/sole sourced. Upon assuming office, President David A. Granger, MSS, as he then was, brought to the Minister’s attention the number of approaches made to him during the 2015 General Elections campaign to improve the services offered by the Immigration and Passport Office and the General Register’s Office (GRO) for birth certificates. The Government took the position that all Government services must be taken to the people and “Outreaches” by various Government departments commenced. At the same time, an assessment of the GRO’s capacity to issue birth certificates for the remainder of the year was conducted. The General Registrar, at that time, wrote to the Minister of Citizenship under the caption “Sole sourcing of Birth Certificates”, stating thus: ”The General Register Office for the past fifteen (15) years has been Sole Sourcing birth certificates from a Printery” (name withheld for reason of privacy). Therefore, sole continued on pg5

OPPOSITION LEADER FORCED TO MEET WITH SPEAKER OVER BIAS

Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir

Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir unashamedly displayed bias during his presiding over the debate on Budget 2020. In one case, he refused to allow Minister Robeson

Benn to be interrupted on a point of order from the opposition benches. His ruling was that Benn would have to cede if the point of order was to be allowed. Two days later it was a different story

when former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson was on the floor. Minister Juan Edghill interrupted on a point of order. Speaker Nadir not only ordered Patterson to sit but proceed to allow the point of order. Today, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon said that he was forced to meet with the Speaker on his obvious biased approach to the matters in the National Assembly. 12:21 I myself noted 12:51 order on

both sides Mr. Harmon, during his meeting with Speaker Nadir, told Nadir that he would like to see the Speaker perform his functions in an unbiased manner. 13:01 When the hammer falls13:37 exercise your power He said that he told the speaker that he had the power to cut the addresses prior to the questions. 13:44 That meeting that we 14:04 properly done Mr. Harmon drew the attention of the Speaker to the large

Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

following of young people outside the Parliament Chambers. Many of these young people follow the goings-on by way of the ubiquitous electronic forums. 14:19 Those sound bytes 14:46 respect remains

The Opposition Leader said that Parliament is not a Sunday School so there will be a lot heckling and crosstalk. However, he said that such happenings must be conducted within prescribed limits

Clearing the air on the Larry London....

continued from pg4

sourcing of birth certificates did not commence with the APNU/AFC Government but with the PPPC administration it flourished. These newspaper articles above gave the unmistakable understanding to their readers that the APNU/AFC Government corruptly and capriciously gave a contract to Mr. Lawrence London without satisfying the necessary requirements of the Procurement Act. That is not so. The government simply agreed to continue sole sourcing birth certificates as the PPP had been doing since that method would have been restricted to a limited number

of persons being privy to the security features which were envisioned to secure that document. The former Minister was aware that two visits were made to the printer in Bel Air, Georgetown and discussions were held with the proprietor. It was clear that though he had the capacity to print the birth certificates he lacked the capacity to do so with an improved quality of paper and the necessary upgraded security features. I note also that the Attorney General is quoted in Kaieteur News of 22nd instant as querying, “the reasons why the services of the conventional publisher of these documents were not

sought”. It remains unknown to this writer who this ‘conventional publisher’ was. If, as was suspected, it was the proprietor of the printery referred to earlier, then he disqualified himself when he admitted being unable to provide a better quality paper and improved, reliable security features. At that time forged birth certificates were rampant and Foreign Embassies in Georgetown raised their concerns about the quality of our birth certificates, necessitating the need to upgrade the document. I can recall receiving from Foreign Embassies at least four birth certificates tendered as genuine.

When examined, they were found to be false and were forwarded to the Commissioner of Police for investigations to commence. It would seem that the suspects are living outside of Guyana, thereby stalling the investigations. This writer also notes that Stabroek News quotes the Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs recalling that, “as a former Minister of Home Affairs she knows that birth certificates are normally printed locally with security watermarks”. I would most respectfully submit to the Minister that unlike her apparent expert knowledge on the issue, this neophyte is clearly convinced

that watermarking poor quality paper is unacceptable to secure an important document as a birth certificate. This apparent weakness in our civil registry needed to be addressed and the Department of Citizenship reached out to several persons to provide guidance on correcting our shortcomings. This included Canadian Bank Note but that company was principally in the passport business. It was not until 2018 while on a visit to the Company that it showed an inclination to enter birth certificate production. These actions paved the way for the entry of Mr. Lawrence London who presented to the

Department samples of high quality paper and several security features to protect the document. After several engagements with Mr. London the department agreed to restrict the security features to six because, according to my understanding, additional features would increase the cost of production. Our first order was received in 2016. I am confident that each of our orders received the requisite approval from the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTAB). There is a mistaken belief held by persons that our birth rate should dictate or serve as a guide to order birth certificates continued on pg7

By Sir Ronald Sanders

Letters Caribbean wouldn’t tolerate external interference on Republics

(The writer is Antigua and B a r b u d a ’ s Ambassador to the U.S. and the OAS. He is also a senior fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The view expressed are entirely his own) Of all the fanciful reasons imputed to the decision of the government to make Barbados a Republic, shedding its monarchical status with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State, the most surprising has come from the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British House of Commons, Tom Tugendhat. The Foreign Affairs Committee, comprised of parliamentarians from all political parties in the House, is a serious body. It has produced important and influential reports in the past. Therefore, when its Chairman makes a statement, it would be imprudent just to dismiss it. The Times’ newspaper quoted him as saying on September 23, eight days after the Barbados G o v e r n m e n t ’s decision was declared: “China has been using infrastructure investment and debt

diplomacy as a means of control for a while and it’s coming closer to home for us. “British partners have long faced challenges from rivals seeking to undermine our alliance. Today we’re seeing it in the Caribbean. Some islands seem to be close to swapping a symbolic Queen in Windsor for a real and demanding emperor in Beijing.” As head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Tugendhat should have been better informed. The Barbados government was no more influenced by China to change its status to a Republic, than it was under pressure by the British government to continue to share Queen Elizabeth as the Head of the two separate realms. It is unfortunate that some in the international community regard small states as inexpert, seeing them as ready objects of manipulation by big powers through either coercion or enticements. Thus, the presence of China in the Caribbean, where it has made investments that have aided economic development, is characterised as “a means of control”, as Mr. Tugendhat puts it. Discounted altogether is that,

in many Caribbean countries, China has given much needed loans and grants when others have been significant by their absence, or where, by their presence, they institute unhelpful policies of ‘black listing’ countries without consultation, or blocking much needed loans from international financial institutions on criteria that takes no account of the vulnerability of small states. Do loans translate into coercive influence over small Caribbean states? The answer is unreservedly no. Loans must be repaid, including Chinese ones whose main attraction is their longer repayment periods and lower interest rates. If their rivals met their terms, competition would win out. In any event, amid the COVID-19 crisis, China has shown no desire to forgive debt or to defer interest payments to give developing countries more breathing space. However, unlike the members of the Paris Club of official creditors (mostly G7 countries), China has deferred principal payments on loans. If anything, it is other powerful states that provide space for China in the Caribbean by not offering money on competitive terms

and by refusing to support issues that are vitally important to Caribbean States. Among those issues are curbing Climate Change, promoting debt forgiveness in the epoch of COVID-19, and removing the skewed criteria of per capita income that prohibits many Caribbean countries from access to concessionary loans. Whether large and powerful nations accept it or not, governments of small states are not vassals; in making foreign policy and domestic decisions, they make them in the context of what is in their best interest. That choice may result in upsetting one or other of powerful rival states, but it would be wrong for them to believe that Caribbean governments are incapable of making reasoned decisions in their country’s interests. On other comments made about the Barbados’ wish to proceed to Republican status, should it do so it will not cease to be a member of the Commonwealth of Nations which stopped being “British” in 1949 on the independence of India and Pakistan and their becoming Republics. At that time, it was accepted that the British Crown would

be the “Head of the Commonwealth” and, as such, “the symbol of the voluntary association” of its members. Of the 54 member states of the Commonwealth, 31 are Republics. There also appears to be a perception that, in swearing allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II in Barbados and other Caribbean countries, fealty is being sworn to the Queen of the United Kingdom. This is not so. The Queen is head of state of each of her realms separately. So, in each country when the oath of allegiance is made, it is to the sovereign as head of that state only. Another point worth making is that if, in becoming a Republic, the choice is made for a non-Executive President (as was recommended by a Constitutional Commission headed by Sir Henry Forde in 1998), no change in the system of government will occur in Barbados or any other county that follows that pattern. The decision of the Barbados government, which has been in contemplation for 17 years, resides in one overarching consideration. It is this: the people of Barbados have a right to decide that their Head of State should be a symbol of their nation – someone

who is from, and of the country, who lives within it, who shares its challenges and its benefits and who encompasses their common identity. That decision has not one jot to do with external influences. It is simply a national conclusion whose time has come, logically, emotionally, and intellectually. WillotherCaribbean monarchical states do the same? Highly likely they will, for the same important reason that motivates Barbados. But because their constitutions, unlike Barbados’, requires them to hold a referendum in which the majority of the electorate vote in favour (and they have to obtain a two-thirds majority vote in the elected House), the political parties – in government and opposition – have to agree to proceed. More importantly, they will have to jointly explain the implications to the people, or political rivalry and distrust of politicians will defer the change. Unless they do so, “God Save the Queen/King” may still be sung alongside the national anthems of remaining Caribbean realms for another decade.

Clearing the air on the Larry London....

each year. I have explained then, and would do so now, that there are several considerations, listed hereunder, that seriously militate against taking such a position: Registration of births where parents leave the health facilities with a birth certificate; Registration of births where parents leave the health institution without a birth certificate but subsequently collects the document; Requests through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from our Embassies/High Commissions; Requests from Foreign Embassies/ High Commissions in Guyana; Reopening of schools places a

heavy demand on the GRO for birth certificates; The Election cycles â€“ both Local Government and General and Regional Elections placed an even greater demand by citizens for birth certificates. It must be noted that between 2015 and 2020 there were two Local Government and one General and Regional Elections, and the Departmentâ€™s supply of birth certificates met the increased demand adequately; and Our several Outreaches to communities throughout this country increased the demand for birth certificates. The applicants for birth certificates regularly request two or more

copies, and this requires GRO to have adequate numbers of the document on hand. It is no secret that the APNU/ AFC Government took its services to the people of Guyana in all ten (10) Administrative Regions. Regions 2,3,4,5 and 6 were visited but our Outreaches featured more particularly in Regions 1,7,8,9 and 10. The need for birth certificates has been overwhelming in the hinterland communities and satisfying the needs of Guyanese was G o v e r n m e n t â€™s priority bearing in mind the need to comply with the United Nations

Declaration on the rights of the Child. There were persons who received a birth certificate for the first time and one person publicly made that statement in Region One. Between 2016 and 2020, according to my recollection, Mr. Lawrence London supplied GRO with over five hundred thousand (500,000) birth certificates. He complied with all our agreements including correctness of the order delivered and structural correctness of the documents. When received, personnel at GRO checked the documents and I can recall receiving reports of documents with printing deficiencies and when

Mr. London was approached, he gladly corrected the defects and returned the documents. I have avoided discussion on the security features for obvious reasons to which I have earlier alluded but suffice it to say that there are two features I proffer for examination. F i r s t l y , photocopy the birth certificate currently issued by GRO and look at the printed document, the result would certainly deter a potential fraudster. Secondly, attempt to tear this document and you will encounter a severe challenge to create that damage. The other features

remain undisclosed. I wish to conclude as I commenced to give clarity to false impressions created by politicians who accused the Government of sole sourcing birth certificates when that method of procurement was in existence over a decade and a half prior to the APNU/ AFC Government taking Office in 2015. I am sure to have provided clarity and doubly sure that, as a former Parliamentarian, my words came from the depth of truth. Yours in Service, Winston G. Felix, DSM

Email or text your letters to us we would be happy to published them adameharris@yahoo.com lendellnurse6995@gmail.com 7

74th COVID-19 death recorded The Ministry of Health has reported that at 10:00hrs on September 25th, 2020, one more person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died. The latest fatality

is a 71-year-old female from Region 2 who died while receiving care at a medical facility. The test sample was collected from the deceased at the time of admission and was subsequently tested positive.

Officials of the Ministry have contacted all relatives of the deceased and relevant persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to anyone who may have been exposed.

There have been 35 deaths recorded so far in the month of September and this is the 9th death recorded in the last week. The Ministry continues to remind persons to observe the protocols of

the COVID-19 E m e r g e n c y Measures (NO. 9) which are in effect until September 30, 2020. This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face masks when leaving

their homes; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good handhygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

HOROSCOPE

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Today is the Fall Equinox, which means the Sun is opposite your sign. For the next four weeks, your focus will be on partnerships and close friendships. This is your best chance of the year to learn more about yourself through your intimate oneto-one encounters with others.

The Sun is in your sign for the next four weeks giving you a chance to recharge your batteries for the rest of the year. It will attract important people and favourable circumstances to you. It will also encourage you to express yourself and tell it like it is! Enjoy!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

For the next four weeks, you will want to manage your life efficiently. You will work hard for yourself and others. You will strive to make every action count because you want to get the most bang for your buck. (Why not improve your health as well?)

Your birthday is approaching, which means your personal year is coming to an end. Use the next four weeks to think about what you want for your new year ahead. Define some goals because they help to clarify future decision-making. They give you a sense of purpose and help to keep you on track.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

The next four weeks are fabulous for you because the Sun is in your fellow Air Sign! Plus, it will travel through the most fun part of your chart! Accept invitations to party. Enjoy sports, social time and fun activities with kids. Yippee!

Your popularity is strong in the next four weeks. Everyone wants you on their team Enjoy schmoozing with others because if you socialize extensively, it will benefit you. (Also examine your friends because they are a reflection of who you are.)

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Your attention now shifts to home, family and your private life in the next four weeks. Many of you will be involved with a parent more than usual. Grab every opportunity to relax and cocoon at home among familiar surroundings. “Alone, at last.”

For the next four weeks, the Sun is at the top of your chart, which is the only time all year this happens. When this occurs, it (symbolically) shines a spotlight on you that is flattering! Bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs are impressed! Expect to be asked to take on increased responsibilities.

The next four weeks are fast-paced and busy! Short trips, errands, appointments, plus increased reading, writing and studying will accelerate the tempo of your days. This is a good time to express your opinions and enlighten others about what matters to you. “Now hear this…”

You want to do something different in the next four weeks. You want to get outta Dodge for a change of scenery! You want stimulation and adventure! At the very least, learn something new. Sign up for a course. Talk to someone who knows big words.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You will be more passionate and intense in the next four weeks in part because you will deal with financial issues and something to do with shared property. You might also deal with shared responsibilities. Meanwhile, your sex drive is hot!

Finances and money issues are your focus for the next four weeks. Think about our earnings and assets, and also your possessions. For example, do you own your stuff or does it own you? Obviously, what you own should make your life easier. Does it?

Fry Bread

Amerindian Recipe

INGREDIENTS • vegetable oil (for frying) • 2 1⁄2 cups flour • 1⁄2 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1⁄4 teaspoon sugar • 1 teaspoon oil • 1 cup warm milk DIRECTIONS • Heat oil in skillet until hot, but not smoking, over med-high heat. • In a large bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients to make dough. • Shape into round disks. • Fry shaped dough in hot oil until brown and crispy. • Serve hot. Traditionally you would eat this with stew.

SPOT The difference They are 5 differences