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Wedneday Dec. 1, 2021

“BARBADOS HAS OUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT” – PRES ALI AS COUNTRY CHOOSES REPUBLICAN STATUS

SHERIFF/MANDELA ROAD EXPANSION GETS NEW DEADLINE

$2.3 B ECCLES TO MANDELA FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY IN FINAL STAGES ─ COMPLETION EXPECTED IN TWO WEEKS

Wednesday Dec. 1, 2021

GUYANA PLEDGES UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO WORLD’S NEWEST REPUBLIC, BARBADOS

President Ali

–President Ali says upon congratulating the first President of the islandnation, PM Mottley PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has committed Guyana’s unwavering support to the first President of Barbados, Sandra Mason, and Prime Minister Mia

Mottley, as the island nation progresses as a new republic.

On Tuesday, the Republic of Barbados celebrated its 55th Anniversary and its inaugural Republic Day, which saw Mason becoming the island’s first President.

President Ali, in official letters to both Mottley

The President added: “Guyana salutes the Barbadian people on this momentous transition as you seek to further consolidate political independence and nationhood. It is a tribute to the conscience and courage of your forebears who yearned for freedom in all its plenitude and stood and Mason, emphasised fast against the odds.”

Guyana’s commitment and support for Barbados.

The Head of State “As Barbados embarks also commended Prime upon its new status as a Minister Mottley for republic, I assure you, steering the successful President Mason and advancement of Prime Minister Mottley Barbados’s Constitution and the Government and the completion of its and people of Barbados, national independence. of Guyana’s continued As a close partner with and unwavering Barbados in CARICOM, support,” Dr. Ali said. the President noted

that Guyana is fully aware of the strong sense of patriotism and commitment to regionalism by the Government and people of Barbados, and rejects completely any suggestion that Barbados has adopted republic status for any reason other than the rightful desire to own its Constitution and arrangements of government.

“Guyana and Barbados are joined by ties of blood, history, and friendship. Our two countries now traverse the path of independence and integration as sister republics. We look forward to working with you to further

develop the warm and friendly ties which so happily exist between us and to strengthen the fabric of our Caribbean community,” President Ali related.

The Guyana Head of State added that while the decision by the Government and people of Barbados unties the formal constitutional connection to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it does not, in any way, diminish the high regard that is retained for The Queen, whose role as the Head of the Commonwealth of Nations is “deeply appreciated.” (Office of the President)

Sheriff/Mandela Road Expansion gets new deadline

The new deadline of February 2022 was announced by the Minister of Public Works, Juan A. Edghill during a site visit today. He noted that work on the road network at moment is about 95% completed.

“As a result of COVID-19 related delays, all the other works apart from this 600 meters which will be paved in the next 48 hours or so, everything else must be

completed by the 14th February– the installation of the lights, the signals, the guardrails and everything,” Minister Edghill noted.

Earlier in the year, the same Minister explained that from his perspective the project would have been completed by December.

However, according to Minister Edghill, the delay in shipment and in other instances now

push the project to new deadline date.

The Sheriff/ Mandela Road that is a sevenkilometer stretch of road, is a project that started under the then PPP/C and later continued under APNU-AFC Government when it took office in 2015.

With some US$31 million from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the project was to have been

completed within 24 months. The contractor is the Chinese Company, Sinohydro Co-operation Limited.

The project was however not completed.

This was attributed to several reasons ranging from safety protocols being breached to the quality of work being done by several subcontractors.

Many issues had to be dealt with among them

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persons who occupied sections of the road.

The project then resumed under the APNUAFC Government. Then the 2020 March election came. This led to another delay. The new PPP/C Government came into power and the project resumed.

Minister Edghill bragged that the project will be finally be completed but the Government will need

some additional funds to finish the project since the loan was spilled and went to the housing development under the APNU-AFC Government.

“The sums allocated for the Sheriff/Mandela Access Road have been utilized. We will need some extra money. That is a conversation that is being undertaken with the Ministry of Finance at the highest level.

“I and the Minster have been speaking about that so I cannot definitively say this afternoon if it will come from a loan or local sources,” Edghill explained.

He noted that since there were some changes to the variations of some parts of the old road. The cost of materials would have changed.

Mr. Edghill however pointed out that only under his watch did Guyanese get what they had paid for.

“Im satisfied that since I am the Minister of Public Works, I got what I paid for and what I am paying for.”

SOPHIA MURDER ACCUSED TO STAND HIGH COURT TRIAL

The new Eccles to Mandela concrete four-lane highway is in its final stages. It is expected to be completed in approximately two weeks.

This was revealed Monday by supervisor on the ground from JS Guyana Inc. Adish Ramnarace, who was at the time overlooking ongoing work on the roundabout at the point where the road meets

Mandela Avenue.

“Right now, we over 55 percent completion in the roundabout, and in lot six we are about 60 percent completed,” the supervisor said.

The road works were divided into six lots and consist of a four-lane road with a dual carriageway of two lanes each and joint reinforced concrete pavement in accordance with international standards.

Asked about the estimated completion time for the final lot and the roundabout at the end of the road, Ramnarace said that the next 14 days should be sufficient time for the culminating works.

“We are in loam stage right now; we are going to put on the crusher run and after the crusher run it’s [the applying of] asphalt. Then we have the concrete work around the roundabout to complete,

so [that should be done] in two weeks’ time,” he said.

The four-lane road forms part of the East Bank Demerara alternate road link. It is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion.

The project is scheduled to be completed by December and is being undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and Water.

Contracts for the project were signed ba

The Police are on the hunt for a driver who hit and killed a 78-year-old Grove while failing to stop at an intersection.

According to reports, the incident occurred just around 4:50 hours on the street on Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

Subsequent to the incident, the dead woman was identified as 78-yearold Veronica Lewis, a resident of Grove, East Bank Demerara Ms. Lewis was on the southern side of Lamaha It was explained back Street in the vicinity of then that while several Waterloo Street when multi-million contracts she was struck down by continue to be given out by the PPP/C Government, it does seem to have some level of corruption.

Additionally, the Opposition Members pointed out that some contractors have also complained about the awarding of contracts to individuals with no experience, while the more qualified continue to be sidelined.

“The projected timeline is that we can reach a position, where both sides agree on the names and that an announcement could be done as early as Monday of next week” Figueira The PPC is a commission set to scrutinize contracts being awarded and to investigate complaints from other contractors.

Public Procurement Commission close to being appointed

Chair of the PAC, Jermaine Figueir

A push by the APNUAFC representatives on the Public Accounts Committee heeded the final stage of choosing five individuals to head the now-defunct Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

With 26 people initially chosen by the Opposition and Government, eight are now left. Only five are needed to comprise the commission.

This was confirmed

by Chair of the PAC, Jermaine Figueira, who

said that following a meeting with the PAC Sub-Committee involving Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, four names were put forward by the opposition and four by the Government.

Mr. Figueira said that now the process will move on to them taking the eight names to their respective parties and to deliberate.

This is a significant step considering the fact of how long the process took in the initial stages.

“We have to take those names to our respective parties to further deliberate before we come to the finality of the five names that are required to fill the position as members of the PPC. “We are still in that process. But I believe we would have made significant strides in naming the candidates to fill the various position on the commission.”

About a week ago, the issue was raised by the Opposition Members.

Police hunt hit-andrun driver

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an unknown vehicle that failed to stop.

Ms. Lewis was left lying on the road surface with severe head and other injuries.

The Ambulance Service was contacted and arrived shortly on the scene. An EMT examined and pronounced her dead at the scene.

Ms. Lewis was later escorted by the police to Memorial Gardens Funeral Parlour mortuary to await post mortem.

The hunt remains for the driver and the investigation continues.

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.

MondayNov. 22, 2021

GOVERNMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON MINIMUM WAGE IS A VIOLATION OF DOMESTIC LAW AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION–SAY RAMON GASKIN, YOG MAHADEO AND JONATHAN YEARWOOD Budget process so that and accountability

Ramon Gaskin

Yog Mahadeo

Jonathan Yearwood

Article 13 notes the announcement by senior Minister in the Ministry of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, of a seven percent salary increase for public servants and government pensioners for 2021.

Once again, we witness the spectacle of the imposition of wage increase by unilateral action, as has happened every year since 1999!

This is a clear breach

of the Constitution, the Trade Union Recognition Act, the Agreement for collective bargaining between the Government and the workers’ unions, and ILO Conventions.

Tellingly, the imposition also violates Article 13 of the Constitution which was elevated to a fundamental right under Article 149 C. To make matters worse, the Minister of the

Public Service insults the intelligence of the nation with the fatuous excuse for non-consultation with the Union that the government was “pressed for time”. As a lawyer by profession, the Minister ought to be aware of section 23 of the Trade Union Recognition Act which imposes on employers a duty to bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with [the trade unions] for

the purpose of collective bargaining.”

It seems that no one in this Government understands that collective bargaining extends beyond wages and salaries. It includes other terms and conditions of work as well.

Our Group submits that collective bargaining for the year 2021 should have commenced and coincided with the 2021

it could be included in the 2021 Appropriations Act. And even if belated negotiations had taken place as part of the midyear review, the two sides could have considered the fact that the growth in Guyana’s economy outstripped that of any other country in the world.

Further, increases in the cost of living of basic items have been running at anywhere between 10% and 30%; and that consumer prices at the end of the first half of 2021 grew by 5.6 percent.

Accordingly, the seven per cent does not represent any real increase for public sector employees or their standard of living.

In addressing the issue of representation, we note the poor quality of representation of our public sector workers by incompetent and even absentee leadership. Our Group’s call for democracy

Gail Teixeira, were at the scene.

The Prime Minister said, “We have been able to save the DPP part of the building.”

He added, “The investigation will help us to determine whether it is coincidental (with the Brickdam Police Station

fire) or if there is some other motive or reason behind this fire.

“We need to allow the fire service and the police and law enforcement agencies to do their work…”

Minister Benn said that the fire has placed the operations of the OPR and DPP in disarray.

The minister said he believes that Guyana is experiencing a “trial by fire.”

“It appears that a subliminal message is being put around the areas starting from some firetechnic minded person in the United States and

maybe, perhaps much more than likely that the incidents we see and the timings at which they occur are related to those more than subliminal messages about Georgetown burning if the PPP does not do whatever.”

“We will stand firm here; we will make sure that the work of our government and the development of our country proceeds,” he stated.

Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie said that despite the loss of documents in the OPR, the force has always had a backup in place.

“We always have contingency systems in place but of course, any fire initially would affect us going forward.

extends not only to the Government of the day but also to the Opposition and to the trade unions.

We cannot help but note with surprise that the political Opposition is now rejecting the imposition of wage increases in the public sector when it did the same while it was in Government between 2015 and 2020.

Finally, we remind the Government that it is beyond time for it to review the minimum wage in the private and the public sector, particularly with respect to our nurses, teachers, the Police, and the Army who are in the frontline protecting our people and our territory.

This Government, like its predecessor, appears utterly oblivious to the question of the minimum wage in the private sector which stands at $44,500 which is a complete disgrace in an oil economy.

“Together as a team, we will put systems in place to ensure that it does not hamper our progress in addressing the issues at hand…Most, if not all the cases, have connections to several divisions also because we have decentralised Office of Professional Responsibility, that is in every region throughout our country,” he stated.

Chief Fire Officer, Kalamadeen Edoo, said the fire service received the call about the fire at 13:50hrs.

Fire tenders from the Central, Campbellville, Alberttown, and West Ruimveldt fire stations responded. The building which was under fire housed OPR, the Office of the DPP, Police Headquarters Barracks, and the construction secti

DPP office saved but OPR section destroyed by fire

Police Compound, Eve Leary

Major losses were avoided on Saturday after quick response from the Guyana Fire Service resulted in the fire at the Guyana Police Force’s Office for Professional Responsibility (OPR) being brought under control.

The work of the fire

service saved the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) which is housed in the same building in Eve Leary.

Prime Minister (Ret’d) Brigadier Mark Phillips; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance,

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SMALL MINERS CALL ON PRESIDENT IRFAAN ALI FOR HELP

can count on. We pay ROYALTY AND TAXES upfront on ALL GOLD and Diamonds produced, unlike other businesses who only pay taxes on profits declared (if any).

Even with our hard work and paying taxes we still do not enjoy the benefits, since we have to be tax compliant before we can enjoy any perks but we never give up. This is our livelihood; we have to survive since families depend on it.

So, it hurts to see there is no: A. Security.

Police and Mining Officers are not visiting and patrolling Mining locations.

Illegal shops, drugs, guns, and trafficking in persons are prevalent. The illegal/ non-gazetted shops are operating with the knowledge/ consent of the Mines Officer (GGMC).

B. Terrible Roads.

Major Mining roads, and bridges are not being repaired and maintained.

C. Covid Pandemic.

Illegal shops and landings with no COVID restrictions, masks, etc. are putting Miners’ lives at risk.

D. Malaria Outbreak.

With the continuous rainfall and flooding, there is a serious outbreak of Malaria in the Mining camps. Treated mosquito nets, along with other Malaria treatments are not being given to Miners.

Health staff/ personnel are not visiting Mining camps in the backdam.

As soon as the farmers cry, help is available.

As soon as the loggers

cry even though they are the ones damaging what little is left of the mining roads… they are demanding that the contractors work overtime to get their logging roads fixed.

We as Miners? Our cries hardly ever get heard.

To reach the worksite, one has to travel over roads that are in deplorable conditions, at times risking one’s life to get to one’s work destination.

The Government has attempted to “repair” some of these roads over the years. They have paid millions of dollars to “Contractors”, whose contract repair works last for a few months.

The roads return to the deplorable state and the same contractor is given another contract to fix the same roads.

How long will this continue?

Come on Dr. Irfaan Ali, president, of all the people of Guyana, something must be done for us, small miners.

Frustrated Small Miners.

until they are vaccinated or had a PRC test done, the Unions together filed the matter against the Government.

They contended that the actions were unconstitutional on many levels.

As such, the Union moved to the court along with their Attorneys Darren Wade and Dane Elliott-Hamilton to seek clarification and declaration on several fronts.

One such front includes a declaration by the court that the health emergency made by the former President David Granger and continues under the current President, Irfaan Ali, and later published in the official gazette falls out of the jurisdiction of the President under Section 21 of the Public Health Ordinance.

The Unions want the court, also, to declare that even with the fact that given a Central Board of Health meeting, the President and the Minister

of Health, simply ignored any recommendation by the Board as required by law.

The Unions are also arguing that the President in his capacity has acted unconstitutionally by the delegation of the President’s powers and as such infringes on the Constitution.

The result is that the emergency measures issued are deemed to be invalid.

The Unions are asking that the court deem it invalid and of no effect since the Central Board of Health has no authority to delegate its powers to a third party.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall is set as a respondent on behalf of the Guyana Government.

Dr. Irfaan Ali, president, of all the people of Guyana,

All across Guyana, the heavy rainfall has affected everyone in some kind of way. At the same time, we are dealing with the COVID pandemic over which we have no control.

As a miner, and I speak for all miners, just like the farmers and others, we are working people and we are affected.

We are already facing serious challenges in this industry, like poor infrastructure but we are still going out there every

day because we have a task at hand, a duty to complete, bills to pay, and mouths to feed, because our families are depending on us.

Meetings are being called with farmers, loggers, etc. I can’t remember the last time a meeting was called with Miners to hear our cries.

It’s Oil, Oil, and more Oil. The Mining Industry over the past 25 and more years has been carrying this country, built foundations,

developed hinterland locations, found jobs for Guyanese especially the ones who don’t have the PRIVILEGE of formal education and also people from around the world.

It was also the largest earner of foreign exchange.

Over 200,000 Guyanese are dependent on this Mining Industry. The Mining Industry is one of the most stable industries that the Government and Guyanese people

Trades unions move to court to challenge vaccination policy

The Guyana Trades Union Congress, the Guyana Public Service Union, and the Guyana Teachers Union have joined forces and have filed a civil proceeding against the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

Chief Justice, Roxane George, is set to hear oral arguments in the New Year.

When the matter was called this morning before Chief Justice George, the dates were handed out for exchange of submissions.

The judge has also set January 20, 2022, for oral arguments.

It was back in August following protest actions by workers against the vaccination policy that prevented workers from entering their workplaces

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Foreign pilots jailed for illegal landing

two, David Caicedo Villa, a 32-year-old pilot of Villavicencio, Colombia, and Gustavo Adolfo Riascos Gomez, a 48-year-old pilot/

Two foreign pilots, who were arrested after they landed at the Mahdia airstrip, were slapped with four more charges. They have also been jailed.

The two, David Caicedo Villa, a 32-yearold pilot of Villavicencio, Colombia, and Gustavo Adolfo Riascos Gomez,

a 48-year-old pilot/ businessman of Tachira San Cristobal, Venezuela, were charged and remanded to prison last week for unauthorized entry into Guyana and illegal possession of two grams of cannabis.

The two appeared before Chief Magistrate,

Ann McLennan were slapped with the charges of interfering with an aircraft, operating a civil aircraft without a certificate and insurance, operating an aircraft in a reckless manner, and operating without a licence.

The duo pleaded guilty

to the charges which alleged that on November 4, 2021, at Mahdia Airstrip, they interfered with an aircraft, operated a civil aircraft without a certificate and insurance, and also operated the said aircraft in a reckless manner.

The men were

sentenced to two years imprisonment for operating the aircraft without a certificate.

For the latter charges, the men were fined a total of $11M or served in default, three years’ imprisonment.

On November 4, last, Police received reports of the airstrip landing incident. A party of policemen was dispatched to the area.

The plane was found in front of the Trans Guyana’s hanger, and the men were standing at the head of the aircraft talking to the security guard and ramp attendant.

When confronted by the police, one of the men explained that they were lost and had come from Venezuela and were “going to look for gold”.

Investigators said that a subsequent search of the men and the plane found

nothing illegal.

However, the aircraft contained three 15-gallon drums two of which contained fuel– suspected to be smuggled – one hammock with netting, one bag containing clothing, and personal effects.

Also found was a black bag with identification cards documents, one Garmin GPS, one Iridium Phone, one Icom radio set, one spot trace device, one earpiece, one lighter, one torchlight, one Motorola phone, one Samsung phone, one wallet, one knife, two wristwatches, two phone chargers, two grams of suspected cannabis, and some bamboo wrap.

Finance Minister Ashni Singh hosts follow-up agriculture investment meeting

Government continues to push and implement strategies for Guyana’s non-oil sector to be expanded. On Monday, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh

hosted another follow-up meeting with Chandra Pratap Singh, Business Development Director; and Emil Moukarzel, Chief Operating Officer of Elite Agro LLC of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Accompanying the Finance Minister at the meeting were Ministers of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Tourism Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Paul

Cheong, and other private sector representatives including David Fernandes, Head of a consortium dealing with the expansion of corn and soya-bean production in Guyana, and Sachin Singh 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 held between President Irfaan Ali and officials of Elite Agro LLC (one of the UAE’s leading agriculture companies having largescale integrated farming operations and currently engaged in growing, sourcing, importing, and marketing of agricultural products).

During the meeting, Minister Singh explained to the officials of Elite Agro LLC that traditionally agriculture has been an extremely important anchor in Guyana’s economy.

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 commodities to other export destinations.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that with the emergence of oil and gas, it is expected that the oil and gas sector will complement the non-oil sector and the Government will invest in infrastructure to support the development and expansion of the agricultural sector.

The private sector representatives provided extensive and detailed presentations to Elite Agro LLC on agriculture (including corn and soya bean) and seafood along with the available opportunities for inv

Tuesday Nov. 16, 2021

LINDEN’S BLUE LAKE DEEMED A TOURIST DESTINATION

Despite the concerns over the safety of the Blue Lake in Linden, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, and the Guyana Tourism Authority, has joined the Region 10 Regional administration, Region 10 Tourism Committee, and the Linden Town Council with another official launch making Kara Kara Blue Lake a tourist destination.

As Guyana continues to celebrate Tourism Month 2021, Blue Lake in Region 10 has been

now been listed as a tourism destination.

According to the Minister of Tourism, Oneidge WalrondAllicock, giving the area the title is “no brainer” as the lake was cleared for ‘leisure activates’ only.

“Getting into that kayak is a bit of adventure. People love the little adrenaline and the sites are so beautiful.

It’s pristine out here; this is a no-brainer for a tourist attraction. You could come here to the beautiful white sand, the

safe water, swimming, adventure kayaking, jet skiing. There is so much to do here in just one spot,” Minister, Waldron noted.

At the time, the Minister was making several stops around Region 10, where she met several stalk holders in the tourism industry in the region, where concerns and plans for development were shared.

The minister named the Kara Kara Blue Lake a tourist destination

as Guyana celebrates Tourism Month 2021.

Kara Kara Blue Lake is an old mining area, where over many decades’ chemicals were used in the area. After the mining stopped the manmade lake was formed.

As such over the years, there were several concerns raised overacidity in the water and the risk it poses to the health of those venturing off into the waters.

This pushed the authorities in the area to halt swimming in the waters but that decision was later reversed.

According to the Minister, this is because of independent studies done on the water that showed that the water is safe for leisure activities.

“We have had an independent study done of the water, as well as a study conducted by GWI, Guyana Water Authority. They have certified that the lake is safe for recreational activates. So, we would not have been reckless enough to say that it is safe when it’s not. We do have studies to back it up.”

The Minister also emphasized that the next step is to develop the area by having a proposal from the people of Region Ten to develop the area with resorts etc.

“Already, we have given the support the tourism committee in terms of developing, and also to Mr (Deon) Anderson, a Chemical Engineer by profession and the proprietor of Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours) as a stakeholder in this particular venture.

“I could see with the proposals, and encourage the tourism committee that if they can come together with proposals to put up and beautiful resorts.

To have sporting activities done here in this beautiful lake, all of these things we can help partner and help to sell these destinations for people, who are coming from outside of Guyana with monies to invest in tourism.

“They really want to partner and when we present this as a project I believe it would not be in terms of selling for it

to be a major resort tourist destination,” Minister Walrond also disclosed.

The town of Linden has been known as the mining town for over 100 years. Since then several areas in the town show the history of that mining.

The Blue Lake area was once a flat piece of land but just but over time heavy excavation for bauxite eventually formed mining pits.

The pits filled water from springs beneath the earth’s surface and surrounding hills.

However, as people started to use the area for swimming and other activities, several times heavy metals and other toxins were found.

In the end, according to officials, they were tested and it was shown that the water was not safe for consumption but for recreation.

The area is set to be developed with various resorts and added security. The dumpsite nearby is to be removed soon.

MORE THAN 50 PER CENT ADULT POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED —DR. ANTHONY Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, on Monday, announced that Guyana has surpassed a major milestone in its vaccination campaign. It has fully inoculated more than half of the adult population.

During the COVID-19 update, Dr. Anthony said 51 percent of the adult population has been fully vaccinated against the deadly virus.

“So, this is not the entire Guyanese population.

Of the adult population, we have achieved the 51 percent.”

He said while the milestone can be applauded, some regions are still lagging in their

vaccination. He said 51 percent overall was reached because of the high vaccination rate in Region Four.

“So we are 43.2 percent in Region One; Region Two, 41.6 percent, for Region Three, 48.9 percent; Region Four, 58.5 percent; Region Five, 51.9 percent; Region Six 49.8 percent; Region Seven, 46.9 percent; Region Eight, 34.8 percent; Region Nine at 53.4 percent, and Region Ten at 22.3 percent.

“These are persons 18 years and over who would have received both doses of the vaccines.”

As of Monday, the Ministry of Health

recorded 391,521 adults, 18 years and older taking the first dose of a COVID vaccine, representing 76.3 percent of that population.

A total of 261,811 adults, or 51 percent of that population have already returned for the second dose of the vaccine.

For persons 12 to 17 years, 28,345 or 38.9 percent were vaccinated with the first dose, while 19,536 or 26.8 percent received the second shot.

Meanwhile, despite vaccination numbers progressively increasing, persons are still flouting the COVID-19 guidelines, Dr. Frank Anthony adding to the number Just over the past 24 cases, raising the currently of positive cases, Dr. hours, the Ministry of active cases to 2,412.

Anthony stated.

Health detected 55 new Of that number, 50

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persons are currently hospitalised, Minister Anthony noted.

“Thirty-two persons are now at the Ocean View Hospital with 15 of them in the ICU. The others are indifferent regional hospitals: four at Suddie Hospital, three at West Demerara, two at the Region Five facility, one at Skeldon, one at Bartica, two at Mahdia and we have four persons in the Wismar Hospital.”

Region Three is still topping the chart with 1,014 active cases.

Minister Anthony is urging the population to come forward and be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dr. Frank Denbow gifts DCC substantial financial donation

More than five decades after his family moved to Church and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown, Queenstown, and he soon gravitated to the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), renowned health professional, Dr. Frank Denbow, returned to

Queenstown to pay homage to where his early infatuation with the sport of cricket began.

On Wednesday evening, Dr. Denbow, who was not a member of the club, until that moment handed over a cheque for $2 million to

aid in the club’s upkeep.

In return, he was made an Honorary Life Member at the ‘Home of the Legends’.

The former Queen’s College student reflected on watching West Indies play Australia at the iconic Georgetown

Cricket Club, Bourda, in 1965 and highlighted that prior to such, his imagery of cricket came through reading books.

Dr. Denbow said DCC has a rich history of talent and it was important to help the club maintain its facilities to keep

November 11, last, at of #11 Village West Coast Berbice brutally murdered Evans.

The five were not required to enter a plea to the charge and were remanded to prison until December.

Bheem Evans was allegedly beaten with a cutlass, rope, and chain, placed in a rice bag and dragged 300 feet to his death by several men over an accusation of stealing a silver chain, gold chain and eight silver rings

from one of his alleged attackers’ home.

Reports are that the incident occurred just after about 20;00 hours. It was explained by the victim’s son, Tishan Persaud, that he was on his way home on a street in Block “D” Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, when he was attacked by two suspects, armed with a cutlass, rope, and chain, He said that he was told that his father went into one of the suspect’s home and stole his silver chain, gold chain and eight silver rings.

The suspects subsequently started to deal with Tishan Persaud several lashes about his head, face and back.

Subsequently, the suspects then went on to find Evans and dealt him lashes about his face and body asking him for the supposed stolen articles.

Evans denied the allegations and the suspects then wrapped him in a one-ton rice sack and dragged him about 300 feet into another street

churning out that talent.

DCC President, Roger Harper, charged the young members at the small gathering to look at what the club means to someone who was not even a member.

He urged them to take great care of the historic institution and to play a more significant role in its enhancement.

Harper, who attended

DCC has produced famous West Indies Test players, such as the Christiani brothers, Robert and Cyril, Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs, Roy Fredericks, Roger Harper, Travis Dowlin, and the first West Indies cricket captain to win a test match, Marius Fernandes.

Shivnarine Chaderpaul also began his cricketing

Queen’s College with Dr. Denbow said that the monies will be spent on upgrades and they will be accounted for.

Established in 1912,

career at the club.

In 2011, DCC was voted the Club-of-theYear by the Guyana Cricket Board.

in the said village and threw him on the grass parapet and told his son to take him home.

Being injured as well, the son went to the police at Fort Wellington Police Station and reported the matter. Evans was picked up by police in an

unconscious condition and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

The body is presently lying at Fort Wellington Hospital Mortuary.

Five remanded for Bheem Evans’s murder

Following the beating of 54-year-old Berbician, Bheem Evans, last Friday five men were today charged and remanded to prison for his murder.

They made their first court appearance in the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate, Peter Hugh.

Those charged are 22-year-old unemployed Youth, Brian Evans, called Black Boy of #11 Village West Coast Berbice; 27yearold also unemployed

info@guyanapostonline.com

Ryan Dhanraj of Block D Waterloo, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice; 18-year-old labourer James David of # 12 Village, West Coast Berbice; 22-yearold, unemployed Youth, Samuel Vanbrook, called Chucky of Waterloo, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, and Leeward Chung called Boysie, 22, and unemployed of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.

According to the police, all five of the men on

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Guyana Post Saturday January 30, 2021

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