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PPP PASSES BILLS ALONE IN PARLIAMENT Pg2
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DISTRIBUTION OF $25000 COVID-19 RELIEF BEGINS IN REGIONS ONE AND NINE
Another escape from Lusignan Prison
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COVID cases race toward 3,000 1
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PPP PASSES BILLS ALONE IN PARLIAMENT People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) debated and passed several Bills alone in Parliament. The Bills were mostly a reversal to the previous Government’s policies on taxation, licensing, and mortgage relief among others. MPs of A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition were not present at the sitting on Tuesday. A statement from the Leader of the Opposition Office a few hours before the scheduled sitting said, “The APNU+AFC will not be part of another attempt by the PPP to deceive the Guyanese people.” The party still does not fully support the budget and would not be debating
any Bills that would give effect to the measures. Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, said the Bills would look to fix a series of draconian actions taken by the APNU+AFC. He added that he understood why the APNU/AFC would not want to be present as the Bills and Motions being addressed would highlight their insensitive actions. An amendment was made to reverse the increase on auctioneers’ licenses in 2016 from $7,000 to $40,000. From October 1, 2020 auctioneers will be required to pay $23,500 for a license to carry out auctions. The Corporation Tax Amendment Bill was also passed. This Bill seeks to remove the 25% corporation tax on private
health care and private education making them more profitable and more affordable. There will be reductions in tuition fees and a reduction in medical bills at private healthcare facilities. It will take effect from January 1, 2021.
The Income Tax Amendment Bill was passed which seeks to amend section 20 (1)(a) of the Income Tax Act to provide mortgage interest relief. Homeowners will now have a deduction on interest paid on mortgage loans less than $30 million.
The limit was previously set at $15 million. Other Bills which the PPP intend to debate in Parliament are the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Amendment Bill, Value Added Tax Amendment Bill, Tax Amendment Bill, Miscellaneous Licenses
and the Restorative Justice Bills. These Bills are intended to reduce and, in some cases, remove Value Added Tax; and reduce and provide exemption for several categories of licensing fees and charges to the justice system.
officially launched by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, on Monday in Khan Hill. Croal said
the initiative demonstrates the g o v e r n m e n t ’s commitment to the people and it would begin to ease some of the hardships that hinterland residents are currently facing. “Our President, when he addressed the nation, spoke about ensuring the lives of our citizens are taken care of, and this is one such exercise.” Minister Croal said. Distribution of grants in Region Nine was also initiated by Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, on Monday.
The Minister noted that the grants would be beneficial to revitalising the economy in the Region. “You will have $200 million by the end of October circulating in this region. That is a significant boost to your economy in Region Nine. We will continue to ensure that we put money into people’s pockets,” Minister Bharrat said. Distribution of the grants will also be done in other farflung areas including Regions Seven and Eight.
Distribution of $25000 COVID-19 relief begins in Regions One and Nine
More than 8,000 residents from Region One were the first to receive the $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief
cash grant announced by President Irfaan Ali earlier this month. The grant was one of several measures outlined
by the President to provide support to households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was
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Back track passenger from Suriname nabbed with Beretta Submachine gun A man who was among a number of passengers that arrived in Guyana from Suriname via the backtrack route on Tuesday has been arrested by law enforcement officers. The man had in his possession a Beretta Submachine Gun and quantity of ammunition. He also had thousands of dollars in foreign currency. According to information, Customs Law Enforcement Officials
were on patrol at the No 79 Village Foreshore, Corriverton Berbice. Around 22:00hrs, they observed a speedboat, which arrived from neighbouring Suriname with five passengers aboard and landing at the Eno boat landing. As the boat landed the officers intercepted the vessel and conducted a search on the passengers and their belongings. It was whilst searching a 26-year-old male of
Lot Zuelen, Paramaribo, Suriname, that they discovered- One Beretta Sub machine gun with the number defaced and 25 live 9mm ammunition. The law enforcement officers also found US$3,000 and $6,250 Suriname in the man possession. The man along with the firearm and ammunition was taken into Police custody at Springlands Police Station. Investigations are continuing.
Jamaica receives J’ca$105 million field hospital Cpt. Gerry Gouveia
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INGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Jamaica’s capacity to monitor and treat patients with the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been boosted through the donation of a field hospital, valued at approximately J’ca$105 million, by the United States government. The 70-bed facility, located on the grounds of the National Chest Hospital in St Andrew, was officially handed over on Thursday, September 24 by US ambassador to
Jamaica, Donald Tapia, and Commander, US Southern Command, Admiral Craig Faller. It is equipped with handheld thermometers and patient beds. Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, accepted the donation on behalf of the government and people of Jamaica. Dr. Tufton in expressing gratitude said that the field hospital “could not have
come at a better time”. “Those who track what is happening as it relates to the COVID journey that we are travelling on would recognise that just a few weeks ago, we declared community transmission, which is a phase of the virus that means more persons will have the virus. “The response that is required, as a result of this, means more infrastructure, and so the facility here has come at the right time,” he noted.
Tapia, for his part, said he is confident the hospital will be put to good use. “This symbolises another milestone in the long-standing partnership between the two countries. Whether its security, business or public health, the United States of America and Jamaica have established a strong tradition of cooperation,” he noted. Tapia said that when the current crisis has passed, the hospital will remain as a vital tool in the response
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to any future public health emergency or national disaster, whether in Jamaica or throughout the Caribbean. This donation forms part of US Southern Command’s ongoing assistance to nations in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, and is funded by the Command’s Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP). The US Southern Command has also funded the donation of handheld thermometers
and patient beds at a cost of approximately J’ca$12 million. This modular hospital is equipped to operate autonomously and includes a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and ultraviolet-light airscrubber system, two diesel generators and eight air-conditioning units. Medical teams using the hospital will have the flexibility to configure it to isolate patients and conduct surgical operations if needed.
By Sir Ronald Sanders
Editorial
Irfaan Ali is weaving a crooked path
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here are so many issues that confront the ordinary person that sometimes it is difficult to focus on any one thing. These days one has to worry about those who were asked to join the breadline because of their political support. And this is happening although the President says that he is fashioning a Guyana where all will benefit regardless of political affiliation. Perhaps sending home these workers, some of them low level, is part of the fashioning process, although it is not clear. During his election campaign, Irfaan Ali did promise to create 50,000 new jobs. On one occasion he was asked where he would find 50,000 people unless he was looking for labourers and other menial workers. But even then he had to find these people.
Suddenly it dawned on people that Irfaan was working to employ 50,000 people. He was going to fire those who were employed, then re-employ them among the crowd that he proposes to create jobs for. Some of the 50,000 will be absorbed by the sugar industry. Guyana, under the coalition government, took the bull by the horns and opted to reduce the losses created by the Guyana Sugar Corporation. It closed three of the major lossmaking estates. Skeldon, the estate that Bharrat Jagdeo rebuilt for US$200 million, never got off the ground. The coalition never needed to close that estate. Irfaan Ali said that he is re-opening the sugar estates. Their operation is not going to be dependent on whether they make money. It is going to be a case of a parent supporting
a drug-addicted child for how long it takes. The child does not need to go out to work or to bring in any income. The love of the parent is all that is needed. Unfortunately, the cost of maintaining that child will impact the other children and family members. There will be less money to go around. At times food will be short; but people would be asked to show love. Guyana has always been different. Many, years ago the world began to recognize that the sweet had gone out of sugar. In short, there was no money in sugar. Cuba was the largest sugar-producing nation in this region. Pretty soon, it could not find enough markets. Russia was a major buyer but even then the demand began to decline. St Kitts produced sugar to the extent that it often
recruited labourers from Guyana. Barbados relied on Guyana to the extent that the sugar boilers were all recruited from Guyana. Jamaica and Trinidad increasingly let the cane fields go idle. There was nothing to be had from sugar. But Guyana insisted because it was more a political issue than an economic issue. Time will tell how long this parent would continue to provide for its drug-addicted child. There are other things happening. There are the arrests of some people who were involved in the March 2 elections. What started initially as private criminal charges have blown up into police action. No one is sure how this came about. Some people don’t want to believe that the state is using the police to prop up the private charges. One of the people
embroiled in this issue is the Chief Elections Officer. When last people checked, he was still on the job. Someone whispered to me that some people wanted him sacked like those public servants. They are still angry that they cannot touch Keith Lowenfield. In spite of that, many are looking to the government in the same way small hungry birds look to their parents. Someone once said to me that nature is all around, even among us human beings. The small birds would be in the nest and when the mother returns they would all open their beaks for her to push the food in. Perhaps the mother recognizes who got the last time around; perhaps she keeps feeding the greediest. Sometimes she is outsmarted. There is the cuckoo that lays her
egg into the nest built by another bird. The chick is bigger than the others so when it hatches it pushes the smaller ones out of the nest. In this way the competition for the food is drastically reduced. There are many cuckoos among us. So one comes to the promised $25,000 for each household. There are many hungry birds, all with their mouths open. Mothers have a way of liking some more than others so don’t be upset if you hear some people getting $25,000 in cash and $25,000 in hampers. But then there are the cuckoos. These will get when some wouldn’t and there is no one to whom the affected can complain. They will simply push people aside, sometimes to the point of hiding them.
CARICOM Youth Ambassador’s
message- Caribbean Youth Day
The theme of this year’s Caribbean Youth Day is Vision 2020: Caribbean Youth, Crafting One Vision, a statement that highlights our youth’s commitment to furthering the goal of regional integration. Although this day is one of celebration, this year, it comes in the midst of a time when many young people are encountering life-altering consequences because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few months, the world has undergone unprecedented events. The upheaval has spared almost no one and many have been affected in some way by the pandemic.
Our region’s youth have faced numerous challenges – some short term and others that will have lasting effects. The turmoil has also widened the gap even more for our most vulnerable young people – those with disabilities or pre-existing
conditions; those who are not safe in their own homes due to domestic violence and child abuse; individuals who are living with HIV/AIDS; the homeless and unsheltered; members of marginalized communities and those living in poverty or
financial instability. In many ways, the situation is dire and many lives have been irreversibly altered. Yet, amid the chaos and uncertainty that have been an almost constant force for most of the year, Caribbean young people
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are displaying resilience, creativity, resourcefulness, and cohesiveness. We are living up to the theme chosen for this year’s day of celebration: unity. We are using our talents to develop new ways to connect with each other, from learning and knowledge-sharing sessions such as webinars and conferences to leisure activities in the form of games and parties. We have come together to help each other navigate and excel in this new world. New leaders have emerged, new bonds have been formed, and new milestones have been set and achieved. As Caribbean youth continue to work together
to find innovative ways to come out of this pandemic stronger and better, we are also painting a picture of what the region will be when the younger generation takes our place. We are striving to build our vision of what the Caribbean landscape will look like when our children inherit our life’s work. We continue the fight for regional integration because we understand that our destinies are intertwined and that our ability to grow as a region hinges on our reliance on each other and our ability to join forces. Happy Caribbean Youth Day 2020!
Patrol attacked along Guyana/Venezuela border
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joint patrol being done yesterday by ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force came under fire from the Venezuelan shore while patrolling the Cuyuni River.
A release from the GDF said it is believed that the gunfire came from Syndicato gang members. The ranks returned fire and none of them were injured. The GDF said that “aggressive” joint patrols by the Guyanese security forces have since been
intensified in the Cuyuni River area. The Guyana/ Venezuela border is more than 1,000 kilometres long and patrols are conducted on a routine basis. This is not the first time that such an incident has occurred and several new measures are being Guyana’s Border Patrol explored by the GDF.
Another escape from Lusignan Prison
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nother prisoner escaped from the Lusignan Prison, East Coast Demerara on Tuesday.
Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, said in a statement that the prisoner is 23-year-old James Moore, who was serving a three-year sentence for armed robbery.
Moore was booked out from the Holding Bay at the prison and placed on kitchen duty with several other prisoners. Around 04:30 p.m. he was discovered missing from
the kitchen. Police and Prison officials are seeking the public’s help in locating the prisoner. Moore’s last known addresses were given
as New Road, Dairy and Dennis Street, Turkeyen. Anyone with any information on the escaped prisoner should contact the nearest Police station. James Moore
COVID cases race toward 3,000
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he Ministry of Health recorded 59 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday
September 29. Eight cases were recorded in Region One, six cases in Region Three, 39 in Region Four, one in Region Five, one in
Region Six and four cases in Region Eight. The total number of cases in Guyana is now at 2, 846.
The death toll has risen to 80 with the deaths of a 77-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman, both from Region Four.
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As of September 29, leaving the number of a total of 13,988 persons active cases in the country have been tested for the at 1,122. virus. A total of 1,644 persons have recovered,
Govt seeks to keep Keith Lowenfield off the witness stand Keith Lowenfield, Chief Elections Officer of GECOM, yesterday voluntarily attended the Criminal Investigation Department Head office upon the invitation of the Police where he was interviewed by officers of the department. Mr. Lowenfield was accompanied by one of his Attorneys at law. During the course of the interview, the investigating officers invited a PPP female party activist and polling
agent to confront Mr. Lowenfield on her analysis of the elections results. The rest of the interview consisted of inquiries in relation to matters which are currently before the Court. The arrest of Mr. Lowenfield and the institution of a new criminal charges by the State are clearly intended to have an impact on any testimony which Mr. Lowenfield may provide in the Election petition cases.
The unambiguous intention is to have him classified as a tainted witness at the time of any possible testimony in the conduct of the Election Petition cases. Mr. Lowenfield continues to assert his innocence. Mr. Lowenfield has always been responsive to any investigation conducted by the Guyana Police force and will remain available to be interviewed in any ongoing investigation. Keith Lowenfield
Rowley: Don’t use race to push personal or political agenda The Gleaner News
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rime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is calling on influence makers in Trinidad and Tobago to stop attempting to use race to advance their personal or political agenda. Rowley made the call while speaking during a PNM meeting in Barataria on Thursday night. “You see this issue of race, it is the one issue that can derail us and ensure that we do not realize our fullest potential. Tonight I want to caution the influence makers in Trinidad and Tobago to stop trying to use race to advance
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley
their personal or political agenda,” he said. Commenting on the government’s decision not to support, the selection process of Deodat Dulalchan, the Prime Minister reiterated
BREAKING News
that there was no race in the matter. The Prime Minister slammed the Opposition MPs who walked out of parliament, saying that they were attempting to create racial strife in
T&T by playing the race case. “The singular statement that came out from the UNC today came out of the mouth of somebody called Anita Haynes is that we
the PNM government contrive last night to remove the Indian nominee and didn’t do anything about the African nominee, so Dulalchan was blocked but Phillip was not,” the Prime Minister said. Rowley also weighed in on the gun finds at a mosque in Central Trinidad on Thursday. He said Government received flack when it searched mosques earlier this year. However, Rowley noted that illegal firearms are now being found at places of worship. “Today one of the very mosques that we had to raid at Carnival time on credible information that
the security services had, we have found within that place of worship lethal weapons. I want to ask you tonight, given what we found today in a place of worship what do you say to and think of those persons who at Carnival time carried a conversation in this country that the government of Trinidad and Tobago was antiMuslim and was in fact desecrating Muslim places of worship. What are they saying to us now?” he asked. He assured that the Muslim community that government is not anti-Muslim.
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Patterson resigns as AFC General Secretary
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e n e r a l Secretary of the Alliance for Change (AFC), David Patterson, has tendered his resignation from the party, a move which came as a surprise to the other party members. Patterson’s resignation letter was addressed to the Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, and copied to the party’s ViceChair. In the letter, Patterson said he will remain a member of the Alliance for Change and will continue to play a role in the party –just not the
role of General Secretary– and participate in party activities. Ramjattan said that Patterson’s resignation as the General Secretary could be a result of the AFC being shut out of the Vice Chairman position on the Region Four Democratic Council (RDC). Ramjattan explained that there was an agreement between the coalition partners, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and AFC that the AFC would be given the Vice Chairman positions in Regions Four and Seven.
APNU candidate, Daniel Seeram, was elected Chairman of the Region Four RDC. The AFC had nominated Neilson McKenzie for the Region Four Vice Chairman position. APNU nominated Samuel Sandy and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) nominated Desmond Morian. APNU and PPP cast their 14 votes each for their candidates and the AFC used their five votes on McKenzie. Seeram then used his deciding vote to elect Sandy as the Vice Chairman.
David Patterson
Shiprider Agreement provides training opportunities for local military
Chief of Staff Brigadier Godfrey Bess
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hief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess has welcomed the operationalisation of the Shiprider Agreement between Guyana and the United States (US). It will allow US assets to patrol local waters with Guyanese support to combat illicit activities. Brigadier Bess said this extends the Force’s surveillance and provides an opportunity for additional training for senior ratings and officers as they conduct exercises with the US military. The Agreement, which was signed in 2001, was
followed by an exchange of diplomatic notes during US Secretary of State, Mr. Michael Pompeo’s official two-day visit to Guyana recently. The Agreement came into force on September 21. Meanwhile, National Security Advisor to the President, Captain Gerry Gouveia has hailed the Agreement as a boon to maritime security in Guyana’s waters. Captain Gouveia, told DPI the Agreement was significant as it would help safeguard Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone. “I think the US coming on to us at this time,
signing this Agreement gives us an enormous new capability to be able to have an overview of our Exclusive Economic Zone and security of the rigs on the high seas and also, our borders with Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil.” He echoed the Army Chief’s sentiments on the possibilities for training. “This is very timely. It also gives our own Guyanese military officers a great opportunity to sit alongside and inside US
high technology ships and planes, as they attempt to do surveillance of our air space, landmass and Exclusive Economic Zone. “There will be training for military too. It is exceptionally significant and I believe all of us should breathe a sigh of relief,” the Security Advisor said. According to the US State Department, the Shiprider Agreement aims to close the gap of global maritime law
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Cpt. Gerry Gouveia
enforcement; improve cooperation, coordination, inter-operability; and build maritime law enforcement capacity to more effectively combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and other illegal activity.
The US Coast Guard regularly exercises 16 bilateral fisheries law enforcement Shiprider Agreements with countries in the Eastern Pacific, West Africa, Jamaica, and Barbados.
HOROSCOPE
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
It might be challenging dealing with those who are closest to you today. Best to ask yourself if what you are doing is useful. Go slowly and stick to practical tasks. If you work carefully, you won’t have to do the same job again. As the wise carpenter said, “Measure twice, cut once.”
Whatever you do today, proceed slowly, carefully and cautiously. If you try to rush anything, you will regret it. Furthermore, if you are hasty about pushing something through, authority types might try to block you. Easy does it – steady Eddie.
Whatever you do at work today (or for whatever task you’re doing) might be a bit of a slog. The secret is to slow down and be observant. Do things bit by bit. Do each task carefully. Don’t let others discourage you. Expect small gains but proceed in a slow, steady way.
You might be frustrated today because whatever you try to do (likely from behind the scenes) you will meet with opposition. It might be in the form of rules and regulations. It might be in the form of a strong opinion from social media? Be careful.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
If you try to coordinate the efforts of others today, it will be like herding cats. Expect some opposition. Others might object because of financial reasons or because they think you’re moving too fast. Any advance will have to be slow and steady.
Parents might find it frustrating dealing with their kids today. There’s no point in throwing your weight around. Accept the fact that you can only make small advances and achieve small results. It’s easy for people to feel discouraged. Respect that and don’t be demanding.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Expect opposition to whatever you try to do today, especially from authority figures and possibly from a partner or close friend. It’s as if you’re trying to do the impossible? Two steps forward, one step back. In fact, it feels more like one step forward and two steps back! Go gently.
Whatever you attempt to do at home or within your family might meet with resistance and opposition. Don’t overreact. Be calm. Today is full frustrating little moments that can be overcome with quiet perseverance. Do not engage in angry confrontations. (Definitely!)
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Travel plans might be blocked today. Likewise, your efforts to explore opportunities in publishing, the media, higher education, medicine and the law will be discouraging. Be satisfied with small successes. Everything is relative.
It will not be easy for you to get your way today so the sooner you can grasp this, the easier this day will be for you. Remember the game where you say please take a giant step? Or please take a baby step? Today is full of baby steps – at best.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Do not try to force financial matters today or purchases. There might be a reason that you meet with obstacles and objections from others. Maybe you need to take a moment and listen? If something is important, you will still be able to do it later.
Disputes about shared property, inheritances or anything that you own jointly with others (including debt) might be tough to deal with today. It’s hard to get cooperation. Whatever you do today, you will have to do carefully and pay attention to detail. One step at a time.
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INDEPENDENT TEAM TO BEGIN REVIEW OF CXC RESULTS
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formally requested and paid for. A statement by the CXC Chairman noted, “Nonetheless, it was anticipated that given these specific challenges a period of review and possible revisions would follow, consistent with the regulations of the Council. “It has been agreed,
therefore, that an Independent Review Team will shortly begin this work and present a report for discussion with relevant stakeholders.” He assured that the period of review and possible revisions would be consistent with the regulations of CXC. “There will be ongoing dialogue with regional Ministries of Education based upon the official gathering of data relevant to all ventilated concerns. Each and every formally reported case will be reviewed and where remedies are required they will be applied.” The Chairman
also commended the management at CXC for the delivery of the July 2020 regional examinations during the logistics nightmare of the COVID-19 pandemic and doubts about revised examinations systems and procedures. Following the release
s the Coalition prepared to drop its elections petition to facilitate talks with the PPP? This question was asked of Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon during a recent press conference. The suggestion was that this would be for the greater good. “The larger good is represented in that petition. That speaks to what is right, what is just, and what represents the will of the Guyanese people. “And that is something which we cannot bargain
out. We cannot sit down in a room and bargain out 217,000plus people plus their families want.” Senior Counsel, Roysdale Forde, who is among the team of lawyers that filed the petition. concurred. “The filing of the elections petition is an entitlement of the APNU+AFC having regard to what transpired in the elections. That is not something for us to bargain in any way at all. “I am surprised that that could be a consideration.” Mr. Harmon said
that the decision by the Guyana Elections Commission to adopt certain actions outside the law hurt both the coalition and its supporters. “All of us were hurt when these fraudulent votes were accepted as part of the votes to make the president the president. We were all hurt when we saw over 11,500 ballots which were in boxes with no other statutory document being included. “We were hurt when we saw so many dead persons voted. We were hurt when we saw so many people
who were outside of Guyana at the time of the elections, still voted. “We were hurt over the fact that the government and the police are hunting down senior officers of the elections commission trying to find evidence for matters that were filed long before now. “(Charles) Ramson had filed a matter as a private citizen and he should have been called upon to lead his evidence. You cannot file a matter as a private citizen unless you have evidence.” Mr. Harmon said
that they are now trying to find that evidence months later by harassing certain members of the elections commission. “This is wrong and so we continue to be
hurt. Those things pain us.” He said that the people, therefore, await the elections petition in their pursuit of justice. They have been patient, Mr. Harmon said.
The Ministry of Heath recorded 47 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday September 27. One case was recorded in Region One, four in Region
Three, 32 in Region Four, six in Region Six, two in Region Seven, two in Region Nine. The total number of recorded cases is now at
2,772. The death toll rose to 78 on Sunday with the deaths of two women, both from Region Four. Two deaths were also
recorded on Saturday– a 36-year-old man from Region Six and a 45-yearold man from Region Four. There have been 39
COVID-19 related deaths recorded in September As of September 27, there have been 13,589 persons tested for the virus. The number of
recovered cases has grown to 1,564 leaving the number of active cases in the country at 1,130.
hairman of the Caribbea n Examination Council (CXC), Professor Hilary Beckles, announced on Monday that an Independent Review Team would begin looking into the queries about this year’s CSEC and CAPE results. Dr. Wayne Wesley, the Registrar of CXC, announced last week that it was impossible for some of the reported discrepancies to occur given the rigorous system in place by the Examination Council and reviews would only be done once they are
Pro. Hilary Beckles
of results on September 22, last, many Caribbean countries, including Guyana, reported major discrepancies with the results. Guyana’s top secondary school, Queen’s College, had signaled its intention to file an injunction at the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ) to block the official declaration of the results the grades were not reviewed. Authorities at the school also said they would petition Guyana’s Education Ministry to remove Guyana from participating in future CXC exams.
Dropping the elections petition is not an option – says Joe Harmon
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Opposition Leader Joe Harmon
Four people died of COVID-19 over the weekend
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Amerindian & Foods GUYANA’S AMERINDIAN Guyana’s Amerindian population consists of several tribes, including the Caribs, Wapisianas, Arawaks, and Warraus. Anthropologists believe that Amerindian tribes were Guyana’s first inhabitants, arriving around 11,000 years ago. They settled lowlying coastal regions of the country, where they fished, hunted, and used a variety of plant species to produce fibers, oils, dyes, and a variety of different dishes. Over the centuries, Guyana’s Amerindian population migrated inland, penetrating the dense jungle via the country’s extensive river system, constructing temporary and permanent settlements. While Amerindians dwelling in coastal regions lived on turtles, fish, crabs, and snails, those inhabiting the savannahs hunted various types of mammal, including deer, monkey, and sloth, as well as various types of waterfowl. Guyana’s indigenous eetay palm is an important source of flour in Amerindian cuisine, while the country’s interior is also rich in cashews and wild honey.
CASSAVA BREAD
Amerindian cuisine remains incredibly popular in Guyana, both within traditional indigenous villages and in towns and cities. In 2014 Tuma Sálâ opened in Georgetown, establishing itself as the country’s first Amerindian restaurant.
PEPPERPOT – TASTY TRADITIONAL GUYANESE DISH
Image courtesy International Institute of Tropical Agriculture | Flick Next, the fully dried cassava root, resembling off-white flour, is poured into circular forms to cook over a fire. It is hung to dry and is soon ready to eat. While cassava bread is one of Guyana’s best known and loved foods, its preparation can require days of travel to obtain the right ingredients.
Made from just cassava and salt, farine can be mixed with sugar and milk, creating a nutritious drink. It can safely be stored over long periods, and it is an effective thickening agent for stews and soups. Farine can also be used as a stuffing for chicken or fish, and it forms a key component in several sweet dishes, such as white pudding, coconut rock buns, and black cake. PEPPERPOT – TASTY TRADITIONAL GUYANESE DISH G u y a n e s e Pepperpot is an Amerindian dish popular in Guyana and sometimes called pepper pot stew by the locals. It is traditionally served at Christmas and other special events; it is also Guyana’s national dish. Pepper pot is typically a stewed meat dish, strongly flavored with cinnamon, hot peppers, and Cassareep – a special sauce made from the Cassava root. Beef, mutton, and pork are the most popular meats used, though some have been known to use chicken. Pepperpot is popularly served with dense bread and butter, though it is equally as good with rice or roti
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