Keeping you updated on current events...
Thursday Dec. 16, 2021
ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER
Pg2 PRIME MINISTER PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
FOUNDATION SOON FOR EQUAL, EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES IN ECONOMIC SECTORS
GPL GUARANTEES ADEQUATE FOR CHRISTMAS
THREE GTT CUSTOMERS WIN BIG
THERE CAN NEVER BE A FAIR JURY TRIAL IN POLITICAL MATTERS IN GUYANA IN THE HIGH COURT DUE TO GUYANA’S POLITICAL AND ETHNIC DIVIDE’. MECHANIC FOUND GUILTY OF
RAPE AT IMBAIMADAI
Pg4
Thursday Dec. 16, 2021
Foundation soon for equal, equitable opportunities in economic sectors –as gov’t moves to table Local Content Bill in the National Assembly today By Richard Bhainie
–legislation to create enabling, dynamic environment for locals to flourish, says President THE much-anticipated Local Content Bill, which is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly today, is a transformational piece of legislation that will create an enabling environment to foster opportunities for local content in Guyana. This was highlighted by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, while delivering brief remarks at SBM Offshore Guyana’s fifthanniversary celebrations and opening ceremony for the company’s new corporate office at Sheriff Street, Georgetown, on Wednesday. “The Bill basically is reflective of the reality; ensuring that there is enough scope through a legislative framework that incentivizes investment for the local private sector and enable the local private sector to be an important partner to the development of the sector, but more importantly, an important participant and stakeholder in the opportunities of the sector,” President Ali said. According to the Natural Resource Governance Institute in a reader published by the institute in 2015, local content is the value that an extraction project brings to the local, regional or national economy, beyond the resource revenues. This can be encouraged through national laws, the reader noted. President Ali related that the Local Content Bill will be a “living document,” which will address “transactional issues” and “transitional
President Dr. Irfaan Ali receiving a token from SBM Offshore General Manager, Francesco Prazzo to mark the company’s fifth anniversary and opening of its corporate office (Adrian Narine Photo)
issues” faced within the oil and gas sector. Also included in the Bill is the space for evaluation and changes, as the country moves forward. “As we move to this very important part of the advancement of the sector, I want us to be conscious of the realities, I want us to be conscious of the opportunities and I’m proud of the product that would be the catalytic, directional, legislative push to the forward development of Guyanese,” he said. The Head of State elucidated that the Bill is tailored in a way to develop a local content platform and an enabling environment in which there are opportunities for local content. “These opportunities will advance and be graduated as we improve, as we build the capacity, as we develop the skills and as we have a greater investment in the sector,” President Ali said, noting that through the correct approach, Guyanese enterprises could develop themselves to offer top-tier services to the industry. On Friday last, VicePresident, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, led a team that engaged with civil society on the final consultation on the draft
Local Content Policy before it is tabled in the National Assembly. Recognising the importance of local content and the significance of Local Content Legislation, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Paul Cheong, recently told the Guyana Chronicle that “it will give the local persons and businesses more opportunities to
the company’s General Manager, Francesco Prazzo, related that the development of the company’s local staff complement is critical for the company and disclosed that 46 percent of the employees are Guyanese. PA RT N E R I N G STRATEGY “When entering a new country, success does not only depend on our own capabilities, integrity,
Prazzo said. Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, said that the Local Content Legislation is an effort of the government to ensure the platform is laid for Guyanese to enjoy maximum benefit from the oil and gas sector, and that the sector is managed in a transparent and accountable manner. While highlighting that
The newly commissioned SBM Offshore Corporate Office at Sheriff Street, Georgetown (Adrian Narine photo)
participate in the industry through more jobs and contracts.” As SBM Offshore opens the doors of its corporate office locally,
and discipline but also the right partnering strategy. We believe successful and inclusive initiatives must deeply involve local actors,”
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he is pleased to learn of the Guyanese staffing at SBM Offshore, Bharrat encouraged that more locals be employed in the future.
“As a government, we want to achieve benefits for our people, we want our people to be trained and employed in the oil and gas sector and I am happy to hear that our people are being trained at university and institutes along with other nationals so they have that same skillset and abilities to work in the oil and gas sector,” Bharrat said. SBM Offshore, a leading provider of floating production solutions to the global offshore energy industry, was incremental in the construction of the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Guyana’s first FPSO. The company also developed the country’s second FPSO, the Liza Unity, and the construction of Guyana’s third FPSO, the Prosperity, is moving apace, with the hull already at the shipyard in Singapore. The company will also be constructing the country’s fourth FPSO. The company has also been instrumental in the development of the country. In November, SBM Offshore signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), which will see the company funding a Mangrove Restoration Project along a section of the East Coast of Demerara which will cost over GY$68 million (US$332,000). The anniversary celebrations and opening ceremony were also attended by Øivind Tangen, Managing Director, Operations, of SBM Offshore, and Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana.
Thursday Dec. 16, 2021
Three GTT customers win big
-the company sees a positive response from customers to the e-billing platform
Three more lucky GTT customers have won big prizes from the company’s Opt in & win e-billing campaign. Randy Ramsaroop from Diamond; Nadira Gangapersaud from Gordon Street, Kitty; and
Carol Carmichael from Berbice were announced the winners on the company’s social media page on December 14, 2021. Ramsaroop and Gangapersaud won two brand new Samsung
Galaxy smartphones, while Carmichael won one year of free GTT’s Residential Internet service. The winners all thanked GTT upon collecting their prizes. They encouraged other customers to opt into
other customers to get their bills on WhatsApp or email; it will save them a lot of time.” GTT’s Mobile Marketing Coordinator, Diangelly Singh, congratulated the winners. She said the company is pleased to see more customers opting to receive their bills online. “We have seen a positive response from many customers, and we look forward to seeing more customers opt-in; not only to win but to also enjoy the convenience this platform offers,” Singh said. She noted that the company will be selecting four more winners in January 2022 and encouraged customers to opt in for a
chance to win. In November, GTT announced Chaitnarine Puran from Best Village, West Coast Demerara as its first grand prize winner of the Opt In And Win e-billing campaign. With the new e-billing platform, customers can view their full detailed GTT bills instead of a summary bill via WhatsApp or Email. Customers can now easily opt-in to receive their bills via WhatsApp or Email via https:// gtt.gy/ebillx or they can simply send their account number to 627bill. All customers that receive and download their bills for this month until January will be automatically entered to win prizes.
A 44 minibus tout is now dead after being stabbed over $120 by another tout around noon today. The dead man has been identified as Morven Nurse, who is also known as ‘2 Pac’.
According to the reports by some witnesses Nurse and the suspect, identified as Pauley, got into a heated confrontation over a $120 payment from a driver over filling his bus with passengers. During that confrontation, in the view of many passersby and many cameras, there was an exchange of words as the two men quickly armed themselves with several objects. Nurse he was seen with a glass bottle case, while Pauley was seen picking large rocks. At the time he was also armed with a
knife. Pauley threw the said rocks at Nurse, while Nurse retaliated with several lashes with the glass case. Soon, after the two were seen going at it, when it is alleged that Pauley stabbed Nurse to his chest then fled the scene. Nurse, who began to immediately hold his chest collapsed in front of hundreds of onlookers. He was later taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect remains at large.
while observing strict COVID-19 protocols. The motorcade, which travelled from Brickdam to Enmore, East Coast Demerara, was led by Santa and a truck playing Christmas music. The day was euphoric; the children expressed their excitement for the Kids Christmas Motorcade. As the convoy entered the streets, the children could be seen dancing and welcoming
the volunteers with their smiles and waves. Some homes even performed a few songs for the team. The volunteers, who are all fully vaccinated, stayed a safe distance from the children and sang and danced with them. A designated few distributed gifts to some of the children. Snacks, Ice Cream, toys, and other goodies were dropped at designated areas at the homes.
“This Christmas, we ask that you make it your mission to bring a smile to every face you see. We wish you and your family Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year,” Ramps stated. Photo as Ramps Christmas Caption: Santa, his elf and some of the volunteers danced with the children from Bless the Children Home
the company’s e-billing system. Gangapersaud said, “I am fortunate to receive this prize. I opted to receive my bill online and it is very fast, convenient, and reliable. I would definitely encourage
Man stabbed to death at bus park
There Can Never be a Fair Jury Trial in Political Matters in Guyana in the High Court due to Guyana’s Political and Ethnic Divide’
Senior Counsel Darshan Ramdhani Q.C. acting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday made the following statement of “fact” to Magistrate, Ms. Sherdel Isaacs, presiding
over the trial of Keith Lowenfield, Clairmont Mingo, and Roxanne Myers. “When you consider the matter, please consider this a relevant fact that these matters are grounded in allegations of elections misconduct and the accused persons cannot be tried fairly in the High Court.
“No one will ever have a fair trial in the High Court in political matters. We know what the politics of Guyana is like. Guyana is a politically polarised and ethnically divided society. No jury would be impartial in political matters.” Her Worship Ms. Isaacs has invited the Senior Counsel to layover authorities and submissions in support of this contention.
Morven Nurse
Ramps Christmas Motorcade Visits 7 Children’s Homes
homes in Georgetown and East Coast Demerara. This initiative targeted 245 children from the St. Ann’s Girls Home, Joshua House Children Centre, Shaheed’s Boys and Girls Home, Sophia Care Centre, St. Johns Bosco Home, Bless the Children Home, and the Hope Children’s Home. Despite not being able to Motorcade, host this event in Guyana On Saturday, December Christmas 11, last, Ramps Logistics giving gifts and spreading last year, the company held its annual Kid’s cheer to children in seven coordinated this initiative
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Monday Dec. 6, 2021
BK INTERNATIONAL AWARDED GMSA PRESIDENT’S AWARD
President Dr. Irfaan Ali BK International and Executive Officer of the company, Kyle Tiwarie
Receiving the award for BK International was Executive Officer of the company, Kyle Tiwarie.
BK International received the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA )President’s Award for attaining ISO9001:2015. The award is for the quality
has been a signature annual event for over 26 years where we recognize the work of outstanding members of the manufacturing and services sectors, and the wider business
products the company produces. The quality is of an international standard. The presentation was made at Friday night’s 26th Annual Presentation Awards Ceremony held at the Ramada Princess
Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara Receiving the award for BK International was Executive Officer of the company, Kyle Tiwarie. The GMSA Annual Presentation of Awards
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community and support organisations. Our traditional sectors such as mining, forestry, and agroprocessing remain the main contributor to economic growth from
our membership, said President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Rafeek Khan. BK International is one of the leading companies in the mining sector
Guyana Post Thursday February 11, 2021
THE SAME PRINCIPLE THAT APPLIED FOR THE GRB WHARF WAS APPLIED FOR DUKE LODGE
Dear Editor: Reference is being made to Kaieteur News’ article “Kingston Wharf purchased by BK days before the election” (2nd April 2020). Some years ago, I was the trade union representative on the Privatisation Board- the only black person- when the property in question was put up by the Bharrat
Jagdeo government for sale. That property which is located in Water Street was the former Guyana Rice Board (GRB) wharf which was burnt down through questionable circumstances during the life of the PPP government. Among the bids for that property was one from BK International. Winston Brassington,
Executive Director of NICIL, recommended at the meeting the property would be best given to a Company he was proposing which was registered at Phagoo Store in Regent Street. The proposed company had no track record with any business. I objected! I objected because I looked at the proposal of that company, BK International, and others, and found BK’s proposal to be superior, satisfying the many requirements demanded by the PPP/C government. In as much as Brassington represented the company registered at Phagoo, the CAGI representative and Consumer representative on the Board supported my justification for BK to be given the property. The entire Board, appointed by the PPP/C government, agreed we will
recommend to Cabinet the property will go to BK. Let me make it very clear, I never knew Brian Tiwari at the time, but met him subsequently at the funeral of Mr. Christiani Lewis, the original owner of Waterchris. What is instructive is that the PPP government took time in making sure the final and legal transfer of this and some other properties were never brought to finality. The reason behind this behavior is one of control over the intended Leasee/ owner. So if for any reason said person /persons or company wants to approach the bank or third party to be involved in any business it will require permission from the government to do so. As such, if the person to whom the property is given should take a position that conflicts with
the government the owner will never be able to get the support or comfort to do any business with a bank or third party because the government can exercise leverage to keep the party in check. The property has been in the possession of Brian Tiwari and for all intended purposes was intended for transfer. The coalition government has done what the PPP initiated but failed to complete for whatever reason. This is a final and legal transfer to the owner. The same principle that applied for the GRB wharf was applied for the BIDCO house which was also transferred to Capt. Gerry Gouveia, currently Chairman of the Private Sector Commission. Said property situated in Duke Street Kingston is now converted into a business called Duke Lodge. This is not a simple
case of disposal of state assets for if it is so then both governments would be held responsible and have questionable intent in starting this deal and/ or completing it. In my opinion, the completion of the transfer of the GRB wharf is just that, completion of one deal that started under a government and which another government has taken the responsibility to execute. The timing unfortunately like everything in Guyana right now, given the climate, is an opportunity for political advantage. If in the presence of the worst pandemic in years COVID-19 response and support are used for political ends what else must we in Guyana expect? Regards Lincoln Lewis
Finance Minister hosts follow-up COVID-19 vaccines Gary Best walks Ashni on DUISingh charge agriculture investment meeting donated by Barbados
Gary Best
Retired Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Rear Government continues Admiral Gary Best to push and implement today walked free of his strategies for Guyana’s charge of driving under non-oil sectorof alcohol to be the influence
expanded. On Monday, info@guyanapostonline.com Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh
in the Former National Cycle, Jude Bentley Matter. hosted another follow-up Best, who walked meeting with Chandra free of causing death by Pratap Singh, Business dangerous driving back Development in December Director; is now
and Emil Moukarzel, Chief Operating Officer of Elite Agro LLC of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
free of both causing the death of Jude Bentley by Dangerous Driving Accompanying the and driving under the Finance Minister at the influence. meeting were in Ministers Likewise, the of Agriculture, Zulfikar causing death matter, the
Magistrate has upheld and no-case submission, which essentially argued that the prosecution did not have enough evidence to convict Best. As such, the matter was dismissed back in December and Best walked a free man of both charges. Best back then offered an apology over the incident, but however, admitted no guilt in the matter. Shortly after, the Director of Public Prosecution has since signaled their intentions to appeal the decision of the Magistrate in the cause of death charge. It was back in March 2020, on the Rupert Craig Highway,and when Best, who Cheong, other private was allegedly under the sector representatives influence of alcohol caused including David the death of Bentley during Fernandes, Head of a his morning ride.
Mustapha, and Tourism 2consortium dealing with Industry and Commerce, the expansion of corn and soya-bean production in Oneidge Walrond. Chairman of the Private Guyana, and Sachin Singh Sector Commission, Paul who heads another private
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sector consortium dealing with the expansion of the seafood sector, were also present. The meeting was a follow-up to earlier meetings between Frontlineheld workers are President Irfaan Ali will and set to be the first who officials of Elite Agro get COVID-19 vaccines. The Government of LLC (one of the UAE’s Barbados 1500 leading donated agriculture vaccines. Minister companiesHealth having largeDr. Frank Anthony was scale integrated farming on hand to receive the operations and currently vaccines which arrived engaged in growing, at Ogle importing, Airport and on sourcing, Wednesday. marketing of agricultural President Irfaan products). Ali confirmed that During the meeting, 1400 vaccines will go Minister Singhtoexplained “exclusively” frontline to the these officials of workers, are mainly Elite Agro LLC that nurses and doctors, while traditionally 100 dosagesagriculture would has given been an be to extremely Caricom important anchor in Secretariat. Guyana’s economy. President Ali said that It is still an important anchor in the non-oil economy. He added that with Guyana looking to
expand the agricultural sector currently, two big streams of opportunities are available to Elite Agro LLC either to be a direct investor or to facilitate trade in agricultural the government is working commodities to other to ensure that Guyanese export destinations. are vaccinated by year-end Minister as Agriculture he said more donations Zulfikar Mustapha are expected within said the coming Earlier this that withweeks. the emergence of week, received oil andBarbados gas, it is expected athat donation of and Oxfordthe oil gas Astrazeneca sector will vaccines. complement OxfordtheThenon-oil sector and Astrazeneca vaccine is the Government will said to be 62% effective. invest in infrastructure to However, is also support the itdevelopment reportedly 90 percent and expansion of the effective with a lower agricultural sector. dose than the required two The private sector doses. representatives provided Guyana expected extensive and detailed donations of vaccines presentations to from India, China, Elite and Agro LLC on agriculture Russia. (including corn and soya bean) and seafood along with the available opportunities for inv
GUYANA RECORDS 71 NEW AIDS CASES THIS YEAR
As the World observes Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS} Day 2021, statistics in Guyana show that over 9000 people are currently infected by the deadly disease. Adding to an already compound situation with the COVID-19 Pandemic, the health sector also faces the challenges of reducing infections. This was revealed by the National AID Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Health when the two hosted a
ceremony to acknowledge the ongoing fight against AIDS. This fight has been ongoing since the diagnosis of the first AIDS case some four decades ago. Under the theme: “Ending Inequalities. End AIDS. END Pandemic” it was noted by Programme Director of the Aids Secretariat, Tariq Jagnarine, that some 9022 are infected with the disease. There were 71 new cases in 2021 alone, in which more young people continue to be at the forefront of
contraction. Dr Jagnarine explained that of the total, 94% of a person living with HIV knows his status, 70% remain on treatment with antiretroviral drugs while 83% are virally suppressed. There are 50 sites around Guyana that are geared to test. Dr Jagnarine said that there is the need for a greater fight against disease from the wider community since more and more, there have been several elements that have contributed to a high number of cases.
“These challenges clearly indicate to us that to end AIDS and defeat the COVID-19 Pandemic; we must eliminate the challenges relating to inequalities, stigma and discrimination by putting people at the centre and ground our responses in gender rights, and human response approaches.” Dr Jagnarine said that one way we can fight AIDS and succeed in ending the disease by 2030 is by knowing that AIDS remains relevant in our society and we must do all we can to protect
ourselves and others.” The Secretariat also emphasized that there remain challenges that are affected by the fight. These must be addressed. “Throughout the year there were many challenges compounded by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Some of them included delays in our consumables or ARV Condoms, Lubricant. Stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV were worsened by the COVID-19 Pandemic. This led to gender-based violence. There was a lack of regional ownership and involvement in the HIV programme. A high level of follow up worsened during the pandemic. We had a low viral load testing, slow vaccine uptake, and a weakened paper-based system.” Dr Jagnarine said that this has put the programme in some level of shambles since people also with the virus have not even returned for treatment. While acknowledging the problems facing the fight, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony noted
that there must be a way in which the young people are the target to stop the high spread and it’s a focus that should be revitalized with education. “We can prevent infection by doing a number of things. We have to educate people. So, those young people who are coming of age and want to experiment must know that they have choices. “They must know how to protect themselves. We have spoken about this for a long time; we have talked about family life education in schools and we need to reinforce that so that young people can have the right knowledge and make the appropriate choices.” Additionally, Minister Frank Anthony said that PREP Programme must be used also to stop the spread. Self-testing will be a way out. While noting the hindrance of the pandemic, Dr. Anthony also explained that the only way out of the COVID problem is through a high vaccination rate.
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FridayNov. 26, 2021
Amendments to election laws – Form over substance …say Yog Mahadeo and Jonathan Yearwood
Article 13 welcomes the invitation to the public and stakeholders by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance for comments on the Government’s draft proposals for amendments to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA), and proposed new regulations. From the years 1968 to 1985, elections were marred by widespread rigging that brought ignominy to Guyana and threatened the social fabric of the country. While elections between 1992 and 2015 were more democratic, they were not without
problems or issues. Those, however, pale in comparison to the blatant attempt by leading State actors and GECOM officials to undermine the March 2020 elections. Article 13 considers genuine electoral reforms a national imperative for Guyana’s democratic development, a prerequisite to social, political, and economic progress. Article 13 has reviewed the several proposed amendments to the Representation of the People Act as well as the proposed introduction of the new Regulations under that Act. We note that
several of the amendments introduce severe penalties, including a $10 M fine and life imprisonment for certain conduct by elections officials. Article 13 shares the concerns expressed by commentators that the proposed amendments are inadequate and unsatisfactory. They fail to address some of the more fundamental problems associated with elections. We are concerned too that if these proposals make their way into the law, they can have a chilling effect on the willingness of citizens to serve for a paltry sum as clerks on election day.
Any attempt at reform must begin with an analysis of the problem. An exercise of this nature must proceed from the recognition that a deficient apparatus will produce flawed results. Part of that problem is the Carter-Price model of an Elections Commission made up of competing politicians. This Model which was intended as a temporary measure for the 1992 Elections has installed Commissioners claiming lifetime tenure and seemingly committed to doing everything but their constitutional duty. This arrangement has to be changed by a constitutional amendment and replaced by independent Commissioners appointed by a Constitutional Commission for a limited period of no more than two elections cycles. The proposed amendments fail to address the sore point of the List of Electors. The question of who may and may not vote in elections
is a problem that we can no longer avoid. In this regard, the possibility of dual citizens Guyanese being allowed to participate as candidates in elections should be examined. The proposed amendments do nothing to address the situation in which the Chief Elections Officer is also the Head of Registration – a concentration of power and functions which is unacceptable. Any reform ought to make elections more democratic by facilitating voting by qualified electors. Article 13 strongly advocates for the re-introduction of Independents in the National Assembly and the removal of the statutory requirement that participation in national elections is restricted to parties contesting six of the ten Polling Districts (Regions). On the question of campaign financing, GECOM and the political
parties continue to defy the ROPA on the grounds that the amount permitted is grossly inadequate. Yet, there is no proposal for increasing that limit or preventing elections from becoming hostage to foreign interests and private capital. Nor do the proposed amendments deal with the abuse of state resources by the party in Government and egregiously, the shutting out of opposition parties from the state media. Article 13 calls on the Government to immediately extend the period of consultation which ends on December 17, and to engage in meaningful consultation with the people of the country. The laid down procedure lacks transparency, shuts out large segments of the population and fails to address the fundamental issues affecting elections in Guyana since Independence fifty-five years ago.
Finance Minister meets with French delegation
Senior Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh has met with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD), France’s inclusive public development bank at the Ministry of Finance to re-establish and
deepen ties of economic cooperation with France. The delegation comprised Milena Valbuena, Director of AFD’s Suriname-Guyana office, Nicolas Brun, Project Officer in charge of Surinamese operations,
and Tahiry Marcel, an economist in the geographic department of AFD’s headquarters in charge of Surinamese operations, while Minister Singh was accompanied by Tarachand Balgobin, Director in the Project
Cycle Management Division (PCMD) and Donna Levi, Head of the Bilateral Division, Ministry of Finance. The AFD team is in Guyana on a macroeconomic mission slated to conclude on December 1.
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The AFD Group is a French public institution that implements France’s policy in the areas of development and international solidarity. The mission of AFD is to contribute to the economic, social, and
environmental progress of low and middle-income countries. During the meeting, Minister Singh welcomed the group and both sides discussed a number of areas for possible future collaboration.
Guyana Post Saturday January 30, 2021
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