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Thursday August 26, 2021
EDUCATION MINISTRY MAKES PITCH FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN TO BE VACCINATED
CITY HALL TO PAY STAFF ON TIME DESPITE TOWN CLERK DEBACLE
USE PUBLIC EDUCATION, NOT BULLYING TACTICS, SAYS RELIGIOUS ADVOCATE
Thursday August 26, 2021
EDUCATION MINISTRY MAKES PITCH FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN TO BE VACCINATED
Commission of India today celebrated Raksha Bandhan with Dr. Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
With just over 4000 students currently now having consent from their parents to receive the Pfizer Vaccine, and with schools set to reopen to face to face learning on September 6, the Minister of Health, through a donation from the US Government, has received 146,250 doses of the vaccines with will
be given to children ages 12-18 years old and also to persons over 18. The donation represents part of 5.5 million doses of vaccine donated to the Caribbean from the United States Government to fight the COVID-19 virus. Guyana received its batch, which arrived at the Cheddi Jagan
International Airport. Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Education Mrs. Priya Manickchand, and Charge d’ Affaires of the U.S Embassy Security Office Mr. Mark Cullinane were at the airport to receive the shipment. The vaccine has arrived at a time when
the Government, particularly through the Health Ministry, has been pushing the agenda of having some 80% of the population vaccinated. And, with Pfizer, it has been noted that it can vaccinate over 90% of the students. The vaccines also are arriving at a time, when vaccine hesitancy
CITY HALL TO PAY STAFF ON TIME DESPITE TOWN CLERK DEBACLE
Despite the antagonistic approach and blatant disregard of the law being shown by Ms Candace Nelson towards the Council, the Council re-affirmed its commitment to ensuring the staff of the Mayor and City Council are paid on time, this month. This was contained in a statement issued by the Mayor and City Council. The Council, in the statement, reiterated its non-recognition of Ms Nelson’s appointment as Acting Town Clerk and
requested that she recuse herself from Monday’s statutory meeting. Mayor Ubraj Narine, according to the statement, cautioned Ms Nelson and reminded her that her status is currently before the courts thus making her position at the Council contentious. Further, the Mayor indicated that it would be preferable that the matter is ventilated in the court and a decision made. As empowered by Cap 28.01, the Council
moved a motion to have Mr Walter Narine, Director of Solid Waste, Chair the proceedings and to ensure all signatory changes are made with the bank within 24 hrs. At the same meeting Councillor, Heston Bostwick gave notice of a no-confidence motion against “Interim Town Clerk. Councillor of Constituency (10) Bostick, at the statutory meeting of the council, held on
Monday 23rd August 2021 gave notice of his motion of no confidence against the “interim town clerk”, Ms Candace Nelson. The Councillor cited several infractions including the appointment of Ms Nelson to the position of “interim Town Clerk” as well as her inability to function in the role. The motion was seconded by Councillor Hinds who indicated that this miscarriage of justice against the council and its staff has placed a strain on the Local Government Commission. Councillor Hinds stated that it is an affront to the council and an insult to members of staff who are much senior to Ms Nelson. He advised that Ms Nelson should use her good conscience and respectfully decline to be a political tool.
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remains a high factor in the vaccination drive. The Ministry of Health has moved to implement systems that would deny entry to the unvaccinated. And with the vaccines being now being available for children, measures as such might spill over to the school in which students might not be a part of the face-to-face learning if unvaccinated. This is according to Minister Manickchand, who said that while the policy has every child be educated, we remain in some different times and that some measures will have to be taken. But in order to avoid the measure, the minister is encouraging those who are not vaccinated to be vaccinated and also
have their children do the same. “The Government is not making vaccination a precondition to enter school. We are however encouraging parents to give that consent at this stage. “Philosophically we don’t think that school doors should ever be closed to any who wants to walk through them but that’s philosophy; that is good when everything is perfect. “But we have not said at this stage that unvaccinated children will be disallowed from accessing education. We do want to encourage parents strongly to get themselves and their children vaccinated” Minister Manickchand said.
Thursday August 26, 2021
USE PUBLIC EDUCATION, NOT BULLYING TACTICS, SAYS RELIGIOUS ADVOCATE She insisted that able to access several
The Government, and by extension the Ministry of Health, has implemented a new restriction, which will only see persons who are vaccinated being given a particular service through Government agencies and private sector entities. The result is that protest action against the measure continues. On Wednesday there were protests in several parts of the country. There were also arrests. One of such protest was at Square of the Revolution where dozens of protesters gathered,
just outside one of the Health Ministry’s main vaccination sites. The protesters are insisting that the actions of the Government have come to a point in which the people’s input does not matter. The protesters are saying that there is that feeling of being bullied despite the Minister telling citizens that the vaccines can be taken by choice. “I am saying that you are servants of the people, not lords. You are supposed to be caring for the health of the people, not forcing them, not coercing them, not
bullying them to put a substance in their bodies that can’t be taken out. “They cannot unvaccinated themselves but this substance can have long-term damage, create adverse effects and death. So, I am very disappointed in Mr. Irfaan Ali and Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Mark Phillips and all others,” Religious Activist Ms. Bernice Walcott noted during the protest. Ms. Walcott said that an approach of giving citizens a choice is the right way to go. All the Minister would have done was to take away that right.
“Dr. Frank Anthony your specialty is public health. You could have told us that if we build up our immunity, vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc everything, the proven therapeutics, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, we don’t have a need for the vaccines in the first place,” Ms. Walcott maintained.
Government should have also educated the public more on the vaccines and not seek to just market them. Things would have been better. “Instead of that you put some people, who are celebrities; Doctor, Lawyers, Members of Parliament to say “I took the job, you take it too”. “Sir that is merely advertising the jab not
government buildings without them being vaccinated. On the issues of entertainment also, folks also have to show proof of vaccination before entering restaurants. The Minister of Education has also insisted that with the opening of school on September 6, teachers will only be allowed
giving public education to the people. We need public education; we need to care for the life of the people not to be bullied into making these life and death changes,” Ms. Walcott said Over the past month, the Minister of Health has gazetted orders that insisted that if an individual would not be
to teach if they are vaccinated or produce a negative PCR test. These measures have left some people baffled since some persons who choose not to be vaccinated are deprived of some services. This has moved either triggered persons to be vaccinated and or protest the use of such a method.
No surprise that Region Ten is lagging in the vaccination campaign Many people are opposed to mandatory vaccination
Linden mounted a unity march designed to protest, today, to reject have people preserve their mandatory vaccination. dignity and their rights. Apostle Nigel London The event was styled a
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has been at the forefront of many of the protests against mandatory vaccination. Today he
carried a placard that read ‘I stand with you. Your body; your choice’. He said that he has noticed an attempt at the subjugation of one group. London said that they are to be treated with disrespect. But these people have their rights. He said that people have a right to determine what can enter their bodies. This is governed by International Law, said Nigel London. And he quoted the Human Rights Convention.
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The crowd chanted ‘Our bodies, our choice’ and No Mandatory vaccine. Speakers insisted that the protest is not about politics, that it is about people. Social activist Latoya Williams said that she has noticed that the vaccination programme
has been extended to the children. School reopens on September 6 and there is a call for children to be vaccinated. She said that she will not force her children to take a vaccine for which the government is not accountable.
Thursday August 26, 2021
Charitable organisation helps reduce neonatal deaths
The Government of Guyana and the Giving Health to Kids Organization (GHTK) established a partnership more than 10 years ago to address the high neonatal mortality in Guyana. As a result, there has been a precipitous decrease in neonatal mortality at the Georgetown Hospital. However, there continue to be gaps in neonatal care
in regional hospitals and the hinterland. President Irfaan Ali and Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, met with Dr. Narendra Singh (GHTK, President) on Tuesday, and expressed full support to the principle that “every baby born in Guyana should have equal access to the highest level of neonatal care if required”
On a recent visit to Guyana, Dr. Singh, accompanied by Dr. Leif Nelin (Neonatologist), and Dr. Anna Florinda-Chin (local Neonatologist), toured the New Amsterdam, West Demerara, Lethem, and Bartica Hospitals. GHTK in partnership with the Government had previously established a level 3 Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at GPHC and Level 1 NICUs at Linden, New Amsterdam, West Demerara, Suddie, and Bartica. GHTK Team subsequently met with the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Narine Singh, and the Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr.
Vishwa Mahadeo. The discussions and agreements centered on establishing a sustainable Neonatal Network at all regional hospitals, including the hinterland to ensure the optimal health of all newborns. This would involve the elevation of neonatal care to higher levels (Level 2/3) to support critically ill babies. The Government has committed to large capital investment to secure vital neonatal equipment along with the training of healthcare providers to care for the most vulnerable of our population. GHTK will support the training of healthcare providers along with the establishment of the Neonatal Network and a Neonatal Transport Program. The partnership between GHTK and the Government of Guyana is rapidly approaching sustainability through education and training. The charity has been successful in establishing
a Masters’s Degree in Pediatrics and a Diploma and Degree programme in neonatal care in partnership with the University of Guyana. These programmes have graduated 22 pediatricians and 70 neonatal nurses to date. Under the leadership of Dr. Sara Singh (graduate of the programme) and her team, GPHC has made great strides as it saves hundreds of babies every year that would have otherwise not survived. In the last two years, the charity has further extended its reach beyond the shores of Guyana, through the Organization of American States to include Antigua. GHTK has successfully established an ongoing Neonatal Nursing Programme. To date through the partnership with the Ministry of Health and by extension the Government of Guyana the organization has assisted in reducing neonatal mortality by 50% over the last 10 years.
Three held with blank COVID-19 passbooks Fisherman goes to jail for break and enter
Three persons are now in the hands of the Police after they were found in possession of a quantity of COVID-19 Vaccination Booklets, Stamped Leave Forms, and a quantity of medical equipment. The three suspects have been identified as 24, 37, and 42- year -old males. They were arrested at the Vreed-en-Hoop Health Centre for having four blank COVID-19 Vaccination books, one stethoscope, 17 stamped sick leave forms, a blood sugar testing kit, blood pressure testing kit.
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According to the Police statement on the matter, it was revealed that on August 24, just about 11:00 hours, when two of the men approached a female nurse and enquired about their COVID-19 Booklet being stamped. At that time, a third suspect was waiting on the two men at the Diamond Hospital. Checks were made to the said booklets and it was discovered that two of the documents were blank and with knowledge of the fact that the said documents should not be
in the men’s possession, she quickly contacted the police. The two men were arrested. The third suspect was later arrested also and as a result, all were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and then escorted to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station. During questioning, police conducted a search of the motorcar of the third suspect and found one black and gold stethoscope, seventeen blank sick leave forms which were all stamped with the West Demerara
Regional Hospital stamp, and one blue COVID-19 Booklet, which was not stamped bearing the name and address of a person. Police then went to the home of the third suspect and conducted further searches which unearthed one machine for testing blood pressure and a machine for blood sugar testing in his bedroom. When questioned about the items and he stated that he bought them in Georgetown, but he could not produce any receipt for them. They were all immediately seized. Searches were done at the other two suspects’ homes but nothing of evidential value was found. The three suspects were all escorted back to the Vreed-enHoop Police Station and were placed into custody pending further investigation.
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After admitting to the crime of breaking and entering a house, a Corentyne Berbice man is expected to spend the next 12 months in prison for his actions. The convict, 24-yearold, Didesh Ramorsad called Shammy, a fisherman of Fyrish Village, Corentyne Berbice appeared before Magistrate Albion
Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Mr. R. Singh to have the charge read to him. The court heard that Ramorsad on August 21, broke into the home of Anand Persaud. Ramorsad wasted none of the court’s time and pleaded guilty to the offense. He was slapped with a 12-month jail sentence.
Vehicles torched, suspect on the run
The Guyana Police a suspect who lit several caught in the act of CCTV parked Force is on the hunt for vehicles on fire and was Footage.
According to reports, the incident occurred just about 21:50 hours on August 24, Lot 1 Betsy Ground East Canje, Berbice. At the time of the incident, it was explained that a businessman, Doonauth Moses, called Chunick, his motorbus
Thursday August 26, 2021
PPP391 and motorcar PSS1113 on the eastern side, and his Canter GWW3612 on the northern side of his business place just around 20:00 hours after securing his business. Moses was going to retire to bed when he saw his motor car on fire. He quickly reacted with two licensed firearms. Moses then went to the front of his yard where he discharged four rounds from his shotgun and four from his .32 pistol in the
direction the suspect went Immediately after, New Amsterdam Fire Service responded but the blaze was already extinguished. A review of the footage later revealed one unidentifiable male walking out an access street situated to the west of the premises and he threw a substance on the aforementioned vehicles and then lit the same. Investigations continue. There have been no arrests.
CPL teams, officials arrive into ST Kitts & Nevis
The majority of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cohort have arrived in St Kitts & Nevis ahead of the tournament which gets underway on August 26, 2021. 255 travelers have
arrived and entered the tournament bubble. Following a rigorous testing process, there have been two cases of COVID-19 detected. A comprehensive contact tracing process has taken place along with
additional testing and no further cases have been identified. The two individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolating as per the comprehensive protocols that have been put together by the
tournament organizing committee, Hero CPL’s medical advisors, and the health authorities in St Kitts & Nevis. Michael Hall, Hero CPL’s Tournament Operations Director, said:
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“The two positive cases were identified quickly following on arrival testing and were flagged with Hero CPL while in-room quarantine was still taking place for those individuals.
“The tournament bubble remains intact and there has been no exposure to the wider public in the Federation. We are looking forward to getting the cricket underway on the 26 August.”
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