Trinidad

FORMER HEALTH MINISTERS APPOINTED AS ADVISORS

First Lady Arya Ali Former Health Minister Dr .Bheri Ramasarran and Dr. Leslie Ramsammay

The People’s two of its former Health Members of Parliament Progressive Ministers to serve as will take on the new role Party/Civic Advisors to the new of Director General in the (PPP/C) has Health Minister, Dr. Ministry of Health. retained the services of Frank Anthony. One of its P e r m a n e n t

(WCB), once again protested and blocked the roadway with burning tyres while demanding The Ministry of Education announced on Friday that the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has begun to rectify the issue of students receiving justice for the Henry cousins, whose mutilated bodies were found in the backdam at Cotton Tree, WCB almost one month ago.

The protests began as ungraded results.

Twenty local schools sbmitted complaints about ungraded results; regrading has been completed for 11 of them. Those schools are: Port a response to the limited information being received from police investigating the murders. Protesters also voiced concerns over the seeming delay in the ongoing investigations. Secretary, Collette Adams, announced the appointments of Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Dr. Bheri Ramsarran as Advisors to the Minister of Health in a memo to the Directors and Heads of Department in the Ministry of Health.

Adams also announced the appointment of PPP Member of Parliament and former Regional Health Officer for Region Six, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo as Director-General in the Ministry of Health.

The position of Director-General is and will be responsible for the health services which A report from police said that persons claiming to be the relatives of the late Isaiah and Joel Henry and some residents of # 5 Village, WCB began to block the # 5 Village are being delivered at the regional level.

Dr. Ramsammy served as Minister of Health from 2001 to 2011. During that time, he was credited with Guyana’s global response to fight HIV/AIDS. He came under criticism following the discovery of a letter bearing his signature for the purchase of spy equipment.

Ramsammy denied any involvement and was later moved to the Ministry of Agriculture; he remained in that position until the 2015 elections.

Dr. Ramsarran served as the junior Health Minister bridge with old tyres and debris, and set them on fire.

A Police patrol vehicle arrived at the scene and requested assistance to clear the blockage. Around 13:15 hrs. the bridge was cleared and the officers then had to immediately respond to reports of the Public Road at #3 Village being blocked.

The police have warned that such actions were illegal and noted that persons could be arrested. They also reminded persons that ranks from the Major Crimes Unit are continuing the investigation with the assistance of a Regional Geography Unit 1, Caribbean Studies, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Accounting Unit 1 & 2, Law Unit 1 and Pure Mathematics Unit 1 & 2.

Two dozen schools also reported unsatisfactory performances in 20 subject areas. under Ramsammy and took over the portfolio in 2011 during the Donald Ramotar administration. Ramsarran was fired from the position weeks before the 2015 elections after an audio recording surfaced with Ramsarran threatening a women’s rights activist.

The Health Ministry also announced the appointment of gynecologist, Dr. Narine Singh, as the new acting Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Karen Gordon-Boyle will continue to serve as the Deputy Chief Medical

West Berbice residents protest again

Berbice Protesters

Residents of No. 5 Village, West Coast Berbice

Officer. investigative team drawn from the Regional Security System (RSS) and Caricom IMPACS.

The team of investigators from the RSS arrived in Guyana last week Monday. Forensic samples and other evidence have been sent to St. Lucia for detailed analysis. Guyana is also seeking the help of Argentine investigative experts.

Police are also investigating the death of 17-year-old Haresh Singh, whose body was found in the Number Three Village backdam a few days after the Henry cousins were

CXC begins to change ungraded results

Kaituma Secondary, Mahaicony Secondary Patentia Secondary, School. Annandale Secondary, The CSEC subjects New Amsterdam that were initially Secondary, Paramakatoi ungraded are English A, Secondary, Harmony Principles of Business, Secondary, Carmel Office Administration, Secondary, Central High Economics and Human School, The Bishops’ and Social Biology. High School, Leguan The CAPE subjects Secondary School and that were affected are:

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murdered.

The Ministry has said that CXC will provide an update on the process for the remaining nine schools as soon as possible.

Guyana is one of several Caribbean countries to lodge complaints over the CSEC and CAPE results following their release in September.

5.2 Magnitude earthquake Retired nurse dies recorded near Trinidad of COVID-19

Amagnitude 5 . 2 earthquake w a s recorded on Sunday afternoon.

According to the UWI Seismic Research Centre,

The government has given the squatters at Success, East Coast of Demerara until Monday to remove themselves from the land.

Chairman of the Region Four Regional Democratic Council, Daniel Seeram, headed a regional team that met with Government officials including the Minister of Housing, the Minister of Home Affairs and the CEO of Guysuco, on Friday.

The Chairman said he the quake struck around 3:12 pm local time. Its Automatic Earthquake Location detected the seismic event at latitude 11.10 North, longitude 61.25 West at a depth of 10 km. hoped the government would delay its plan to remove the squatters but there has been no movement on the position that he lands are owned by GuySuCo and the government holding company, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

“Myself and team did our best to represent the cause of the people of Success, who are occupying that plot

The quake was located 51 km North of Arima, 56 km North-East of Port of Spain, and 57 km West of Scarborough.

The UWI SRC said, however, that this is a preliminary result as the of land. We raised the questions being asked by the people, but the Government maintains the land belongs to NICIL and they must vacate the land,” Seeram said.

The meeting ended with the Government side indicating that the squatters will be allowed event was automatically located by a seismological computational system and has not been reviewed by an analyst.

The result may vary when new additional data are processed. A retired nurse, f o r m e r l y attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital, is Guyana’s latest COVID-19 fatality.

Dead is 55-year-old Mark King who had been in the COVID-19

Earlier this week, Police had a stand-off with squatters after they were called in by Guysuco to remove the squatters from the land. Intensive Care Unit for over a week. He passed just after 5 a.m. today.

King retired from GPHC on July 31, last.

He is the 91st COVID-19 related death and the 11th death to be

Ten COVID deaths recorded in four days

The Ministry of Health Region Seven; and recorded 125 new cases three deaths recorded on of COVID-19 over the Sunday; Two 56-year-old weekend. 37 cases were men from Region One recorded on Saturday, and a 53-year-old man October 3, and 88 on from Region 8. Sunday, October 4. The There have been 10 number of recorded cases recorded deaths over the in Guyana is now 3,093. last four days.

The death toll has risen As of October 4, there to 90 with two deaths have been 14,815 persons recorded on Saturday– tested for the virus. 1,920 a 74-year-old woman have recovered leaving from Region Four and the number of active cases a 68-year-old man from in the country 1,083. Squatters on Guysuco land given until Monday to remove

access to the lands over the weekend to remove their belongings. The Regional Chairman added that while the Housing Ministry has said they would assist the squatters in the process to legal land ownership, no timeline has been set for the allocation of any land to them.

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recorded in Octobe

Guysuco wants the squatters off of the land so that it can continue the process of reopening sugar operations along the East Coast of Demerara.

New York State puts Turks and Caicos on COVID-19 quarantine order

PROVIDENCIALES, TCI – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ostensibly blacklisted Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) on Monday, omitting to put the country on a list of countries that do not require quarantine when re-entering the state directly from those countries. With an estimated 80 percent of visitors to TCI during the winter coming from New York, this puts the Turks and Caicos tourism industry in jeopardy since most persons will opt out of the trip it is believed.

One hotelier who was slated to open in November said bookings have now dried up for the winter season saying cancellations are mostly the reason the phone lines are still functioning.

The executive order was signed by Governor Cuomo on Monday, September 28.

The Democrat signed the executive order mandating the rules since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has continued to roll back screening measures at airports accepting international flights.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decision to end enhanced screening at airports, coupled with alarming case increases in countries around the world, presents an increased threat to New York’s progress in the war against COVID-19,” Governor Cuomo said. “Today’s Executive Order will require the Department of Health to alert all travelers from any Level 2 or Level 3 country of mandatory quarantine requirements, as well as require international travelers to complete the DOH Traveler Health Form to aid in the state’s robust contact tracing efforts and further prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

There are currently 31 countries that are not subjected to the governor’s executive order.

They are: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bonaire, Brunei, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Guernsey, Greenland, Grenada, Isle of Man, Laos, Macau SAR, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Sint Eustatius, Taiwan, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

The executive order builds on the travel advisory that is already in place for states with a significant number of coronavirus cases. That list currently includes 29 states and U.S. territories.

The advisory requires individuals who have traveled to New York from areas with significant community spread to quarantine for 14 days. The quarantine applies to any person arriving from an area with a positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents over a 7-day rolling average or an area with a 10 percent or higher positivity rate over a 7-day rolling average.

Extract from Albany (WCBS 880) by ERICA BROSNAN originally published on September 28, 2020.

Government approves US$9B Payara Project

being done by a team ExxonMobil is also detailing its objectives of international experts, required to update its base two months before the headed by Canadian design for the project to beginning of the New Queen’s Counsel, Alison include ‘tie-in points’ and Year. It will also have Redford. space for produced water to submit to annual The Government injection equipment. audits of safety-critical wanted to create a contract A study detailing drilling and production that would ensure that the costs, benefits operations, including the country gets more and feasibility of waste management and for local content, brings implementing a system compliance, conducted by natural gas to shore, for the re-injection a chief inspector. protects the environment of produced water is The company will have From left: Anand Gohil, CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited; Alistair Routledge, President of and improves the lives of expected to be submitted to pay US$400,000 to be ExxonMobil Guyana; Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and Timothy Christian, all Guyanese. to the Minister of Natural used by the government Director, Vice President of Hess Guyana Exploration. In their discussions Resources, Vickram for the procurement of

The Government of start-up in 2024, using been conducted by the with ExxonMobil, the Bharrat, and the EPA for the third-party auditors Guyana has granted the Prosperity floating Bay phase Oil and Gas government insisted approval to supplement the chief ExxonMobil approval production, storage and Consultants contracted by flaring would not Minister Bharrat will inspector’s resources to commence its offloading (FPSO) vessel. the Department of Energy be allowed without also supervise a study and develop institutional US$9 billion Payara It will target an estimated (DoE) under the previous the approval of the conducted by the company capacity to conduct audits. Development Project, resource base of about administration. The Environmental Protection to examine the safe and Vice-President, Bharrat offshore Guyana. The 600 million oil-equivalent People’s Progressive Party Agency (EPA). efficient re-injection of Jagdeo, has also said licence for the project barrels. also decided to review the ExxonMobil would produced water, including that the government was officially issued by Ten drill centers are work done DoE to ensure also have to pay the the effects on the reservoir. will aggressively pursue the Government and planned, along with up that Guyanese interests government for the cost of This process is expected to the costs that have been signed by both parties on to 41 wells, including were protected and are in gas wasted during flaring be completed by the first incurred by the company Wednesday. 20 production and 21 keeping with international and will also be subject quarter of 2021. as its expenditures and

The project is expected injection wells. transparency and to fines under the EPA Additionally, the operations are still yet to to produce up to 220,000 A review of the Payara accountability standards. related to emissions from company will have to be fully audited. barrels of oil per day after Development Project had The current review is flaring. submit a local content plan BREAKING News Come REPORT with ADAM HARRIS

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Aries (March 21-April 19)

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.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

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)

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.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

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.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

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.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

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.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

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.”

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

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.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

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.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

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!)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

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)

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.

Patrol attacked along Guyana/Venezuela border

Ajoint 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 explored by the GDF.

Guyana’s Border Patrol

47 new case of COVID-19 over the weekend

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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.

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.

CASSAVA BREAD

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