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Saturday December 19, 2020

International Court of Justice rules that it has jurisdiction to hear the Guyana/ Venezuela border case President Ali confers ‘Silk’ on three Senior Counsel after High Court ruling

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PNC/R CHAIR VOLDA LAWRENCE MAKES DOATION TO GRIEVING GRANDMOTHER OF BARTICA TRIPLE MURDER VICTIMS

POLICE COMMANDER OFFERS TO PAY GRA FOR SMUGGLED ALCOHOL

BRAZIL ANNOUNCES COVID-19 VACCINATION ROLLOUT PLAN Pg5

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Guyana Post, Saturday December 19, 2020

International Court of Justice rules that it has jurisdiction to hear the Guyana/Venezuela border case

On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) handed down a judgment in which it decided it has jurisdiction to hear the

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy case.

The decision was by a majority 12 for and four against.

The President of the

International Court of Justice, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf read the judgement at the Peace Palace in The Hague where a public sitting of

the court was held.

On March 29, 2018, Guyana instituted the case against Venezuela, asking the ICJ to pronounce on the legal validity and binding

effect of the 1899 Arbitral Award, determining the boundaries between the two countries.

According to the judgment, the 1899 Award states that both Guyana and Venezuela consented to the means of a judicial settlement.

Venezuela has argued that the court has no jurisdiction, therefore the country did not participate in the oral hearings.

Judge Yusuf explained Venezuela’s decision to not participate in the hearings so far has a negative impact on

administration of justice, however judgment of the court is final and binding on both parties.

Judge Yusuf said the court concluded that it has jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s claims about validity of the 1899 Award and related questions of the definitive settlement of the land boundary dispute.

However, Judge Yusuf noted that the court’s jurisdiction is limited as it cannot entertain Guyana’s complaints on events that occurred after the signature of the Geneva Agreement in 1966.

President Ali confers ‘Silk’ on three Senior Counsel after High Court ruling

From left, Timothy Jonus, Mrs Jamela Ali, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali officially elevated three legal luminaries to the status of Senior Counsel, effective from October 30, 2020 while acknowledging their “high standards of excellence and experience in the legal profession”.

The three Senior Counsel, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, Mr Timothy Jonas and Mrs Jamela Ali, took their oaths in the presence of the Head of State, Government officials and their family

members at a ceremony held on Thursday at the Baridi Benab in State House.

“Today I am pleased, as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to confer the title of Senior Counsel on three eminent members of the legal profession. Their records of excellence and sterling service exemplifies the high standards to which the legal profession aspires.

The conferment of Senior Counsel on these three legal luminaries is meritorious and

deserving.”

President Ali reminded the new Senior Counsel that their title has long been associated with standards of distinction.

“The conferment of ‘Silk’ is a mark of quality and thereby a means of enhancing public trust in our legal system. Such appointments will repose greater confidence in the efforts to ensure a more efficient and effective system.”

The Head of State noted too that public confidence in the administration of justice will only be

enhanced by the presence of persons who embody the high standards and traditions of excellence and service, within the legal system.

Such standards, he stressed, are therefore reinforced by such appointments which are based on merit and which can inspire greater respect for and confidence in the legal system.

The President added that an effective and efficient legal system is essential to the social contract between citizens and society, who look to

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the legal system to secure peace, to deter violations of the law and to protect their individual rights.

On October 28, 2020 the Head of State had announced that the appointments of the Senior Counsel were based on “their demonstrable knowledge of and learning in the law and on account of their exemplary erudition and diligence in the practice of the law and by virtue of their distinguished contributions to the growth and development of Guyana’s jurisprudence and constitutional democracy.”

The honour of silk is conferred on distinguished lawyers. This status is recognised by the courts and gives recipients privilege and respect.

THE PRESIDENT’S AUTHORITY The appointments followed Thursday’s ruling by High Court Judge Nareshwar Harnanan that the President has the authority

to appoint lawyers to Senior Counsel status.

The case was brought by Jonas who had challenged four Senior Counsel (SC) appointments that were made by former President, David Granger.

Jonas was seeking an Order of Certiorari to be directed to the Attorney General to quash the decision by the former President to elevate Attorneysat-Law Jamela Ali, Roysdale Forde, Mursalene Bacchus, and Stanley Moore as Senior Counsel.

The decision was first announced on December 31 and appointments were effective in January this year.

Jonas had argued that the former President’s decision was entirely void and of no effect.

While Jamela Ali was appointed by the former President, she did not acknowledge the role as a result of the pending legal challenge.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

PNC/R CHAIR VOLDA LAWRENCE MAKES DOATION TO GRIEVING GRANDMOTHER OF BARTICA TRIPLE MURDER VICTIMS

Chairperson of the PNC/R and former Minister of Public Health, Mrs. Volda Lawrence

OnThursday, December 17, Chairperson of the PNC/R and former Minister of Public Health,

Mrs. Volda Lawrence, along with a small group of party officials including Mr. James Bond and

Councillor Shonelle Smith-Daniels, visited and made a monetary donation along with food and other items to the grandmother of Caroline Kennedy.

Caroline and her two children five-year-old Mariana Downer and three-year-old Gabriella Kennedy were killed on December 13.

The former Public Health Minister also visited the site of the gruesome triple murder that rocked the Township earlier this month. She was accompanied by Mayor of Bartica, Mr. Gifford Marshall, and Regional Chairman Mr. Kenneth Williams.

The team then visited

the grieving grandmother who expressed her gratitude for the donations and the kind words that the team brought. She said it really hurts to know that the children are gone too.

Police have arrested the man who is reportedly responsible for their inhumane deaths in their Four Miles Squatting Area, Bartica house.

Mrs. Lawrence remarked that she was happy to bring some cheer to the grandmother at this time, on behalf of the PNC/R and expressed hope that justice is served in an expeditious manner in this case.

Five injured after West Berbice accident

Guyana Post, Saturday December 19, 2020

POLICE COMMANDER OFFERS TO PAY GRA FOR SMUGGLED ALCOHOL

Keithon King, Regional Commander of Region Nine, has offered the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) payment on the taxes of smuggled liquor which he was found with.

King and two junior ranks, were found with the uncustomed alcohol on Tuesday after GRA officers conducted a search of the vehicle the three were travelling in.

The Guyana Police

Force (GPF) issued a statement saying that it was aware of the incident.

Public Relations Officer of the GPF, Royston Andries-Junor, said on Wednesday that the commander and the two ranks have remained on duty despite the incident.

The incident is still being investigated by the GRA. It is currently unknown if the GRA has accepted King’s offer to pay the taxes.

LOGGER FOUND DEAD AFTER ARGUMENT WITH GIRL FRIEND

Five persons are now injured following a five-vehicle accident on Wednesday along the Rising Sun Public Road, West Coast Berbice.

The vehicle which initiated the accident was PLL 5896, driven by 23-year-old Odinga Hercules, a police constable attached to the Traffic Department at the Cove and John Police Station.

15-year-old Shania Giddings, a student of Presidents’ College,

was also a passenger in the vehicle.

The other vehicles were HB 6383 driven by 40-year-old Delroy Fraser; HC 7137 driven by 32-year-old Kellon James with two passengers, Rebecca Crossman, 52, and Thandie Crossman, 27; PYY 9093 driven by 26-year-old Osricks Reynolds; and minibus BYY 2757 driven by 29-year-old Delroy Lawrence.

A statement from Police

Headquarters said that Hercules was speeding along the northern side of the road behind the minibus and motorcar HC 7137.

While attempting to overtake the vehicles, Hercules hit the car, causing it to hit the rear of the minibus.

Hercules’ vehicle continued to collide with the cars driven by Reynolds and Fraser before crashing into a utility pole.

The injured persons were taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital and then later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital for treatment.

Rebecca Crossman and Thandie Crossman were admitted for fractured hips, Odinga Hercules for a fractured right foot, Shaina Giddings for a fractured right arm, and Kellon James for observation.

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Krishna Nandalall, 44, also known as “Wallis”, of Letter Kenny Village, East-Berbice, Corentyne was remanded to prison by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after being charged with the attempted murder of his wife, Rajmattie Punni on December 2, 2020.

It is alleged that Punni was attacked and stabbed several times by her husband in their home after an argument. Their 13-year-old son heard his mother screaming and ran back to the house where he saw his father armed with a knife over his mother’s body.

The boy managed to push his father off of Punni who ran away and

collapsed in a neighbour’s yard. She was taken to the Port Mourant hospital and then transferred to the New Amsterdam hospital, where she spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit. She has since been discharged from the hospital and is recovering.

Nandalall fled the scene after the incident and turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday.

His attorney asked the court to consider bail since his client turned himself in but it was objected by the prosecutor, Orin Joseph, who noted that police were searching for Nandalall for two weeks.

Nandalall was not required to plea to the charge and has been remanded until January 11, 2021.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Wednesday November 25, 2020

OAS accommodation of Guaidó attack on Trinidad and Tobago wrongly allowed but rightly resisted

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own)

Events at the Organization of American States (OAS) continue to reveal that, notwithstanding the efforts by some of its 33 member states, the Organization is the handmaiden of powerful governments which control it through various methods, including coercion.

Nothing symbolises this more glaringly than a presumptuous assault on the Government of Trinidad and Tobago by the agent of one small political party, purported to be the Government of Venezuela. The sordid event occurred in the OAS Permanent Council on December 16.

Some background is necessary. For various reasons, linked to the ambitions of political and business elites in certain countries, Juan Guaidó was selected as “Interim President” of Venezuela.

The people of Venezuela had no say in Guaidó’s selection or in his adornment with the title of “Interim President”.

Guaidó and his party cannot deliver any basic function of a government.

They do not have the capacity to sell a one cent stamp to a Venezuelan, or to respond to governments that need to engage with the authorities in

Venezuela.

Factually, Venezuela is not a member of the OAS. On 27 April 2017, the Venezuelan government properly notified the OAS Secretary-General of its withdrawal from the Organization in accordance with its rules.

Consequently, the Charter ceased to be in force with respect to Venezuela whose membership of the Organization ended on 27 April 2019.

However, determined to exercise power over Venezuela, in April 2019, 18 governments – some willingly, others out of fear or by coercion – imposed Guaidó’ s agent as the representative of Venezuela at the Organization, by a bare majority vote.

In effect, a small political party was given equal standing with sovereign governments – an unprecedented and alarming event.

The other 15 governments rejected this imposition, making clear that they would be bound by no declaration or resolution which is adopted by a majority that included the Guaidó agent. Further, they made it pellucid that no attention would be paid to anything he said in the Organization.

The OAS is a house

divided against itself. It is also financially bankrupt, in large part because, despite being regarded by a few member states and the Secretary-General as the ‘government’ of Venezuela, Guaidó’ s group has not paid a cent of the $3.3 million in membership fees for 2019 and 2020.

The recording of these monies as due from a country that is not a member of the Organization is another of the fallacies of the OAS. Against this background, when Guaidó’s representative requested - on his own and with none of his patron governments - the placement on the agenda of the Permanent Council of a presentation by himself on “Venezuelan Migration and Its Recent Tragic Consequences”, the delegation of Antigua and Barbuda objected.

The presumptuousness of the request to place any item on the agenda of the Permanent Council by an agent of one political party in a country, and the precedent it would set, had to be resisted.

The agent’s intention was to escalate an attack on Trinidad and Tobago, launched by Guaidó on November 24, regarding the recent deaths of 16 Venezuelans who had left

Venezuela illegally in a boat that appeared to have capsized.

In a public statement Guaidó stated: “The cruel treatment to which they (Trinidad and Tobago) subject Venezuelans who have been forced to migrate as a result of the dictatorship is painful and inhuman,” and then he threatened, “Parliament will initiate an investigation and the world is watching the events in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Consequently, Antigua and Barbuda told the Permanent Council that, apart from the fact that Venezuela is not a member of the OAS, “the purported representative of Venezuela is merely the spokesperson for only one of many political parties in Venezuela.

“Allowing the views and positions of only one political party to be expressed in any forum of the OAS is contrary to natural justice and democratic principles since it denies a similar opportunity to other political parties in Venezuela.”

Despite the efforts of the Chair to ignore a call for a vote on the matter, one was forced under the evident rules of the Organization.

The Guaidó supporters

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barely secured a majority of 18, including the vote of Guaidó’s agent.

Had Guaidó’s agent not been allowed to vote (as he should not have) on a matter in which he had a vested interest, the bare majority of 18 would not have been attained.

Unfortunately, the representatives of three CARICOM countries - Bahamas, Haiti and Jamaica - were part of the 17 states that supported this abuse.

Nonetheless, what was established is that support for the Guaidó farce is weakening as more countries opted to divorce themselves from the obvious abuse.

In his presentation, Guaidó’s agent made baseless accusations against Trinidad and Tobago, claiming that “there have been abuses and mistreatment of Venezuelans in Trinidad” and demanding that “Trinidad and Tobago allow access to its territory

and provide protection to people coming from Venezuela, observing due process and the principle of non-refoulement”.

The Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, Anthony Philips-Spencer, made a dignified and robust response that did not recognize Guaidó’s agent, but rejected all his remarks. The Ambassador was clear that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights had stated that the incident in which 16 Venezuelans had lost their lives had occurred “within Venezuela’s jurisdiction”.

He pointed out that Trinidad and Tobago - a small island State – has compassionately taken the unprecedented step of officially registering and facilitating over 16,000 migrants from Venezuela to live and work in Trinidad and Tobago. This hospitality continues even as our economy faces significant challenges that have affected all of our own people.”

There should have been many shamed faces at the end of the Ambassador’s response to the remarks by an agent with not one shred of authority to speak for the people and authorities of Venezuela.

This event reflects a perverse OAS no one should want, and which ill-serves the people of the Americas.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Wednesday November 25, 2020

HAITIANS DISAPPEAR BRAZIL ANNOUNCES COVID-19 VACCINATION FROM HOTEL ROLLOUT PLAN

Brazilan President Jair Bolsonaro, right, talks with his Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello during a ceremony presenting Brazil’s National Vaccination Plan Against Covid-19 at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on Wednesday, December 16. Eraldo Peres/AP

(CNN) Brazil's Ministry of Health on Wednesday announced its national vaccination rollout plan to counter Covid-19, set to start early next year.

During a ceremony at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, with President Jair Bolsonaro in attendance, the country's Health Minister, Eduardo Pazuello, gave what he called a "macro-view" of the strategy to vaccinate Brazilians.

ANVISA, Brazil's health regulatory agency, has yet to officially authorize the use of any Covid-19 vaccine in Brazil.

The plan consists of four phases based on priority groups. The first three phases will constitute the vaccination of 49,650,255 people and should start in February, according to health authorities.

The priority groups will include health and educational workers, the indigenous population, elderly people over 75 years old, those with preexisting health conditions,

security forces, transport officials and inmates, among others.

According to a statement published Wednesday by the health ministry, Brazil has already negotiated deals for more than 300 million doses of the vaccine for 2021, "through agreements with Fiocruz /AstraZeneca (100.4 million doses) and the COVAX Facility (42.9 million doses)."

"In addition, a memorandum of understanding was done with the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, to acquire 70 million doses --8.5 million doses by June 2021, with two million doses expected for the first quarter-- and with the pharmaceutical company Janssen, for the acquisition of 38 million doses, of these, three million doses for the second quarter of 2021," says the statement.

In late June, Brazil signed an agreement for the country's Osvaldo Cruz Foundation, also

known as Fiocruz, to produce the British AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine in the country.

Additionally, at the end of September, the state of Sao Paulo signed an agreement with Chinese SinoVac to receive millions of doses of the potential vaccine.

Sinovac and Brazilian leading biomedical research center, the Butantan Institute, conducted Phase III trials of the vaccine in Brazil.

"All vaccines produced in Brazil, by Butantan, Fiocruz or by any industry, will have the priority of SUS (Brazil's national health system)," Pazuello said.

In Brazil, four vaccines are in Phase III testing: AstraZeneca, Janssen, Sinovac and Pfizer.

None have requested emergency registration with ANVISA to date, according to a Wednesday statement from the country's health ministry.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has reported that the 26 Haitians who were recently released from protective custody have disappeared from the hotel in which they were staying.

“If they’re no longer here, not only the case ought to go but the government’s position has been vindicated,” he asserted.

Thirteen of the Haitians were staying at a city hotel when the hotel was invaded by Police officers who took them into custody.

The other 13 were held in Linden as they were about to check into a hotel

there before their road trip to Lethem and then to Brazil.

The Haitians were placed into protective custody at the Hugo Chávez Centre after it was suspected that they were victims of human trafficking.

After the Haitians spoke to the media and stated that they were not victims of human trafficking, the Government then decided to seek their deportation. Chief Justice Roxane George granted a conservatory order to put a hold on the deportation orders pending the determination of court proceedings.

The Haitians were released from the Centre and dropped off at the hotel which they were staying at in Georgetown.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said he was not aware of any development related to the Haitians.

Nandlall also noted that complaints were made by the Brazilian Government about the use of Guyana as an illegal entry point into Brazil and other countries.

He added that the court would be made aware of the Haitians’ disappearance today and those who had petitioned for them will have to now answer to court.

MAN CHARGED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF WIFE

Krishna Nandalall, 44, also known as “Wallis”, of Letter Kenny Village, East-Berbice, Corentyne was remanded to prison by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after being charged with the attempted murder of his wife, Rajmattie Punni on December 2, 2020.

It is alleged that Punni was attacked and stabbed several times by her husband in their home after an argument. Their

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13-year-old son heard his mother screaming and ran back to the house where he saw his father armed with a knife over his mother’s body.

The boy managed to push his father off Punni who ran away and collapsed in a neighbour’s yard. She was taken to the Port Mourant hospital and then transferred to the New Amsterdam hospital, where she spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit. She has since been discharged from the

hospital and is recovering.

Nandalall fled the scene after the incident and turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday.

His attorney asked the court to consider bail since his client turned himself in but it was objected by the prosecutor, Orin Joseph, who noted that police were searching for Nandalall for two weeks.

Nandalall was not required to plead to the charge and has been remanded until January 11, 2021.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Thursday December 17, 2020

Police visit more woes on Henry family, elder brother arrested, assaulted

In the wake of the gruesome murders of Joel and Isaiah Henry, the family continues to experience hostility at the hands of the police.

Yesterday, attorney at law, Nigel Hughes, who is representing the interests of the Henrys, stated, “You are the brother of

Joel Henry who was slaughtered in a most heinous manner.

“Over three months have passed without any meaningful advance of the investigation into the ghastly crime. You have zero confidence in the police. You are angry with them for treating your

brother’s murder with scant regard.

“There have been protests and arrests, slothfulness, police inaction and a government clearly reluctant to seek or accept competent independent, international assistance.

“Through the efforts of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), attorneys and wellwishers, an international expert comes to Guyana on a fact-finding mission.

“He meets with the minister and police hierarchy who clearly refuse to accept his assistance or provide the documents required for him to meaningfully assist in the investigation.

Instead they launch into a political tirade.

“The international expert does a presentation at a famous church in Georgetown to which

the public and media are invited.

“You, your mother and other relatives travel from your West Coast Berbice home to the event. After the event concludes you begin to make your way back home.

“Just as you are settling into your journey you encounter a police road block on the lower East Coast Demerara, outside the Sprendaam Police Station.

“You are not speeding.

You are not driving dangerously or recklessly.

You show no signs of being under the influence of alcohol. You are not acting suspiciously. Police, without any reasonable cause, nonetheless ask you to produce your driver’s license.

“You realise that in the haste to attend the event you forgot your license at home. You explain this to

the officer and produce a photograph of your valid license. You explain to the police who you are, who you passengers are and where you are coming from.

“Any sane, sensible and compassionate officer will simply wave you on your way and urge you to continue driving safely. They may even express regret that the investigation into your brother’s murder has not yet concluded.

Instead you are incited, mocked, harassed, detained and assaulted.

And as the news continued, one commentator reported that just when you thought the Henry family had endured enough, this happens.

The report continued that while the Henry family was returning home after attending Director of the Argentine

Team of Forensic Anthropology (EAAF) Dr. Luis Fondebrider’s presentation the family members were stopped at Sparendaam police station.

Colwyn Henry who was driving was unable to produce his driver’s licence because he had forgotten it at home in the rush to get to Brickdam Cathedral. He produced a photograph of his licence which was in the phone which showed that it was valid until April 2021.

He was arrested placed in leg irons and assaulted by six police officers. The images of the injuries sustained are visible in the pictures Despite the intervention of his lawyers and GHRA he remains injured and in custody. Gail Johnson, mother of Joel Henry was also arrested. She fainted twice while in custody.

JUDGE REJECTS TRUMP ORGANIZATION’S CLAIM OF PRIVILEGE TO SHIELD DOCUMENTS FROM NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL A judge in New York on Tuesday rejected President Donald Trump’s claim of attorney-client privilege that could have shielded documents from the New York Attorney General’s office.

The Trump Organization was given until Friday to turn over documents from the engineer of its Seven Springs Estate, a property in Westchester County being investigated by Attorney General, Tish James, over how it was valued by the organization while seeking tax benefits from New York state.

At issue is whether the property’s conservation easement is legitimate.

The president’s son, Eric, sat for a deposition.

James’ office is looking into whether an improper

valuation let the Trump Organization take a $21 million tax deduction.

The Trump Organization had argued the engineer’s documents were privileged because they helped lawyers value the property, but Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that none of those documents met the standard of confidentiality.

By December 18, 2020, the Trump Organisation must produce all communications with Ralph Mastromonaco to the New York Attorney General’s office,” Engoron said.

Seven Springs is one of four Trump Organization properties that claimed New York state tax deductions and is part of

an investigation that will follow the president once he leaves office.

The company had been asserting privilege over documents involving Mastromonaco, an engineer involved in the property’s appraisal.

“There is no accountant-

client privilege, and there is no engineerdeveloper privilege,” Eric Haren, of the attorney general’s office, said Tuesday during oral arguments.

Haren claimed the Trump Organization effectively waived privilege over the

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property’s appraisal when the company submitted it to the IRS, though the judge initially questioned the argument.

“Is that your position? If you give the IRS a request for a deduction that anything that had to do with it is waived?”

Judge Arthur Engoron asked.

“At no time did we waive any privilege assertions,” said Amy Carlin, an attorney for the Trump Organization.

She also argued Mastromonaco was performing a function covered by privilege doctrine. The fact that Mastromonaco was initially retained to provide certain specific engineering work doesn’t mean that he wasn’t also ultimately performing a

Kovel function,” Carlin said, referring to a legal principle that extends attorney-client privilege to other sources of expert advice.

“What is the evidence that Mastromonaco was acting as an expert to explain things?” Engoron asked.

The investigation stems from the congressional testimony of Michael Cohen, the president’s former fixer and attorney, who has pleaded guilty to lying and campaign finance violations.

“It was my experience that Mr. Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes, such as trying to be listed amongst the wealthiest people in Forbes, and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes,” Cohen said in February 2019.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Thursday December 16, 2020

Adam’s Note Book

This is the Christmas season. This is the time when smiles appear on faces like the sun appearing in the early morning. This is the season when people dream about the things they would like to do on Christmas Day. It is a tradition. From the time of childhood people were made to feel that Christmas was the most special time of the year. In school, children made decorations; there were the Christmas parties that set the stage for what was to happen at home.

And no matter how poor the family Christmas always provided something special. Many of us know that. Parents saved one way or another to ensure that new blinds, no matter how cheap the material, were bought.

Houses are disarranged and sometimes left so until Christmas Eve. Many a child went to bed only to wake up in a brand new home on Christmas Day because of what parents did through the night.

And for many there are special dishes and cakes. In fact, everything is special. People would call out to their neighbours and of course there was always the smell of food.

These are the memories that bring Guyanese from wherever they are to spend Christmas in Guyana. There is always the longing to be home for Christmas.

For those who leave for a foreign land at this time of the year there are the tears and the lament.

Waking up in a foreign land for the first time could be an emotional experience. Many have returned to tell the tale.

Of course, people always leave to seek better. And this brings me to the Brazilians, the Haitians, the Cubans and the Venezuelans. They

have all been coming to Guyana. The Cubans were the first to begin arriving.

Many settled in whether legally or illegally. Today they are part of the Guyana landscape.

The Brazilians came because of what the goldfields had to offer. They, too, are part of the landscape to the extent that there are Brazilian restaurants in the heart of the city.

The Venezuelans came in droves to escape whatever was happening in that country. With them came hundreds of Guyanese who had gone to live in the neighbouring country.

Guyana set up facilities to accommodate the Venezuelans right to the point of ensuring that they benefit from schooling and medical facilities.

The police have not gone around seeking to arrest them except in cases where they once performed for adult clients in hotels. And even then there have rarely been any attempt to deport these people. In fact, after the initial detention they were released and it was back to business as usual.

And so we come to the recent debacle involving the Haitians. These are members of a sister Caricom country. In the same way Jamaicans, Barbadians, Surinamese and Trinidadians can simply walk into Guyana, in the same way the Haitians should be allowed. And the authorities do recognize this.

When the Haitians arrive like visitors from any Caricom country, they

are allowed six months stay on landing.

But ever since the run up to the elections a certain section of the society began to pay close attention to the Haitians.

In one instance an enterprising businessman hired transport and devoted time to keep tabs on some Haitians.

This surveillance began from the time the batch of Haitians arrived in Guyana at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Someone somewhere must have said something to this businessman for him to display such an interest.

The surveillance continued all the way to the city. The businessman had enough people to follow the Haitians to the various destinations.

The surveillance did not end there. It continued all the way to the Brazilian border. The Haitians were crossing into Brazil from Guyana.

Newspaper articles began to appear about the hundreds of Haitians who come and the small numbers that leave

through the official channels.

Someone, somewhere had a vested interest in the Haitians. Some people had their suspicions about who would want to keep tabs on the Haitians.

The elections came and went but the focus on the Haitians never ceased. A few weeks ago the police swooped down on a guest house where about a dozen Haitians were staying and detained all of them on the pretext that they were involved in human trafficking.

At the time of the raid there were Cubans at the same guest house but the police paid no interest in them. The focus was on the dark skinned Haitians.

The detainees were taken to the Hugo Chavez centre in West Berbice and held behind chain-link fences.

The government then sought and got an order to have them deported but Chief Justice Roxane George halted the deportation.

Lo and behold. The government then released the Haitians by depositing all of them outside the hotel where one batch was arrested. The state also returned the passports of

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these detainees.

This begs the question.

Was the detention justified in the first place? Was there any evidence to prove human trafficking?

If one is seeking deportation why return the passports to the people out of custody?

Whatever the reason for the release, the government simply decided that feeding the Haitians was not its responsibility. But there were Guyanese who undertook to do so.

When one group went to visit the Haitians, people asked if they too were Haitians. One woman simply replied that she was a woman bent on helping her black brothers and sisters and children.

The Haitians are here.

The owner of the guest house where they are staying does not know who will pay him for their accommodation.

Christmas is also here.

The Haitians are here and they will get a Guyanese Christmas. Some wish they could say the same for those Guyanese who look like the Haitians but who were dismissed from the public sector.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Thursday Decmber 16, 2020

GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY REELING AFTER RUSSIAN HACKERS PIERCE INTERNAL NETWORKS

WA S H I N G T O N — The discovery this weekend that Russian hackers used sophisticated techniques to infiltrate a broad swath of government and corporate networks to steal sensitive information sent cybersecurity experts into a panic, leaving open the question of how the U.S. will respond.

The attribution was made on Sunday, according to one source familiar with the matter, who said the spy group responsible for the breach is known to the military and

intelligence community.

U.S. Cyber Command, the military combatant command charged with pursuing U.S. enemies in cyberspace, is closely involved in investigating the infiltration, as it may be asked “to respond” to the Russian espionage campaign at a future date, the source said.

The government has reportedly fingered APT29, or Advanced Persistent Threat 29, sometimes called Cozy Bear, a Russian hacking group associated with the Kremlin’s foreign

intelligence service, SVR, as the culprit.

Cozy Bear has also been tied to spying on COVID-19 vaccine data as well as U.S. and foreign government agencies and think tanks.

“They are going to have to respond,” said another national security official, who noted that the U.S. government might try and keep SVR offline or shut off their network connectivity, as retaliation.

One national security official described the atmosphere within the government as “chaos,”

GUYANA RECORDS TWO MORE COVID-19 DEATHS Two more Guyanese succumbed to the novel coronavirus yesterday.

Their deaths has brought the total number to 158.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) the latest fatalities are a 93-year-old male and a 71-year-old woman, both from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

These persons died while receiving care at our medical facility.

So far for this month six persons have died from COVID-19.

In a press release,

the MOH expressed sincerest condolences to the families of the two deceased and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to render any assistance needed.

The Ministry is also appealing to the general public to respect the confidentiality of the two deceased and their families and to allow them to mourn their tragic loss in peace.

All Guyanese are reminded to

observe the protocols of the COVID-19 E M E R G E N C Y MEASURES (NO.11), which are in effect until December 31, 2020, the release said.

This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and the need for good handhygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

forcing cybersecurity workers to scramble to pick up the pieces over the weekend.

“We’re honestly just trying to get a handle on what it all means and what or how much was stolen or made vulnerable,” said one congressional aide.

The intrusions into government systems, which were first reported

by Reuters, included the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments, and may be “only the tip of the iceberg,” according to one

national security official.

By Monday night, the Washington Post reported that the State Department and the National Institutes of Health were also among the victims.

According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing from SolarWinds, the company whose software was used as a foothold to get into sensitive networks, “fewer than 18,000” customers were using the vulnerable product.

The company says hackers “inserted a vulnerability” into its Orion monitoring products, malicious code that was included in new product downloads as well as security updates between March and June 2020.

Any customer who purchased or updated software during that period, including “more than 425 of the U.S. Fortune 500” and “all five branches of the U.S. military,” according to a recently removed list of the company’s customers, may have been compromised.

Cybersecurity experts fear the ramifications of the attack could be “really,

really bad,” said one national security official, referring to the scope of access the attackers had to entire networks for months and months before being detected.

Another former intelligence officer involved in cyber operations said the Russian actors appeared to have spent significant time planning the operation and did an excellent job to “conceal their presence” on networks.

Those responsible for identifying breaches are so busy that finding the time to investigate “what by all appearances is a legitimate account” or software update doesn’t make sense, they explained.

However, given that the government has been the victim of massive breaches a number of times over recent years, including the theft of millions of sensitive employee personal records from the Office of Personnel Management in 2015, something needs to change. “We can’t be having these oncein-a-decade breaches happening every couple years like this,” they said.

(Jenna McLaughlin)

SPEEDING CBR KILLS ELDERLY MAN ON SMALLER MOTORBIKE

A speeding CBR motor cycle crashed into a smaller motor bike ridden by a 60-year-old man on Tuesday on the Cumberland East Canje Public Road, killing him instantly.

Dead is Clifton Sukhoo of Lot 70 New Street, Cumberland, East Canje Berbice. The accident

8

occurred around 12:20 hr.

Sukhoo was proceeding South on the eastern drive lane on his motorbike CH8875 when he was struck by a CBR Suzuki 500 motorbike CG 5056 driven by Salim Baksh, 35, of Lot 63 East Canefield East Canje Berbice.

It is reported that Sukhoo had taken his bike to the mechanic to be repaired and was on his way home when he was struck and killed. He had stopped at the center of the road in an effort to turn into New Street Cumberland to head home when he was struck from the rear by the CBR which was proceeding at a

fast rate of speed.

As a result of the collision, Sukhoo was reportedly hurled into the air. He landed some distance away. Both riders fell onto the road surface and received injuries.

They were picked up in an unconscious condition and taken to New Amsterdam Hospital where Sukhoo was pronounced dead on arrival. Baksh was admitted for treatment and his condition has been listed as serious.

The body of Sukhoo was taken to the Hospital Mortuary awaiting a Post Mortem examination.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

SOCU withdraws charges a gainst Ashni Singh, W inston Br assington

National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington, Dr Ashni Singh

The charges filed by the Special Organised Crime Unit against Dr Ashni Singh and former Chairman of the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington, were withdrawn this morning.

SOCU Prosecutors

indicated to the court that they did not wish to proceed with the matters.

Singh is currently minister with responsibility for Finance while Brassington is now head of the Gas-toShore Taskforce.

The withdrawal of the charges comes weeks after Chief Justice Roxane

George dismissed a challenge to the legality of the charges filed by lawyers for the two Government officials.

Dr Singh and Brassington had argued that the charges laid against them by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), were politically

Guyana Post, Wednesday December 16, 2020

motivated and without merit. As such, they had asked the High Court to quash the charges.

It was in April 2018, that Dr Singh and Brassington were charged with misconduct in public office over the sale of several plots of state lands below the market value. Charges were recommended against them after SOCU completed its investigations into the controversial Pradoville 2 Housing Scheme at Sparendaam, East Coast of Demerara, and sent a file to the police legal advisor.

Dr Singh and Brassington were each ordered to post $6 million bail following their appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan back in 2018.

The first charge against them had alleged that on May 14, 2011, at Lot 126 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown— sold a tract of land being 10.002 acres of Plantation Turkeyen, East Coast of Demerara – property of the state of Continued on pg10

GYSM SEEKS JUSTICE IN THE MURDERS OF JOEL AND ISAIAH HENRY stolen by the gruesome

The Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM) the youth arm of the People’s National Congress Reform

continues to call for justice to be served in the case of Joel and Isaiah Henry.

The cousins were murdered in the backlands

of Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice.

“We have noted that 100 days have elapsed since our nation’s peace was

double murder of the Henry boys; whose bodies were discovered in the backdam of Cotton Tree.

“These young men, aged 18 and 15, were robbed of the opportunity to aid in building our nation’s patrimony,” GYSM noted in a statement.

Sadly, the action of the Guyana Police Force has caused many to question its willingness to bring the perpetrators to justice, GYSM stated.

“This barbaric act has not been met with the requisite

9

GUYANESE NATIONAL CONVICTED IN US TERROR PLOT DEPORTED

Compton Eversley, aka Abdel Nur

( C a r i b b e a n News Global) PHILADELPHIA, USA – Officers with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed a Guyanese national Thursday, following his conviction and sentencing in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) for his role in a mid-2000s plot to attack a New York international airport.

On January 13, 2011, Compton Eversley, aka Abdel Nur, 70, was convicted and sentenced in a Brooklyn federal court to 168 months in prison for providing material support to a conspiracy that planned to attack the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in Jamaica, New York, by exploding fuel tanks and the fuel pipeline under the airport. Eversley believed the attack would cause extensive damage to the airport and to the New York economy, as well as the loss of numerous lives.

Eversley was admitted to the US by immigration officials at the port of entry in Niagara Falls, New York, as a nonimmigrant visitor in March 1988. He was authorized to remain for up to six months but failed to depart in accordance with the terms of his admission.

On October 24, 1988, the 17th Circuit Court of Broward County, Florida, convicted Eversley of possession of cocaine and cannabis. He was

sentenced to 60 days confinement.

That December, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BCS) transferred Eversley to the custody of the then Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), based on his overstaying his lawful entry.

On January 30, 1989, an immigration judge in Miami issued him a final order of removal (deportation order) and in March 1989 Eversley was removed to Guyana.

In January 2006, an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force began investigating an international plot to attack JFK International Airport. The investigation revealed Eversley and his co-conspirators conspired to bomb fuel tanks, airport hangers, airplanes, fuel lines and a flight control tower at JFK. The FBI determined Eversley played a substantial role in the plot to attack the facility. He engaged in numerous meetings with other members of the conspiracy and agreed to serve as a liaison with obtaining the support of several known terrorist organizations with executing the scheme.

On June 1, 2007, the EDNY issued an arrest warrant for Eversley and three days later the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service arrested him in the city of Port of Spain, and held him Continued on pg10

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Wednesday, December 16, 2020

PNCR GEORGETOWN DISTRICT SOCU withdraws SPREADS CHRISTMAS charges CHEER IN EAST AND WEST against...

RUIMVELDT

Former Minister of Public Health, Mrs. Volda Lawrence dsitributing Christmas Gifts

Excitement filled the air in the communities of East and West Ruimveldt on Saturday December 12, 2020 as the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Georgetown District conducted a toy distribution exercise.

Former Minister of Public Health, Mrs. Volda Lawrence, who is also the Chairperson of the PNCR, was accompanied

by Councillors Ms. Eketa Edwards, Mrs. Shonelle Smith-Daniels and Mr. Denroy Tudor; and

Chairman of the Guyana Youth and Student Movement, Mr. Ryan Belgrave. They conducted the distribution.

Mrs. Lawrence noted that this annual exercise is in keeping with the commitment by the party’s

Georgetown District.

She added that this year, the number of toys to be distributed has increased Continued from pg9 from 700 to 900 which will Guyana for the sum of situated on the East Coast ensure more communities $185,037,000 without of Demerara, 103 acres, in Georgetown benefit first having procured being property of the State from the exercise. a valuation of the said of Guyana for the sum She said that this is property from a competent of $598,659,39 without what her party does every valuation officer. first having procured year. In other parts of the It was further alleged a valuation of the said country, there are other that Dr. Ashni Singh and property from a competent members who undertake Brassington on December valuation officer. similar exercises.

30, 2008, at Lot 126 It was further alleged Mrs. Lawrence Barrack Street, Kingston, that Dr. Singh and expressed gratitude for Georgetown, by way of Brassington between the support received from Agreement of Sale and October 26, 2010, and Friends in Washington Purchase without due December 20, 2010, at D.C., Guyanese men diligence, sold to Scady Lot 126 Barrack Street, and women who enjoy Business Corporation, Kingston, Georgetown, the smiling faces of our a 4.7 acres tract portion by way of Agreement of children. of Plantation Liliendaal, Sale and Purchase, acted The team will be East Coast Demerara, for recklessly when they sharing Christmas cheer $150M knowing that the sold to Queens Atlantic in other areas during this said property was valued Investment Inc., Sanata week. at $340M. Textiles Complex, with This valuation was done building and erections

by Rodrigues Architects thereon.

Associate, a competent Tht plot was Parcel valuation officer.

4702, Part of Plantation It was also alleged that Ruimveldt, situated on the two on December the East Bank Demerara, 28, 2009, at Lot 126 being 18.871 acres, for determined by officers Barrack Street, Kingston, $697,864,800 plus VAT, that the masks were Georgetown, by way of knowing that the said Agreement of Sale and property was valued at the counterfeit.

Cincinnati Port Purchase, acted recklessly sum of $1,042,403,500.

Director, Richard when they sold to National It was therefore being Guyana sold at a price that was Gillespie, said in light of Hardware current health concerns in Limited, a tract of land grossly undervalued, the United States, officers at Plantation Liliendaal, thereby creating a breach have amplified efforts to Pattensen, and Turkeyen, of their duties.” find fake medical supplies.

If the shipment of masks was genuine, it would have a collective manufacturer’s suggested retail price value of Continued from pg9 US$6,688 (about in custody pending transferred Eversley extradition to the United to ERO custody in States.

Philadelphia, where he Following completion was served a Notice of the extradition, on and Order of Expedited June 24, 2008, the FBI Removal. extradited him from ICE officers released Trinidad and Tobago Eversley to Guyanese Guyana Human Rights to the United States via officials in Georgetown, Association and the Black San Juan, Puerto Rico. Guyana, December 10, Lives Matters Movement- US Customs and Border without incident.

Guyana for their continued Protection (CBP) paroled ICE is focused on push to see justice realized Eversley into the United removing public safety in this matter. We pray that States to face criminal threats, such as convicted God provides peace and prosecution. criminal aliens and gang strength to the families On April 24, 2020, members, as well as of the Henry boys, as following completion individuals who have they experience their first of his sentence, the violated our nation’s Christmas without them.” US Bureau of Prisons immigration laws.

OVER 6,000 COUNTERFEIT MASKS DESTINED FOR JAMAICA SEIZED IN US

More than 6,000 counterfeit masks which were destined for Kingston, Jamaica, from Hong Kong, were intercepted by United States Customs and Border Protection officers

in Cincinnati, US. It was reported by CBP that on December 6, an incoming shipment of 38 boxes containing 6,080 masks labelled as 3M Disposable Respirators Model 8210 was inspected

by its officers.

Discrepancies were discovered as the shipment did not match the requirements for the “3M Safe Guard product authentication process”, CBP stated, according to a Fox19 News report.

Additionally, CBP said the boxes were reportedly labelled as “Made in US even though they were imported through a freight forwarder in Hong Kong”.

Following the inspections, it was

GUYANESE NATIONAL CONVICTED...

GYSM SEEKS JUSTICE IN THE MURDERS........ alacrity that is needed to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. On the contrary, we have witnessed the political mechanization of the Guyana Police Force by the People’s Progressive Party to victimize, disrepute, terrorize and falsely present trumped up charges to members

of the People’s National Congress Reform.

“These odious acts in combination with the ethnic cleansing of our public sector, the swift return of a narco-state, the absent-minded approach to managing COVID-19 and regressive economic policies

have rapidly caused the devolution of our nation.”

GYSM has now called on the PPP to stop utilizing the Guyana Police Force as a political football or a dictatorial appendage and focus on bringing the killers of Joel and Isaiah Henry to justice.

“We wish to commend the

10

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

HUGO CHAVEZ CENTRE TO PROVIDE FREE DRUG REHAB SERVICES

Guyana Post, Wednesday December 16, 2020

STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION KEY TO RECOVERY FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN THE CARIBBEAN

Hugo Chavez Centre

Persons struggling with substance abuse will soon be able to access free treatment at the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration in Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, has said that the government will restructure the Centre to provide drug rehabilitation services, in keeping with its original mandate.

This will be the first such programme initiated and funded by the State.

She said the facility

had been underutilised over the years and had, instead, been used to accommodate indigent persons.

“It was intended for drug rehabilitation and so, I have done a full tour of that place so it will be refurbished in the areas that need refurbishing and it will be repurposed for drug rehabilitation,” the Minister said.

Dr. Persaud added that her Ministry, in collaboration with the Attorney General Chambers, will be launching a ‘mega’ programme to deal

with all facets of drug rehabilitation.

Engagements have already been held with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall on the matter.

“We do take the whole issue of substance abuse very seriously and that mushrooms out into a lot of other problems in our country so, it is taking a hands-on approach in dealing with that issue.”

The ultimate goal is to help addicts transition back into society.

While the initiative is a first for the Government,

the administration provides annual subventions to the Salvation Army’s Drug Rehabilitation Centre, which offers rehabilitation and readjustment programmes to alcohol and drug addicts.

The Hugo Chavez Centre was built in 2013 with a $420 million grant from Venezuela.

It boasts a recreational centre, medical centre, kitchen, conference room and training and dining facilities.

MESSAGE ON LAUNCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 2021

Fruits and vegetables are the cornerstone of a healthy and varied diet.

They provide the human body with an abundance of nutrients, strengthen immune systems and help lower risks for a number of diseases. Yet, despite these tremendous benefits, we do not consume enough of them.

By declaring 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, we are taking a closer look at a critical sector and urging the adoption of a more holistic approach to production and consumption that benefits human and environmental health.

A key moment in the

International Year of Fruits and Vegetables will be the Food Systems Summit where we will call on all stakeholders to intensify efforts to make food systems more inclusive, resilient and sustainable.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development emphasizes the role our food systems play in fighting hunger, ending poverty and protecting our planet.

Yet, today, rising populations, increased urbanization, the growing scarcity of natural resources, agricultural pollution and land use change, high levels of food loss and waste and the impacts of climate change are all highlighting

the fragility of our food systems.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the health and livelihoods of people across the world, we must come together to ensure that nutritious food, including fruits and vegetables, reaches the most vulnerable, leaving no one behind.

Let us use this International Year to rethink our relationship with how we produce and consume food. Let us reexamine our food systems and commit to a healthier, more resilient and sustainable world where everyone can access and afford the diverse nutrition they need.

11

Jamaica’s tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett.

Regional and global multi-stakeholder policy collaboration is key in ensuring the Caribbean’s full recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Jamaica’s tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett.

Bartlett stated that COVID has brought tourism in the Caribbean to a point where “nothing will, probably, ever be the same again. Countries have to be smart and put collective minds together to tackle this common enemy and prepare for that post-COVID-19 era.

The tourism minister mentioned the Global Tourism Resilience and

Crisis Management Centre task is to lead the Caribbean’s COVID-19 recovery effort.

It will continue to strengthen collaboration with its network of local, regional and international partners, to mitigate the pandemic’s impact on destinations.

Meanwhile, Jamaica has secured just over 860,000 airline seats for the 2020 – 2021 winter season, which begins December 15.

Bartlett urged tourism industry stakeholders to maintain integrity the established COVID-19 health and safety protocols

The Ministry of Health recorded 79 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, December 10.

11 cases were recorded in Region One, 22 in Region Two, five in Region Four, four in Region Five, nine in Region Six, two in Region Seven, and 26 in Region Ten.

The total number of recorded cases in Guyana is now 5,811.

The COVID-19 death toll is currently at 155.

As of December 10, there have been 33,020 persons tested for the virus. 4,925 persons have recovered leaving the number of active cases in the country at 731.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday December 12, 2020

ICJ to deliver judgment on US and Panama question of jurisdiction in partner to Guyana v. Venezuela case combat illicit drugs

The International Court of Justice has formally notified the Government of Guyana that the Judgement of the Court on the question of Jurisdiction in the case

Guyana v. Venezuela will be read in open court on Friday, December 18, 2020, at 3:00 pm (The Hague Time) at the Peace Palace.

Due to the COVID-19

pandemic, representation at the reading will be limited to two per State.

The Government of Guyana will be represented at these hearings by H.E. David

Hales, Ambassador of Guyana to Belgium and non-resident Ambassador to the Netherlands and Mr Lloyd Gunraj, First Secretary, Embassy of Guyana, Brussels

GRANGER DECLINES MEETING OF FORMER PRESIDENTS

Former President David Granger

Former President David Granger has declined to meet with former presidents. The invitation was contained in a letter dated December 4, from Gail Teixeira, Minister of Governance inviting him to a ‘working lunch’ at 12:00 hours on Tuesday 1ecember 15, at State House.

Brig. Granger noted that Teixeira’s letter, however, neither explained amply the purpose of the intended meeting nor recommended an agenda for his examination.

“There was no indication of the preparation that would be needed, the relevance

of the engagement to government policies and the outcome that would be expected from deliberations.

“The President’s intention on the other hand, according newspaper reports was to generate ideas on ‘Guyana’s development’.”

Granger said that he regards ‘Guyana’s development as a serious matter’, recalling that, on 1st January 2020, he launched ‘Guyana’s decade of development, 2020 – 2029: Overcoming crime, disease, ignorance and poverty’ in which he outlined his concept for the country’s long-term

development.

Granger added that there is public concern about certain governmental actions – including the high rates of deaths as a result of the pandemic; unwarranted dismissals of public servants; harassment of Elections Commission officials and human rights violations – which can have consequences for Guyana’s short, medium and long-term national development.

Granger emphasized that it would be a huge public disappointment for the proposed highlevel meeting to take place, hurriedly, in an

unorganized, unplanned manner and without a predictable prospect of progress or success.

He felt that it would be a blunder to ignore the legitimate concerns of a significant section of the population and the aspirations of the majority of our people, especially those enduring the privations of the pandemic.

He recommended, therefore, that the meeting intended to be held on Tuesday December 15, 2020 be deferred until these important issues could be satisfactorily settled.

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(Caribbean News Global) WASHINGTON, USA – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) acting administrator Timothy Shea arrived in Panama this week on an official visit, marking the first time a DEA administrator visited Panama, a hub for regional DEA operations.

Upon his arrival, acting administrator Shea and United States Chargé d’Affaires to Panama Stewart Tuttle met with the president of Panama Laurentino Cortizo, Panama’s attorney general Eduardo Ulloa, public security minister Juan Pino, and other high-level Panamanian security officials.

The US delegation reaffirmed its longstanding law enforcement relationship with Panama and its role in maintaining security in the region.

“Panama is a critical trans-shipment point for drug cartels operating in South America and those operating in Mexico,” said acting administrator

Shea. “DEA’s relationship with the government and citizens of Panama is based on our shared commitment to combatting these threats and protecting our communities and families from the scourge of drug trafficking.

“I am honored to personally convey my thanks for the critical support Panama has provided DEA and affirm our commitment to this ever-important and enduring relationship.”

Acting administrator Shea’s visit to Panama underscores the broader bilateral security agenda and helps lay the groundwork for the annual US-Panama HighLevel Security Dialogue (HLSD) scheduled to take place in Panama December 10.

At this event, senior government officials will hold bilateral security talks regarding efforts to combat drug trafficking and money laundering in the region.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday December 12, 2020

CORENTYNE FISHERMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHILD DIES AFTER SUSPECTED KILLING DRINKING BUDDY DURING 2016

Ravi Kumar Sharma, called “Posho”,

A Corentyne fisherman who killed his drinking buddy back in 2016 has pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter.

Henry Trim, called “Buddy”, 31, a fisherman of No 60 Village Corentyne, Berbice is on trial for the unlawful death of Ravi Kumar Sharma, called “Posho”, 24, of the same village. The act was reportedly committing between 28th and 29th November 2016 at the above village.

He is appearing before Justice Brassington Reynolds in the Berbice

High Court. Representing the State is State Prosecutor Attorney at Law Abigail Gibbs.

Trim who had turned himself in and has been incarcerated since 2016 indicated to the court that he would like to plea.

His subsequent guilty plea to the lesser count of manslaughter was accepted by the state.

Trim was described as a close friend, who would visit the home of the deceased, regularly.

Sharma’s body was found in his yard about 06:00h on a Tuesday

morning with multiple lacerations about the body.

It was reported that the now-dead Sharma who was residing with his mother, was said to be an alcoholic. The night before, he reportedly went home intoxicated and ordered her to vacate the home which she did. She returned about 06:00hrs the next day and discovered his lifeless body in their yard.

She had spoken to him and told him to get up and go upstairs. She went to the back yard and upon returning she noticed he

was still there. She realized that something was amiss.

After taking a closer look at him, she realised blood was on his body.

She immediately began to run and scream for help. Her screams alerted neighbours. Police subsequently arrived on the scene and the body was taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where it was pronounced dead on arrival.

Trim had told investigators that he went to the home of the deceased the night before.

He said that during the visit, there was a heated exchange. He was struck to his head by Sharma.

In retaliation, he picked up a cutlass and severely broad-sided the deceased.

He said he went away.

The suspect reported that he had returned to the house the following morning and saw a crowd and Sharma’s lifeless body in a pool of blood in the yard. He subsequently left. Justice Reynolds has ordered a probation report before the sentence is passed.

ELECTROCUTION

An eight-year-old boy from Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara, died on Wednesday morning from apparent electrocution while playing with an electric drill.

The child, Daishaun Doris, was at home with his 21-year-old sister.

Around 11:00 a.m. he went downstairs but did not come back up.

His sister said she called out to him and got no response. A few minutes later, a cousin arrived and told her that Daishaun was lying in the yard.

The sister went downstairs and found Daishaun lying motionless on the ground with a drill in his hand and froth

coming from his mouth.

With the help of an aunt and some neighbours, the boy was placed in a taxi and rushed him to the Dr. CC Nicholson Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police investigators noted that the area where the boy was found was moist and muddy; there was also a yellow electric cord plugged into an outlet in the upper flat of the house that ran down the front steps of the house.

A burn mark was also observed on the boy’s right foot.

The cord and drill were taken by police and investigations into the incident are still ongoing.

UK & CDB support agriculture in southern Jamaica

(Caribbean News Global) BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Farmers in Jamaica’s southern coastal plains have achieved a major milestone in their quest to increase productivity and access to markets with the launch of the Southern Plains Agricultural Development Project.

The agricultural development initiative launched by the government of Jamaica along with representatives of the United Kingdom and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) at the office of the prime minister, Kingston, Jamaica.

The project scope

includes the installation or upgrade of irrigation, drainage and flood control systems, as well as improvements to farm roads, which will increase productivity and mitigate the effects of climate change.

There is also a matching grant scheme, which will assist small-scale farmers

from disadvantaged groups to invest in onfarm irrigation equipment and agri-business ventures. Farmers will also be offered training in climate-smart agriculture and certification in international standards in good agricultural practices.

Agriculture is still the main source of income in the benefitting settlements of Amity Hall, St Catherine, and Parnassus, Clarendon, located along southern coastal plains of Jamaica, where sugar and banana cultivation dominated in the past.

Most households currently plant cash crops in backyards and rear livestock. The residents include poor and vulnerable groups, such

13

as women without access to land and people with disabilities, in addition to men and young people whose livelihood depend on small-scale farming.

“Agriculture can play an important role in Jamaica’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, we are much more acutely aware of farming communities like those in the Southern Plains and how they can lead the transformation of agriculture into a resilient, competitive and sustainable sector.

To do so successfully, however, it is imperative that Jamaica, and indeed all of CDB’s Borrowing Members Countries, give urgent attention to investing in activities that build capacity, improve

food security and, where possible, re-shore supply chains”, said CDB president Dr. William Warren Smith.

The US$23.1-million project is being funded by a grant of £17.3 million (US$22.5 million) from the government of the United Kingdom through the CDB-administered United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, and a contribution of almost £500,000 (US$600,000) from the government of Jamaica.

“The UK is proud to fund this transformational agriculture project in Jamaica. We know that agriculture is the backbone of Jamaica’s economy and we are Continued on pg14

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday December 12, 2020

DAYCARE CENTRES TO RECEIVE UK & CDB support agriculture.. $50,000 TO PREPARE FOR COVID-19 Continued fron pg14

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security will be giving licensed day care and child care centres $50,000 to ensure they are adequately prepared to care for the children of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry will also be paying a $20,000 fee per child directly to the day care centres to assist parents.

The Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, said on Thursday, “It is a licenced registered day care that will be open to this initiative and the Ministry is paying directly to the day care services.

“We know that the essential or frontline workers have issues of where to leave their children safe so this is our effort towards this.”

Parents will be able to apply through the Ministry’s website or fill up a form at the various centres across the country to benefit from this initiative.

Director of Social Services, Wentworth Tanner, said that the daycare operators were trained by the Ministry of Health and were also advised of systems that would have to be in pace

to protect children from COVID-19.

Tanner added that there would be testing from the door and if a child gets sick at the centre there would be mechanisms in place to address that situation.

All care providers will also be required to do a COVID-19 test before they can open and begin caring for children.

Argentina abortion legalisation bill passes key vote

pleased that this project will boost production, improve competitiveness and ensure that farm produce meets the standards required for export and the tourism industry”, said British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Asif Ahmad.

“We are delighted that this important project will deliver benefits in an inclusive and equitable way, by building the capacity of local farmers, including women, youth and people with disabilities, to secure their livelihoods and reduce poverty as they get access to new markets”, said the UK’s development director to the Caribbean, Stefan Kossoff.

Although the area is highly favourable for agricultural production it is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as irregular

rainfall and prolonged drought. Limited access to markets has also curtailed economic development and restricted livelihoods in these communities.

The intervention, which will enhance agricultural marketing, such as through certified pack houses, and facilitate capacity-building towards compliance with internationally recognised food safety management schemes will increase farmer access to highend markets, both within Jamaica and for export.

The project will open up the possibilities for commercially oriented farmers to lease government-owned lands, whilst supporting measures to ensure the participation of poor and vulnerable groups, such as women and youth in the agriculture sector.

COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO CLIMB (BBC News) Politicians in Argentina have voted yes to a bill that brings the largely Catholic country one step closer to legalising abortion, a change long-sought by women’s rights activists.

Parliament’s lower house voted in favour of the proposed law by 131117.

Before becoming law, the bill must also pass the upper house, the Senate.

The vote is expected before the end of the year.

Many women in Argentina who have an abortion can face prosecution.

President Alberto Fernández proposed the bill which would permit abortions to be carried out up to the 14th week of

pregnancy.

Currently abortion is only permitted in case of rape or if the mother’s health is at risk from pregnancy.

The lower house passed the bill after debating for 20 hours on Thursday into Friday morning.

The vote in the Senate is expected to be even tighter – in 2018 the body rejected a similar bill to legalise abortion after the lower house voted in favour.

“I am a Catholic but I have to legislate for everyone,” President Fernández said on Thursday. “It is a very serious public health issue.”

On Thursday the Roman Catholic Church repeated its opposition

to abortion, asking politicians in Argentina for “a second of reflection on what respect for life means”.

By contrast, the Women, Gender and Diversity minister Elizabeth Gómez Alcorta tweeted after the vote: “We have written a new chapter in our history.”

Latin America has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world, and the vote in Argentina will be closely watched by both sides of the polarised issue in the region.

Groups for and against the bill gathered outside the congress building in the capital Buenos Aires.

Protesters who have campaigned for the change wore green, the colour of their movement.

Many cheered and cried when the results of the vote were announced, according to AP news agency.

Others responded with disappointment. “They don’t want to show what an abortion is. This is it,” one protester against the bill holding a cross and a doll of a foetus with blood on it told Reuters news agency.

About 38,000 women a year require hospital treatment because of dangerous abortion procedures performed in secret, according to the Argentine government.

Thousands are estimated to have died after unsafe abortion since 1983.

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The Ministry of Health recorded 79 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, December 10.

11 cases were recorded in Region One, 22 in Region Two, five in Region Four, four in Region Five, nine in Region Six, two in Region Seven, and 26 in Region Ten.

The total number of recorded cases in Guyana is now 5,811.

The COVID-19 death toll is currently at 155.

As of December 10, there have been 33,020 persons tested for the virus. 4,925 persons have recovered leaving the number of active cases in the country at 731.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday December 12, 2020

Upholding human rights against arbitrary arrest

By Sir Ronald Sanders (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United State and the Organization of American State. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.

The views expressed are entirely his own) The Government of Canada has taken an initiative to promote a Declaration by likeminded countries against the use of arbitrary detention in state-to-state relations.

The objective of the Declaration is to achieve an end to the practice by some states of arbitrarily arresting, detaining, and sentencing foreign nationals and then bargaining with their release to influence policies or positions of their governments.

Arbitrary arrests and detentions of foreign nationals by a government is a form of institutionalised kidnapping. Using the release of such persons to influence Governments amounts to demanding a ransom.

It is a troubling development in international relations, one which is contrary to international law and which seeks to replace legal and diplomatic norms with a form of inter-state blackmail.

Apart from severely injuring the process of peaceful international relations, this kind of behaviour directly affects innocent persons who could be arrested, detained and sentenced simply to be used as pawns by governments that cannot get their way through international law and norms.

In such conditions, persons are exposed to extreme forms of suffering while their rights are completely ignored, including their right to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent, and impartial tribunal in instances where a state-controlled judiciary sentences them.

Fear of being arbitrarily arrested would have a deleterious effect on tourism, business travel and eventually on trade and commerce. Instead of advancing to a world of freedom, underpinned by respect for human rights and international law, the global community would recede to an age of lawlessness and conflict.

The peoples of small states would be the most vulnerable and the most ‘at risk’ if the practice of arbitrary arrest, detention and sentencing prevails.

The governments of small countries do not have the military might or economic clout to confront the authorities of powerful countries that employ these practices.

Further, small countries do not have the plethora of Embassies and Consulates around the world that could try to protect their nationals. The only tool available to governments of small states is respect for international law by all states.

That is why this Declaration proposed

by Canada has already won the endorsement of the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana and St Lucia. As the foreign minister of Antigua and Barbuda, E. Paul Chet Greene, put it in a message to his colleague foreign ministers of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries: “the Declaration is as much a further layer in the structure of protection

for small countries, as it is for the strengthening of international cooperation by all States to end arbitrary arrest, detention or sentencing as means to exercise leverage over other governments”.

International human rights law and instruments, particularly article 9 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), assert that “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention”. They also set out obligations of states to safeguard these rights.

However, the rights for which provision is made in the ICCPR apply to individuals who are within the territory of the country and subject to its jurisdiction.

The problem with all these laws and instruments is that the persons who framed them did not envisage circumstances where governments would abrogate them. Therefore, they provide for no sanctions or international measures against offending governments which use state-controlled machinery to achieve political ends, in this fashion.

The laws certainly did not contemplate circumstances in which any state would arbitrarily arrest, detain and sentence foreign nationals so as to compel actions by other states.

Canada and the countries that endorse the proposed Declaration, including the United States of America, the 28-nation European Union and nations in Africa and the Caribbean, plan to launch the Declaration on December 17. By then, other countries are expected to join.

The question arises as to why the Declaration is not being presented and

TWO CHARGED FOR RUNNING ‘BLESSING CIRCLE’ pursued within the United Nations framework. Sadly, the answer is that despite the efforts of a progressive Secretary-General in António Guterres, there are members of the UN that are guilty of these unwholesome practices.

They would emasculate the Declaration, stifling it in their own interest.

It is noteworthy that, in 1991, the UN Commission on Human Rights set up a Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that has been automatically renewed every three years, with a mandate to grapple with the issue.

But after all this time, the essential question of dealing with states that deliberately use arbitrary arrest, detention and sentencing as a means of coercing other states, has failed to be addressed adequately.

For those governments that resolutely stand for the human, civil and political rights of peoples, including their own, the Declaration is a strong display of their collective denunciation of those states that violate them.

The majority of Caribbean countries exist and thrive as open economies that encourage and promote tourism, travel, trade and commerce, guaranteeing the rights of foreign nationals in their countries by adherence to international law.

These Caribbean countries are entitled to expect the same regard and protections for the rights of their people in foreign countries.

That’s why the Declaration Against the Use of Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations is in the interest of the Caribbean’s people.

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Two persons were today charged and subsequently released on bail for their involvement in a ‘Blessing Circle’ investment scheme.

A 41-year-old minibus driver, Dwayne Charles, and 48-yearold accountant, Claire Joseph, both from Central Amelia’s Ward, appeared before Magistrate Wanda Fortune at the Linden Magistrate’s Court to face five charges of obtaining money by false pretense.

The pair allegedly received $21,500 each from Gavin Munroe,

Vernon Richmond, Leslie Jervis, Odetta Hall, and Salome Henry and promised them higher returns from their investment.

They both pleaded not guilty and were released on $40,000 bail each for one charge and self-bail on the other charges.

The conditions for their release required them to lodge their passports with the court and report to the Police Station on the last Friday of every month.

Their next court appearance has been set for January 12, 2021.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Thursday December 10, 2020

Guyana – Suriname open-air agreement to expand connectivity

(Caribbean News Global) Guyana/ Suriname— Guyana and Suriname continue to fast-track cooperation in aviation and transportation at the presidential level between president Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali and president Chan Santokhi.

On Monday, the two South American countries signed an “Open Air Agreement” that ended routes, pricing and capacity restrictions between the two neighbouring countries.

Work on an open-

air agreement started a few weeks ago when a presidential delegation from Guyana visited Suriname for the 45 independence anniversary of that country.

On December 7, 2020, a Surinamese delegation arrived in Guyana to sign the agreement. Albert Jubithana, minister of transport, communication and tourism signed the agreement on behalf of Suriname. Public works minister, Bishop Juan Edghill signed on behalf of Guyana.

This agreement brings Guyana and Suriname closer to attract investments in aviation and tourism from legacy carriers like Emirates, Qatar, Turkish and investors from the Middle East.

“The agreement will improve production and economic growth between the two countries.

Moreover, it will connect communities, create economic growth and contribute to sustainable development,” minister Jubithana said.

The Suriname minister of transport said: “Without connectivity, there is no productivity”. Against this backdrop, he pointed out that the framework has been set for productivity.

The agreement ends restrictions on aircraft types, capacity, frequency, and pricing on passenger and cargo services.

Emirates and Qatar want to open a cargo service to these countries, and Surinam Airways (SLM) is looking to expand its cargo service.

Minister Edghill

during brief remarks said the day was “fitting” for the occasion. “This agreement is truly a historical agreement and it is an unimpeded move to ensure that there is collaboration between both countries,” he reiterated “government is moving aggressively to improve land and air transportation between Guyana and Suriname and to the wider world.

“In this Open Skies Agreement, we have agreed to remove all restrictions on Market Access, capacity and pricing to create for a more open market and to give route rights to our respective airlines,” Minister Edghill added.

Travellers in and out of Guyana and Suriname have faced tremendous obstacles purchasing a seamless single-ticket to

far destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Suriname has a lot to gain from this agreement since it has a national airline and Guyana doesn’t. SLM wants to expand its Guyana hub to include New York, Amsterdam, northern Brazil, and the Dutch Caribbean. This agreement could very well be a turning point for stateowned, SLM’s survival.

Egbert Field, director general, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority said that both sides realized the urgent need to cooperate.

He said, “aviation knows no boundary.

This industry is an instrument of development for both countries and the political will was translated into reality.”

CARIBBEAN AIRLINES EXPANDS CARGO Poor Law Commission SERVICES IN THE UNITED STATES installed

Caribbean Airliner Takes off

(Loop News) Caribbean Airlines Cargo is expanding its service within the United States just in time for the Christmas season.

CAL has partnered with the General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA), Network Cargo Management Corp to expand its coverage in the United States (US).

CAL said in a press release that the arrangement took effect on December 7.

The agreement with Network Cargo Management however

excludes Miami and New York, which are Caribbean Airlines’ main gateways to the Caribbean.

Sales and operations in these territories will continue to be managed

by Caribbean Airlines Cargo.

As Caribbean Airlines Cargo’s General Sales Agent in the US, Network Cargo Management connects freight forwarders operating within the United States to several destinations in the Caribbean.

Through this alliance, customers interested in

shipping to the Caribbean may access shipping services for cargo originating from within the US via thousands of cargo agents in the United States.

Customers who prefer to select Caribbean Airline Cargo’s freight collect option may make payments utilising their local currency. They may also benefit from the airline’s loyalty program where they can earn miles for travel rewards.

In further preparation for the holiday peak season, CAL recently

increased its freighter schedule from six to 12 weekly flights.

Caribbean Airlines operates weekly B 767 – 300 freighter flights, offering 120,000 pounds of capacity between Miami and several Caribbean destinations including Trinidad, Georgetown, Kingston, Montego Bay and Barbados.

The carrier also transports cargo on its B 737 – 800 and ATR passenger flights to Caribbean destinations including but not limited to Antigua, Nassau, St. Vincent, St. Martin, Grenada, St. Lucia, Georgetown, Barbados, Kingston and Tobago.

As borders reopen, the airline is expected to re-introduce passenger and cargo flights to other Caribbean countries.

Additionally, shipments may be moved throughout the region via Caribbean Airline’s cargo charter service.

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Board members for the Poor Law Commission, which oversees public assistance for the vulnerable, will be reviewing the existing list to ensure the “most in need” individuals benefit from the relief programme.

This was one of the commitments made by the newly installed Board when they met with Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Human Services and Social Security virtually on Tuesday afternoon.

The members are Chair Amanda Richards; Deputy Chairman, Keeran Persaud and members Janet Ann Geer, Raymon Cummings, Alison Barkie, Gomatie Narine, Dr. Josh Kanhai, Peter Persaud, Diana Kaulessar O’Brien and Beverly Clenkian.

The list will be reviewed to ensure the process is not exploited and the “most

Vindhya Persaud, Minister

vulnerable” are given the assistance “they so badly need.” Backlogged cases will also be addressed.

In addition, the Board will refer beneficiaries to the Ministry’s skills training programmes to help them to become financially independent, and benefit from employment opportunities.

According to Ms. Richards, referrals will be made to the Ministry’s Garment and Accessories Cottage Initiative that has so far gainfully employed over 100 individuals.

The members of the Commission will serve for a period of three years with effect from November 30, 2020.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Thursday December 10 2020

CORENTYNE MAN ARRESTED AFTER PISTOL, CAMOUFLAGE CLOTHES FOUND IN HOME

A 28-year-old man from Number 79 Village, Corentyne, was taken into police custody, today, after a firearm and several other items were discovered within his home.

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force conducted a

search of four homes in the area around 3:30 today The items that were found in the house were a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with one magazine and five live rounds; three camouflage shirts, two camouflage pants, one camouflage

mask, one camouflage bag, two grey hoodies, and five smartphones.

The items were lodged with the police and the suspect is currently in custody assisting with the investigation.

LOWEST COVID RATE RECORDED The Ministry of Health recorded three new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, December 8. One case was recorded in Region One, one in Region Four, and one in Region Seven.

The total number of recorded cases in Guyana is now 5,700.

The COVID-19 death toll has risen to 155 with the deaths of an 81 -yearold man from Region

Seven, a 55-year-old man from Region One on Sunday, and a 34-year-old woman from Region Four on Monday.

As of December 8, there have been 32,397 persons tested for the virus. Some 4,870 persons have recovered from the virus leaving 675 active cases in the country.

The COVID-19 Emergency Measures

(No.11), will remain in effect until December 31, 2020. The order emphasizes the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19

TUG, BARGE SLAM INTO DEMERARA HARBOUR BRIDGE

A team, equipment and spares to effect the repairs have been mobilized to repair damage to the Demerara Harbour

Bridge. Yesterday a tug and a barge crashed into the bridge causing some structural damage.

The team began repair

works early this morning, and it is proposed that the people will work late into the evening to complete this exercise.

Shortly before 17:00 hrs on Wednesday, Motor Tug and Barge named “Rediston and Surtrans� operated by Mr. Dale Andrews Green, collided with, and damaged several sections in the vicinity of the high span of the bridge.

The bridge was immediately closed

to vehicular traffic.

After some immediate interventions, at approximately 05:40hr the bridge was reopened to light vehicular traffic.

An emergency meeting was held at the DHBC Boardroom with Chairman, Ravie Ramcharitar, Works Minister Juan Edghill; Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn; General Manager Mr. Rawlston Adams, and Technical Team.

when the robbers invaded the premises. One of the invaders was armed with a handgun while the others had cutlasses and knives.

Her husband was also in the yard. The couple was held up, forced into the lower-flat of the house, and beaten by the bandits who eventually left with more thanUS$500 along with a quantity of local currency and two cellphones.

The bandits then forced

the couple upstairs where they tied them. They also placed two pillowcases over the couple head before escaping.

The husband managed to free himself and raise an alarm.

The police were contacted and arrived at the scene, but the bandits had already escaped.

Investigations are ongoing.

remedial emergency repairs begin.

There has been damage to the alignment to the bridge.

However, by early afternoon the bridge should be able to facilitate marine traffic The public is being advised that while everything is being done to restore normalcy, only essential travel should be undertaken.

EAST CANJE MAN FOUND FLOATING IN TRENCH

CORENTYNE COUPLE ROBBED, LEFT BOUND

Police are investigating the robbery of a labourer and his wife on Saturday morning allegedly by three armed bandits.

Abdoelkajoem Bhoelan, 49, a labourer, and his wife Bibi Bhoelan, 44, are now counting their losses after they were robbed of cash and jewelry by the marauding bandits.

Information is that the wife wasPg3 in the yard

The Collective decision made after due consideration of all the information was that at approximately 21:00hrs the bridge will begin to facilitate vehicular traffic up to 12 tonnes.

Early this morning, a meeting in the Demerara Harbour Bridge Boardroom with representatives of the owner/agents of the tug and barge led to an inspection of the damage which is necessary before

The police are investigating the cause of death of a male who was found floating in a trench around 07:30 hrs, Monday, at No. 5 Bramfield Public Road, (No19) East Coast Berbice.

The body which was first unidentified was later identified as Chubbylall Kumar of New Area Canefield East Canje.

There were no marks of

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violence on his body.

The body was discovered in a trench on the Northern side of the Public Road. It was facedown and clad in cream short pants, multicoloured brief and a green face mask. A dark blue vest and a peach-coloured shirt were seen nearby in the water.

A number of persons were questioned in the

area, but no one was able to give any tangible report on how the man ended up in the trench.

His body was subsequently escorted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. The body is subsequently at the Arokium Funeral Home awaiting a Post Mortem Examination.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

ExxonMobil plans to install up to 10 FPSOs in Guyana’s Stabroek Block

FORMER GDF CHIEF OF STAFF FREED OF CAUSING DEATH CHARGE

Former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Rear Admiral Gary Best

ExxonMobil Oil Tanker

ExxonMobil is planning for the installation of up to 10 floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) at the Stabroek block off the coast of Guyana.

Speaking at a panel at the Rio Oil & Gas 2020 digital conference on Tuesday, ExxonMobil global vice president of deep-water projects, Jayme Meier, said “We expect to have five FPSOs in operation in Guyana by 2026 and see potential for a total of seven to ten FPSOs.” Meier also noted

that development on the Stabroek block has continued despite the coronavirus pandemic, with ExxonMobil and its development partners drilling wells, running supply vessels and pumping oil without recording any cases of the coronavirus.

The Stabroek block is one of Latin America’s biggest offshore projects and contains an estimated 8 billion barrels of oil equivalent in recoverable resources. This amount is greater than some of the largest offshore finds in

Brazil’s subsalt frontier.

ExxonMobil obtained first oil from the Liza field off Guyana in December 2019 with the SBM Offshore-owned Liza Destiny FPSO. The Liza Destiny FPSO has an installed capacity to pump 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

Two additional FPSOs-Liza Unity and Prosperity- are also due to produce first oil from Liza and the Payara-Pacora development in 2022 and 2024 respectively.

The company is currently assessing the

contracting of a fourth FPSO, which may be deployed at the Greater Yellowtail area that contains the Yellowtail-1, Yellowtail-2 and Redtail-1 discoveries.

US independent Hess, which partners ExxonMobil in Stabroek, suggested that as many as 10 FPSOs would be needed to adequately develop the estimated 9 billion barrels of oil equivalent resource base there.

GRA RECOVERS SCANS OF CONTAINER USED TO SMUGGLE COCAINE

Guyana Revenue Agency (GRA) Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, has stated that the GRA has recovered the deleted images of a container packed with cocaine that was busted in Belgium in October after leaving Guyana in September.

James Singh, Head of the Customs Anti-

Narcotics Unit (CANU) said the organization is still awaiting information from the Guyana Revenue Authority on the images.

The initial investigation determined that all of the scanned images had been deleted but the GRA sought international help to retrieve them from the scanner’s hard drive.

The deletion of these

images was seen as a sign of corruption within the GRA since the scanner would have been able to detect the fake wall that the packages of cocaine were hidden behind.

The Customs Officers who were on duty at the time were questioned

by CANU but were eventually released and have since been sent

home pending results of the investigation.

The 11.5-tons (23,000 pounds) of cocaine was seized after its arrival in Belgium at the Port of Antwerp. Federal prosecutors estimated the street value of the drugs at €900 million or over US$1 billion.

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Former Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Rear Admiral Gary Best was freed today of the charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Rear Admiral Best was charged with causing the death of racing cyclist, Jude Bentley.

He was granted $500,000 bail. He was also charged for operating a motor vehicle while above the legal alcohol limit.

Today he appeared before Magistrate Rondell Weever. He was represented by Attorney at Law Nigel Hughes.

“The magistrate upheld the no case submissions and brought the matter to an end,” Attorney Nigel Hughes said.

Rear Admiral Best said that he is happy that the matter has now come to an end.

“What played out in court was exactly what I said transpired. It is now over and I hope that both our families can move on.”

Mr. Best when asked if he is prepared to offer some sort of compensation to the family, said that he does not know that he can engage in such a matter.

The accident occurred on February 8, this year in the wee hours of the morning. Mr Bentley was cycling to meet some of his fellow racers. He was struck down in the vicinity of the Russian Embassy, in Kitty.

BANDITS ROB POUDEROYEN FAMILY OF $1.4M Three masked men invaded the Pouderoyen, West Coast Demerara home of Akat Ally and his elderly parents on Monday and robbed them of $1.4M in cash and a cellphone.

Around 08:30 p.m. on Monday, the men gained entry through one of the windows in the upper portion of the house.

They were captured breaking into the house on the security cameras around the house. The cameras also captured one of the men dragging Ally’s brother from the gate into the house.

The men were armed with a gun, a knife and a cutlass. After gaining

entry into the house they threatened to slit Ally mother’s throat unless the family handed over their cash. The men then proceeded to ransack the house.

Regional Commander, Superintendent Errol Watts said the investigation of the incident is still ongoing and more CCTV footage was being canvassed from the area.

Ally’s home was previously robbed in August 2019 by three bandits who stole around $400,000 in jewelry and cellphones. No arrests have been made in connection to that robbery.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES DISCUSSIONS GOVERNMENT SUING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SECOND CITY BUSINESSMAN FOR OVER $300M OF UNSUPPLIED WEAPONS

Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) 25th Annual Awards Ceremon Awardees

Speaking at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) 25th Annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, President Irfaan Ali announced that the government has initiated discussions for the development of a secondary city.

President Ali said that the location being

considered is on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. It will be connected to the new four-lane road to act as a catalyst for development in the area.

President Ali noted that the government will ensure that continued growth and development will be facilitated and the country will prepare

for increased occupation on the outskirts of Georgetown.

President Ali added that the idea was being considered since his time serving as Minister of Housing and Water after the concept of Silica City was introduced at a Building Expo.

The development would be funded through

a mix of public and private partnership.

The President also noted that the infrastructure landscape would be changed in the new year with the opening of new economic opportunities, new lands and the development of new areas.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND CURACAO SIGN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT

(Caribbean News Global) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, (WAM) – The United Arab Emirates and the island of Curaçao, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, have signed an Air Services Agreement for the purpose of establishing

and operating Air Services between and beyond their respective territories.

The Agreement was signed at the General Civil Aviation Authority’s office in Dubai by Saif Mohamed Al Suwaidi, on behalf of the United Arab Emirates government, and Lody

Embrechts, ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates.

This comes as part of the continued efforts of the General Civil Aviation Authority to extend the air transport relations network of the United Arab Emirates in the

Caribbean region.

Over the past five years, the GCAA has signed Air Services Agreements with Jamaica, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Republic of Haiti and Saint Lucia.

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Businessman Larry Singh is now being sued by the Guyana Government for an outstanding $369.6 million balance on a contract to supply guns and ammunition to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).

Singh was contracted to supply items that included hundreds of AK-47 rifles, pistols and various types of ammunitions in three contracts dated November 18, 2015; December 15, 2015 and March 30, 2016.

The fixed date application filed by Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, stated that Singh breached his contract with

the GDF by failing to supply the weapons and ammunition for which he had been paid.

The sum of $380.5 million was made as a down-payment but the application noted that Singh only supplied $10.9 million worth of items.

The Government’s demands for a refund have not produced any results. Nandlall is looking to have Singh repay the full sum of money owed, plus interests, cost and whatever other amounts the court deems appropriate.

A date for the case will be set soon.

REGION TEN IS NOW COVID HOTSPOT

The Ministry of Health recorded 26 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday December One case was recorded in Region One, one in Region Two, two in Region Three, six in Region Four, one in Region Nine and 15 in Region Ten. The total number of cases recorded in Guyana is now 5,449.

The COVID-19 death toll is currently 152.

As of December 2 there were 30,736 persons tested for the virus. 4,530 persons have recovered leaving 767 active cases in the country.

Region Six will be establishing two additional COVID-19 testing sites at the New Amsterdam and Skeldon hospitals by this weekend.

Regional Chairman, David Armogan, said this approach aims to allow more persons to go for testing rather than just calling the region’s hotline number for assistance.

Armogan also expects a decrease in the number of active cases by midDecember.

Region Six currently has testing sites at Rose Hall, Port Mourant, Orealla and Siparuta.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Thursday December 3, 2020

AND Enough of the violence! TOOTHPASTE MOUTHWASH NEUTRALIZE

First Lady, Arya Ali led a tree-wrapping exercise along the Main Street Avenue, Georgetown,

G’town goes orange during 16-day genderbased violence awareness First Lady, Arya Ali led a tree-wrapping exercise along the Main Street Avenue, Georgetown, on Moday, to raise awareness about domestic abuse as part of 16 Days of Activism against genderbased violence campaign.

The First Lady was joined by the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud and representatives from High Commission of Canada to Guyana and the United Nations.

The First Lady said the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in incidences of domestic abuse, and the activity was designed to help to raise awareness about this scourge. Mrs. Ali said her

Office has pursued several initiatives to empower victims of abuse who remain trapped due to a lack of adequate finances.

“We are currently in discussion with vocational institutions to provide skills training to female entrepreneurs and are exploring ways to provide financial capital to female owned start-ups, especially in rural areas,” the First Lady said.

She pledged to continue working closely with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security and private institutes to curb domestic violence and its root causes.

Meanwhile, Dr. Persaud said each individual has a role to play in reducing this ill.

“I want to send a strong appeal to everyone that

it starts with all of us, it starts with the messaging that we have in our homes, reinforcements of those messages in schools, the wider community and of course by extension the country.”

Dr. Persaud explained that the colour orange was chosen because it “represents resilience, strength and endurance and those are the qualities that we ask persons who move from the stage of victimhood to survivors.”

She said her Ministry has been doing its best to bring awareness about the scourge and to provide avenues to curb it.

In Guyana, the figures are staggering. The Minister said that about 55 per cent of Guyanese women experience domestic violence. In 2020, 17 mothers lost their

lives, leaving 43 children with broken homes.

Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator (a.i.) Mr. Robert Natiello, said that focus must also be placed on the dreaded abuse that members of the LGBTQ+ community and migrant women and girls also face.

He praised Guyana for signing on to the UN’s Spotlight Initiative, which was launched in the country in October 2020.

Monday’s event was held in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada under the UN Secretariat’s UNiTE by 2030 t0 End Violence Against Women campaign. The theme for the 2020 UNiTE Campaign is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”

Head of Aid/Counsellor High Commission of Canada, Ms. Janine Cocker, also attended the event. She said Canada has focused on eradicating domestic violence and is pleased to partner with Guyana on this initiative.

The State House was Monday evening lit with orange lights in solidarity and to bring more awareness to the issue.

EMPTY ACCOUNTS PROVIDED TO GOVERNMENT BY PONZI SCHEME ACCUSED Garcia-Dominguez & his wife

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, has said that the government has not been receiving adequate cooperation in its efforts to return money to Guyanese who were victims of an alleged Ponzi scheme.

The persons behind the alleged Scheme, Yuri Garcia-Dominguez and his wife Ateeka Ishmael, are facing more than 70 charges for defrauding 17,000 persons and receiving money under false pretense.

Nandlall said the

accounts which were provided to the Government by Dominguez have either been empty or nonexistent. He added that the couple’s lawyers have requested assistance from the Government so that the people can be paid.

Nandlall told them that the Government would do whatever they could as long as it was not illegal or liable to put the Government in a disadvantaged position but no money has been forthcoming.

The couple is said to

have obtained over $200 million through their company, Accelerated Capital Firm Incorporated (ACFI). On October 12, 2020, the couple began reimbursing persons who had invested in the company.

However, on October 15 the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) seized a number of borrowed computers and phones from Dominguez’s home, acting on information that millions of dollars were being stored there.

The couple’s attorney, Dexter Todd, explained

that the seizure prevented the company from repaying investors. The company had only repaid 27 of 17,000 investors in those first two days.

Todd has since filed judicial review proceedings in the High Court, asking that all charges and investigations against them be discontinued.

The couple is currently released on bail with instructions to lodge their passports and regularly report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters.

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99.9% OF THE VIRUS THAT CAUSES COVID-19

Laboratory studies show that toothpastes containing zinc or stannous and mouthwash formulas with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) neutralize the virus that causes COVID-19 by 99.9 percent.

The studies are part of a Colgate research program that includes clinical studies among infected people to assess the efficacy of oral care products in reducing the amount of the virus in the mouth, potentially slowing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

In the laboratory studies — the first to include toothpaste — Colgate Total and Meridol toothpastes neutralized 99.9% of the virus after two minutes of contact.

Colgate Plax and Colgate Total mouthwashes were similarly effective after 30 seconds.

The studies, completed in October, were conducted in partnership with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s (NJMS) Public Health Research Institute and Regional Biosafety Laboratories.

The results suggest that some toothpastes and mouthwashes may help reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, by temporarily reducing the amount of virus in the mouth.

The virus spreads through respiratory droplets or small particles produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We’re at the early

stages of our clinical investigations, but our preliminary laboratory and clinical results are very promising,” said Dr. Maria Ryan, Colgate’s Chief Clinical Officer.

“While brushing and rinsing are not a treatment or a way to fully protect an individual from infection, they may help to reduce transmission and slow the spread of the virus, supplementing the benefit we get from wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing.”

This suggests that reducing virus in the mouth could help prevent transmission during the time that oral care products are active.”

The researchers plan to share their findings in December.

Additional Colgatesupported clinical research studies on toothpaste and mouthwashes are in early stages at Rutgers, the Albert Einstein Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry, with some 260 people with COVID-19 participating in these studies.

“Colgate is collaborating with numerous investigators throughout the globe to conduct clinical research to explore the potential of oral care products to reduce oral viral loads as a risk reduction strategy,” Dr. Ryan said. “We think oral care has a role to play in fighting the global pandemic, alongside other preventive measures.”

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Thursday December 3, 2020

“HAPPY HOLIDAYS” FROM 104.1FM

Multicultural Communications Inc., operators of Guyana’s Christmas Radio Station 104.1Lite-FM has commenced our “Holiday Christmas Programs” by playing only Christmas Music from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm each day until December 31st 2020.

As a result of this treasury of Holiday Songs being aired to

the delight of numerous loyal listeners both in Guyana and around the world, we have created periods of sponsored segments, which will not only provide awareness of your good Corporate-Citizenship responsibilities, but also allow for the promotion and advertising of your business, holiday bargains and specials.

There are six (6) segments available each day for sponsorship which will give credit to your business or agency at the beginning, the middle and the end. Sponsorship of any segment costs only $5,000 and can be repeated as many times on different days as you so desire.

Please feel free to contact our sales office at 223-6047, or MS Alitia Grant on 629-6355, to arrange the times you may wish to have your business sponsored segment aired.

The segments are: 9:30 – 10:00am, 10:30 – 11:00am, 11:30 – 12:00pm, 13:30 – 14:00pm, 14:30 – 15:00pm and 15:30 – 16:00pm.

THREE TO BE CHARGED WITH MURDER OF PORT KAITUMA MAN

Three miners are scheduled to appear at the Port Kaituma Magistrate’s Court today to be charged with the murder of Kevin Allam.

The accused are Nadeem Baksh, 22, of Airy Hall, Essequibo Coast; Gilberto Da Silva, 22, of Baranka, Venezuela and Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; and Angel Figueira, 20, of Barranes, Venezuela and Blankenburg, West Demerara.

Allam was attacked and murdered on Friday November 27, last, around 5:30 p.m.

The incident began when one of the accused men approached Allam’s wife at their shop and held her by her hair. Allam attempted to intervene but was stopped by the other two men and hit about his body several times with a piece of wood until he stopped moving.

He was then dragged a short distance away and

had his throat slit by one man while the other held him down. The suspects did not harm Allam’s wife but did take a quantity of raw gold from the shop before escaping.

Allam was picked up by the police and taken to Port Kaituma Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police at Port Kaituma arrested the suspects on Saturday.

PARTLY DECOMPOSED BODY OF EAST CANJE PENSIONER FOUND IN HOUSE The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Bharrat Mandroo, a 76 year-old pensioner of Lot 31 Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice, The body was partly

decomposed when it was found in the lower flat of a two story house which he shared with his niece.

The body was discovered lying naked on a bed in the lower flat.

According to the man’s niece, Omwatie

Mahangroo, a 43-yearold vendor at the New Amsterdam Market, she occupies the upper flat of the house.

The woman stated her uncle was suffering from several complications Continued on pg22

BRAZIL BANK HEIST: ARMED MEN TAKE HOSTAGES IN ATTACK ON CAMETÁ (BBC News) A gang of armed men has stormed a city in northern Brazil, attacking a bank and taking hostages.

The overnight attack on Cametá appears to be almost identical to one in Criciúma, a city in the south, by gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday.

There is no suggestion that the two incidents are linked. Video footage from Cametá appeared to show a group of hostages being led through the streets.

One person died in the attack, according to the city’s mayor.

Waldo Valenti did not give any more details but a local lawmaker, Éder Mauro, said the victim was one of the hostages, who “had been shot in the head”.

Photos posted by Mr. Mauro appear to show groups of gunmen on the street and hostages being taken.

In videos uploaded to social media, shots and

explosions can be heard.

It appears that the target of the attack was a branch of Banco do Brasil, the same bank robbed in Criciúma the previous night.

Both raids happened after midnight and involved gunmen entering the city in a convoy of dozens of cars. In both instances, hostages were taken and used as human shields.

Security forces have been sent to the scene.

The governor of Cametá’s Pará state, Helder Barbalho, said: “We will do our best to ensure that peace is resumed as soon as possible and that the criminals are arrested.”

Local media are reporting that the gunmen were in the city for about 90 minutes before making their getaway, first in a convoy of cars and then by boat on the Tocantins river.

This attack started about midnight local time on Tuesday and lasted more

than an hour.

The target of the raid was a branch of Banco do Brasil in the city centre.

Armed men blocked roads, took hostages, fired hundreds of shots and used explosives to carry out the robbery.

Military police reported that a fire had been set in a tunnel on the main road leading to the city, presumably to prevent security forces from sending reinforcements.

The police headquarters also came under attack.

A security guard and a military police officer were injured. After the attack, footage showed a convoy of black cars leaving the town centre in an orderly fashion.

It is not clear how much money the attackers took but some cash was scattered across a city street. Video posted on social media showed residents rushing to gather some of the bills.

CRASS HOSPITALIZED AFTER BEING CHOPPED BY NEIGHBOR

A Corentyne man is now hospitalized in a serious condition after he was severely chopped by his neighbour on Saturday following a dispute.

The victim is Jaganauth Hemchand, called “Crass”, 42, a labourer of Lot 153 No. 72 Village Corentyne, Berbice.

The suspect Rishiram Mahaschand, 46, a labourer of lot 150 No.72 Village Corentyne,

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Berbice has been arrested.

According to information earlier in the day Hemchand (victim) was scolding his son who ran over to the suspect yard. The man went behind his son, but was confronted by Mahaschand (the suspect) not to enter his yard.

Hemchand then left and went home.

He was in his yard when the suspect who was armed with a cutlass entered and dealt him

several chops on both of his hands.

The man collapsed and was picked up and taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital where he was treated before being transferred to New Amsterdam Hospital in a serious condition.

The suspect was arrested shortly after by police who responded to the scene.

Investigation are ongoing and charges are expected to be laid shortly

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Thursday November 3, 2020

Adam’s Note Book

The way of the courts can be confusing.

However, many people still believe that the court system is fair. Some would point to decisions that appear to be biased.

One case that readily comes to mind involved Clairmont Mingo, the Region Four Returning Officer.

He was detained by the police for days on private criminal charges. The police held him because they believed that he would be a flight risk.

When the mandatory 72 hours were up the police refused to release him.

His lawyers went to court on a writ of habeas corpus and got a judge to order his release.

Then something strange happened. The police decided to charge him with fraud and some other charges. They refused to release him.

When the lawyers went back to the judge he modified his order to bring it in step with the police.

People were surprised.

Many saw the judge’s decision as biased but the lawyers took it in stride.

Mingo was just one of the people arrested and detained. He was followed by several others of the same ethnicity. I am not sure that the cases would go anywhere and if they do, whether there would be convictions.

The most recent detainees were Colvin Heath London and attorney at law, James Bond.

The nation is still awaiting the announcement of charges against these people. But that is not the end of the story. There is a thing called payback.

Many of these people are going to sue for wrongful detention, loss of liberty and a gamut of human rights abuses. The cases may drag out but they will be completed one day.

Winston Brassington and Ashni Singh are before the courts on

charges akin to what Heath London and James Bond have been charged with. They went to court to have the charges dropped but the Chief Justice ruled that they must face the charges.

This creates an interesting scenario. The authorities may wish to save Brassington and Singh but in so doing, they would have to cast an eye over their shoulders at those they wish to persecute for similar offences.

And in the continued drive to establish ethnic superiority the Irfaan Ali administration is continuing full speed ahead to exclude Afro Guyanese and anything that appears to be in support of the coalition.

As President, David Granger reached out and secured buses, bicycles and boats for the myriad school children. The buses, to distinguish them from all others, were marked David G School Buses’. That stuck in the throat of the Irfaan Ali people. They could not see a bus secured by David Granger so they changed the marking on those buses.

The buses are now simply School bus Number X or Number Y. It is a wonder that the housing schemes like Melanie Damishana or Roxanne Burnham Gardens or Shirley FieldRidley Square or Agnes Bend-Kirton Court have not yet been changed.

People still remember the haste to rename the international airport when it was the Timehri International Airport.

The opposition PNC in 1992 had to remind these people who wish to recreate history that the name change required Parliamentary approval.

When the government changed, a petty coalition administration would have moved to change the name of the international airport.

Instead, it

embraced the name.

Former Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, was moved to point out what he called the ethnicisation of Guyana.

He pointed to the Guyana Sugar Corporation which was akin to a black hole through which money would disappear.

Money has been disappearing into that hole for a very long time but the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union— GAWU—decided that Ramjattan was attacking sugar workers. It was not ashamed to say that the attack was against East Indians who could not justify the existence of the sugar industry.

The government decided to bring in tractors from the United States at cost of US$44 million, without knowing if the tractors would able to operate in the sugar fields.

All it wanted to do was say that it spent money on sugar. It had already spent US$200 million on a new sugar factory that never worked. Spending on useless things was a norm.

In a few years there will be those of us who would see the sugar industry as a welfare fund for the PPP supporters. Just turn up at the end of the week, stretch out your hand and collect money. Whether sugar is produced is not important.

In the same way, it is not important to give to the people of Region Four the promised $25,000 by way of the COVID relief.

Across the country, there are communities in which people of African ancestry have been ignored during the distribution.

And to think that there are people within the PPP who see this rampant discrimination but cannot say anything. It is like the house slave watching the field slave being beaten into the dust. “Thank God that is not me,” the house slaves would say.

Editor of Guyana Post Newspapers

PARTLY DECOMPOSED BODY OF EAST.....

Continued from pg3

but would take care of himself.

She said that she last saw him sitting under his house about 11:50 hrs on Wednesday November 25.

The woman stated that when she woke up about 06:30 on Sunday there

was a stench coming from the lower flat of the house.

She said that upon making checks she discovered her uncle’s partially decomposed body.

There were no marks of violence found on the body. The body was taken to the New Amsterdam

Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The body is at the Baileys Funeral Home where it is awaiting a postmortem examination.

Investigations are ongoing.

COVID-19 UPDATE DECEMBER 2

The Ministry of Heath recorded 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday December 1.

One case was recorded in Region Four and 16 were recorded in Region Ten. The total number of recorded cases in Guyana is now 5,423.

The death toll is currently at 152.

As of December 1 there were 30,355 persons tested for the virus. 4,436 persons have recovered leaving 835 active cases in the country.

Prime Minister Mark

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Phillips has made an appeal for citizens to comply with the COVID-19 measures.

They could small holiday festivities and gatherings.

The Prime Minister said that despite the usual traditions of socializing during the holiday season, the pandemic takes precedence this year and crowds must not be encouraged.

Prime Minister Phillips is also Chairman of the Covid-19 Task Force. He noted that Operation COVI-CURB

will be continuing its work throughout the holiday season. He has been content with their achievement in sensitizing the public so far and hopes that further enforcement to get persons to comply with the guidelines would be a last resort.

The National COVID-19 Measures for December 1 to December 31 maintains the curfew of 10:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

It also states that no one is permitted to host or attend a private party, banquet hall, bar or club.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

AFC condemns PPP for its antiregional integration posture

The Alliance For Change (AFC) condemns in the strongest possible terms any action by the controversial PPP Government that would result in Haitian nationals requiring a visa to enter Guyana. It is anti-regional integration, it is against the principles of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) and shows total disregard and contempt for the valiant struggle of those who

fought to unite the peoples of the Caribbean.

The AFC wishes to remind the PPP Government that the free movement of people has long been viewed by all Governments of the Region as critical to regional integration and to be mindful that the CSME abolishes discrimination on grounds of nationality in all member states.

Article 45 is most pellucid, “Member States

commit themselves to the goal to free movement of their nationals within the community.” As a signatory to the CSME and a forerunner in regional integration, Guyana has an obligation to uphold all principles of the CSME. Since the earliest attempts of regional integration with the establishment of the West Indian Federation through to the establishment of the

CSME, Guyana has been at the forefront in uniting the peoples of the region.

The PPP must not be allowed to destroy these efforts. This situation has become even more acute by the arbitrary arrest and prolonged detention of Haitians entering Guyana.

The AFC calls on Regional Heads of Government, the Caricom Secretariat, Heads of Regional institutions and the people of the Region to condemn the racially biased and provocative actions of the PPP. We call on the Caricom Secretariat to convene an extraordinary meeting of Heads of Government to address this matter.

FIRE DESTROYS PART OF NATIONAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL BUILDING

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of a fire of unknown origin which occurred about 20:30 hrs Thursday evening in the National Psychiatric Hospital at Fort Canje, Berbice.

The fire destroyed part of the roof of the Chalet 4, Male admission ward, which is a flat concrete and wooden structure that is situated on the eastern side of the compound.

Reports are that the fire was first spotted by a patient who informed the head nurse that smoke was seen coming from the washroom.

Checks were made and it was noticed that smoke was emanating from the roof of the washroom.

An alarm was raised and the Guyana Fire Service was summoned.

It responded with two fire tenders from the New Amsterdam Fire Station.

The fire was extinguished with damage contained to the roof the said building.

The scene was visited by Superintendent Roberts, Inspector O’Donoghue and a party of policemen.

No one was injured and investigation are continuing.

ETHNICIZATION POLICY OF THE PPP The AFC wishes to point out to the Guyanese people that the policies of the Irfaan Ali’s Jagdeoled administration are clearly revealing patterns dangerously discriminatory; and, with a loaded ethnicisation about them.

The PPP Government’s intentional action and policy, since its disputed installment into office, has seen an unwise, unjustified dismantling of projects and policies of the previous APNU/AFC Administration which were directed to benefit the country and its people as a whole and not any ethnic grouping in particular.

Firstly, the significant move to reopen the closed sugar factories in the face of cogent and compelling evidence that this will result in a massive misspending of the country’s monies just

to create jobs for its East Indian base of support is stupendously ill-advised economics.

So the underlying reason is but a sectarian spending...giving red meat to its Indo-Guyanese base. The world market price for sugar is half of production costs. Where will the profits from an increased production come from?

The crisis in sugar was completely at the hands of the PPP. Millions of US dollars were borrowed from the EU, the Chinese, the IDB and the CDB for the sector, a huge chunk for the then new Skeldon Factory.

Over $1B was given per month for 36 months by the APNU+AFC Government in its first 36 months to attempt to save it.

It was not viable. And that is why it was right-

sized. To continue to take money out of the Treasury, in the first case $5B from September to December 2020; and, as we are now told by Agriculture Ministry officials, another $25B and more for Ashni Singh’s come back Budget just to continue in 2021, is but shovelling hard earned resources down a black hole.

The new GuySuCo’s CEO blundering and babble must never be given any credence nor credit. Propagada will not make Sugar profitable.

The monies being pumped into GuySuCo to buy votes would be better spent assisting former employees if the sugar industry to develop medium scale greenhouse farms, assist them to access market opportunities with the FPSOs that will be operating off shore Guyana, provide training

and business grants that could see the former sugar workers becoming entrepreneurs providing services to Guyana’s oil and gas sector.

This type of assistance would ensure former sugar workers their economic independence and that their children would not be beholden to any political party.

Secondly, the AFC sees the recent spate of terminations of public servants, substantially of one ethnicity, Afro Guyanese, in these savage COVID times as provoking trouble.

Several hundreds have had to suffer. The justification as revealed by the Governance Minister, surprisingly, is that the dismissibility at pleasure doctrine is back in full force.

This is an exercise of executive lawlessness.

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This makes a mockery of the insulation created by the various constitutional service commissions, Public, Police, Teacher and Judicial, set up to prevent the politicisation of appointments and dismissals.

A cycle of hatred can be created from this uncalled for development which can segregate our Community further. The rule of law must govern such a policy which affects the employ of so many and on whom thousands depend on.

Outside of this category of terminations, there is the instance of the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency being released from employ whilst his technical and professional qualities were needed in negotiating the Payara Production Agreement.

Guyana has been the worse for this.

Thirdly, instances of this badge of ethnicisation have occurred in the area of squatting. The AFC has noticed the regularisation of squatters at Conservancy Dam Canal No 1 with provisioning of lights and water and the several at West Demerara from Ruimzight to Mary, Zeelugt, and Parika where East Indians are predominant.

Yet at Success, East Coast Demerara, where Afro Guyanese brothers and sisters were conducting same, they are being shot at by the Police and flooded out.

Right thinking Guyanese of all ethnicities must condemn this destructive polarising development.

It is provoking an explosion in an already tense national situation

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Monday November 30, 2020

POLICE SEARCHING MINER FOUND WITH OVER FOR DRIVER IN HIT- 500G OF MARIJUANA AND-RUN ACCIDENT

Police are attempting to locate and arrest the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit and run accident on Friday.

A pedestrian, Kayum Ali, was killed on Friday at around 09:50 p.m. along the Hydronie Public Road, East Bank Essequibo.

The vehicle was allegedly speeding along

the eastern side of the roadway when it struck Ali who was standing on the median of the road.

The vehicle then flipped and crashed into a nearby shop.

Ali sustained injuries about his head and body and was taken to Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead

on arrival.

After the accident, the driver exited the car and fled the scene on foot.

The vehicle was lodged at Leonora Police Station to be examined by a licensing and certifying officer.

Investigations into the incident are still ongoing.

A 22-year-old miner was arrested on Friday after being found with marijuana in his possession at the Itaballi Checkpoint in Region Seven.

A statement from Police said that a search was conducted on a motor lorry and its passengers at

the checkpoint at around 11:00 a.m.

During the search, a black plastic bag was found which contained three scotch-taped plastic parcels and 55 small Ziploc plastic parcels. The parcels were opened in the presence of the miner and were found to contain

545g of cannabis.

The suspect was told of the offence and arrested. He later admitted ownership of the items.

He is currently in Police custody at the Bartica Police Station, pending charges.

COVID CASES CONTINUE UPWARD TREND

NIGERIAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH ONLINE SCAM

Uche Raymond Okoye

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has stated that Uche Raymond Okoye, also known as Uche Parker, a Nigerian national has been arrested and charged as part of a criminal organisation that has allegedly scammed unsuspecting Guyanese victims out of millions of dollars. Okoye also allegedly entered Guyana from Brazil illegally.

The criminal network is suspected to involve Nigerian nationals who solicit cash from their victims by promising high valued merchandise to be delivered following the payment of a charge or fee. So far, millions of

dollars have been taken from four victims.

The organization has been operating in Guyana over the last six months and has connections to the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, the United States of America and other countries.

Okoye appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to two counts of obtaining money by false pretence, one count of demanding money by menace, and one count of illegal entry into Guyana.

The GPF said that

more charges would be presented against Okoye as the investigation continues.

An alarm was issued to citizens, especially women, on Thursday about a scam involving persons pretending to be of Nigerian nationality who will make contact through Facebook and Whatsapp and offer to send a package of gifts to the victim.

They are then threatened with potential prosecution due to the contents of the package and made to pay sums of money to several individuals in order to avoid prosecution and uplift it.

The Ministry of Health recorded 34 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday November 27. Two cases were recorded in Region Three, six in Region Four, 25 in Region Six and one in Region Ten. The total number of recorded cases in Guyana is now 5,310.

The COVID-19 death toll is currently at 150.

As of November 27

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there have been 29,154 persons tested for the virus. 4,272 persons have recovered leaving 888 active cases in the country.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, has said that the lockdown in the villages of Orealla and Siparuta in Region Six is not necessary at this time.

“We did not require them to lockdown the area. We did not advise

them of a need to do a lockdown but I guess they have that right as a Village Council to make those decisions,” the Minister said on Friday.

Dr. Anthony did note that a medical team will remain in the communities to continue monitoring the situation and conduct further testing.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday November 28, 2020

World Bank approves USD7.5M for COVID-19 Emergency Project

The World Bank has approved US$7.5 million to support Guyana’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Project.

Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean said, “The

World Bank is working with member countries in the Caribbean to help them respond to COVID-19 and prepare for a resilient recovery. This financing for Guyana will help the country tackle the current

crisis and handle future emergencies.”

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Project will strengthen laboratory capacity, support screening and surveillance, improve

contact tracing, and equip healthcare facilities for more effective treatment and care of COVID-19 patients. The project will also expand contact tracing and psychosocial support to vulnerable households in local communities and the hinterland regions.

The project will also help to prepare the health system for the effective deployment of a safe and approved COVID-19 vaccine.

In July 2020, Guyana also benefitted from a US$1 million grant through the World Bankadministered Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF), which was disbursed to PAHO/ WHO.

OVER 150 WEAPONS MISSING FROM GPF

Minister Robeson Benn

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has stated that six ranks attached to the Tactical Services Unit of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) are in custody in relation to the disappearance of over 150 firearm from the GPF. The disappearance of the firearm was revealed following an audit into the Police Force. The weapons were either seized from criminals and were to be exhibits in cases, or were firearms lodged by private citizens.

Subject Minister Robeson Benn assured that all efforts would be made to track down the missing firearms and that the financial aspect of the audit into the GPF will be permanently placed continue. here at the Aurora Mines to ensure that the regulations are followed and to advise and guide the company as to daily operations.”

The Environmental Protection Agency would A 38-year-old man also be engaged to address is wanted by police for any environmental allegedly killing his matters.

Additionally, the mother and injuring four-year-old Ministry is seeking to her granddaughter. partner with the company The deceased woman to develop the GGMC is 62-year-old Jennifer mining school.

OVER 500 GUYANESE RE-EMPLOYED BY AGM After laying off most of its employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) has re-employed 587 Guyanese.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, visited the company’s mining operations on Monday to recommission their Processing Plant. The Minister said that the number of re-employed workers was pleasing as

AGM had initially stated that only two to three hundred Guyanese would be re-employed before December.

AGM was recently acquired by Zijin Mining Group Company Limited, a Chinese company, and is looking to start full operations by mid-2021.

Once mining operations begin an additional 200 Guyanese are expected to be employed.

The Minister did

note that Guyana did not have the capacity to regulate underground mining; there have been discussions on increasing the local capacity and to have experts brought in to assist with the regulation of mining operations.

On the issue of safety an agreement was reached between the company and the Ministry for “two GGMC (Guyana Geology and Mines Commission) Mines Officers who will

Guns that have previously gone missing from the custody of the Joint Services have been linked to criminal activities.

The 2018 Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Lindo Creek massacre revealed that a number of weapons and ammunition which were stolen in February 2006 were later used to commit crimes.

The 2019 audit into the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) was the last audit into the operations of the Police Force. It revealed a number of financial irregularities which led to the removal of the then SOCU Head, Sydney James.

MAN WANTED AFTER KILLING MOTHER, ASSAULTING NIECE

“Judith” Anderson who lived in the twostorey house with her granddaughter.

The incident occurred at their home at Good Intent, West Bank

Continued on pg26

POLICE FIND GUNS AND AMMUNITION IN BERBICE RIVER RAID where they found a partly

Anumber of guns and ammunitions

A number of guns and ammunitions were unearthed by police while millions of dollars’ worth in ganja was destroyed during a drug eradication exercise up the Berbice River.

The raid was conducted between 03:30hrs and 18:15hrs on November 25. The party of policemen under the command of a

Superintendent of police conducted the exercises at DeVeldt and Gateroy Village up the Berbice River.

According to information the police acting on intelligence went to a house at DeVeldt Village in the Berbice River. As the ranks approached the building they noticed

a male running away from the house and into the nearby bushes. The ranks immediately gave chase but were unable to apprehend the man.

The police subsequently searched the premises and found a number of firearms and ammunition concealed under the floorboards; Found were :-one

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double barrel 12 gauge shotgun with number SESPRR; one 20 gauge shotgun with Number 200109495; one .32 shotgun with number 98015SB; two OPS air guns.

Also found were nine 12 gauge, one 20 gauge and five .32 cartridges.

The police proceeded to Gatetroy Village,

harvested marijuana field and a camp with approximately 300 plants measuring about four to six feet in height The plants which had an estimated value of $3.4 million and the camp were both destroyed by fire.

The guns and ammunition were taken to the Central Poli

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday November 28, 2020

MAN ARRESTED AFTER ROBBING CDC WARNS AGAINST TRAVEL TO JAMAICA, OTHER CARIBBEAN COUPLE OF OVER $3.4 MILLION COUNTRIES

The lack of political will in CARICOM to agree to common COVID-19 protocol standards is perhaps the biggest failure of this pandemic, said Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism.

Bartlett was responding to the placing of several CARICOM and other Caribbean countries under the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Level 4 COVID-19 High-Level risk assessment.

Under this assessment, the CDC advises that travellers should avoid all travel to the destinations listed.

The CARICOM countries placed under Level 4 are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Cuba, Guyana, Haiti, Belize, Suriname,

Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos. Other Caribbean countries on the list are Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Sint Maarten, St Eustatius, Saba, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

Antigua and Barbuda has since been reevaluated.

“I think that while countries have a responsibility to citizens to review from time to time the status of countries that they interact with, the absence of any standardisation that enables us to measure effectively where we all stand is a concern because it leads to arbitrariness sometimes and a level of confusion globally as to how travel and tourism should be effected,”

Bartlett told Loop News.

Bartlett was not too worried about any fallout from the advisory, however, stating that Jamaica has had designations of this type before and it doesn’t significantly affect the visitor flow.

“Jamaica as a destination is well known, we have managed the protocols extremely well and established some innovations that are enviable in the world such as the resilient corridor.

We have established Jamaica Cares, an endto-end health security programme which will protect visitors who come and removes the burden of managing the pandemic from the taxpayers of the country,” he said

FOUR PERSONS ROBBED Four persons were attacked and robbed by armed bandits along the Meten-Meer-Zorg Public Road, West Coast Demerara on Tuesday evening. The victims are Shiradatt Ramlall, 25; Aneela Raghemoudan, 33; Paul Jaipaul, 25; and Lohouna Rakesh Pitamber, 29.

The four of them were heading home along the road when they were approached by two men on a motorcycle around 06:30 p.m.

One of the bandits, who was armed with a gun, began to hit them with the weapon and then relieved them of their belongings.

The bandits then fled the scene on the motorcycle.

The stolen items included two cellular phones valued $28,000 and $36,000 from Ramall; a cellphone valued at $35,000 and $3,000 in cash from Raghemoudan; jewelry valued at $90,000, and a phone valued at $20,000 from Jaipaul;

and a cellphone valued at $7,000 and $ 45,000 in cash from Pitamber.

After the victims made a report to the police and the area was searched. Two residents of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo – who matched the descriptions given by the victims – were taken into custody.

They were also found with a motorcycle that matched the description of the one used by the bandits.

The incident is still being investigated

A 30-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a 49-year-old businesswoman and her 40-year-old husband of Mabura, Linden.

The incident occurred on Tuesday around 11:00 p.m. as the couple was arriving home.

They had conducted some transactions throughout the day and upon arriving at their home, they were confronted by two bandits, one of whom was armed with a gun.

The armed suspect threatened the woman with the weapon and demanded that she hand over her belongings. The suspect also fired several shots into the air.

The woman gave them a bag containing $3.4M, a quantity of raw gold valued $800,000 and a wedding band valued $80,000.

The bandits then escaped on a black motorcycle.

Police ranks later responded to information they received and

confronted a suspect who fired several rounds at the police as he tried to escape.

He was apprehended and searched, uncovering a bag containing over $2.3M, a .38 revolver with five live rounds, and other items.

The Police Force also said the motorcycle used in the crime was stolen from a 30-year-old resident of Buck Hall, Wismar Squatting Area.

Police are still searching for the second suspect.

Evirmiusa L. Haberuntili, tabesil icaurbena, unium

MAN WANTED AFTER KILLING MOTHER....

Continued from pg26

Demerara between 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday and 12:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Anderson was last seen alive by her daughter at around 12:00hrs on Wednesday.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF), said the suspect is allegedly a drug addict who would steal items from his mother.

At around 12 p.m. on Thursday, another of the

woman’s sons, Mark Anderson, said was contacted by someone informing him that his brother had assaulted the young girl and her grandmother.

After rushing over to her home he discovered her body under a pile of clothes near a wardrobe in her bedroom. Police were called to the scene and, after examining the

body, found several small circular injuries on her face and chest.

The woman was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she was pronounced dead while the child was treated for her injuries and sent away.

The suspect has not yet been found and investigations are ongoing

COVID-19 UPDATE NOVEMBER 27 The Ministry of Heath recorded 40 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday November 26.

One case was recorded in Region Two, one in Region Three, four in Region Four, 26 in Region Six, two in Region Seven, one from Region Eight, three in Region Nine and two in Region Ten. The total number of recorded cases in Guyana is now 5,276.

The COVID-19 death toll has increased to 150 with the deaths of a 69-year-old man from Region Two and a 53-year-old woman from

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Region Four. There have been 25 deaths recorded so far in November.

As of November 26, Thursday, 28,878 persons have been tested for the virus. 4,252 persons have recovered leaving 874 active cases in the country.

The Orealla/Siparuta Village Council decided on Thursday evening to completely lock down the village of Siparuta from 6:00 a.m. today.

The decision was taken after 20 new COVID-19 cases were recorded at the Amerindian Settlement The total number of cases in the community

stands at 50. Its sister village of Orealla has nine confirmed cases.

A gate has been constructed across the Terrakulli Bridge which links the villages of Orealla and Siparuta. Toshao Carl Peneux said the gate is being guarded by Police officers to prevent persons moving from one village to the other.

Peneux also highlighted that persons from Siparuta who tested positive with the coronavirus had not been adhering to the COVID-19 guidelines as set out by the Ministry of Health

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday November 28, 2020

The Haitian people: sadly and badly in need of a champion

By Sir Ronald Sanders

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto.

The views expressed are entirely his own) Human rights and constitutional violations in Haiti have been ignored for too long by the Organization of American States (OAS).

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has also avoided dealing with incendiary political issues in Haiti.

Meanwhile, more suffering is being piled on the poor people of Haiti whose body count from malnutrition and organized violence continues to grow. Against this background, it is not surprising that Haitians are seeking every means of escape from their homeland.

In desperate situations, criminals take advantage of the vulnerable. Thus, a brisk trade has begun in trafficking young Haitians – this time into the Caribbean. Evidence of this is the discovery by police in Guyana on November 7 of 26 Haitians, including two boys and five girls who were being transported to the Brazilian border by a human trafficking ring.

Both the OAS and CARICOM are obliged under their charters and declarations to call to account member states whose governments act unconstitutionally or take actions that violate the human, civil and political rights of their people.

The two organizations were active and vocal throughout the fivemonth impasse in the Guyana elections, from March to August this

year, and afterwards.

During that entire period, the constitutional and electoral situation in Haiti was worse. But not a word of condemnation of the Haitian Presidency was uttered by either body.

Haitian President, Jovenel Moïse, has been running the country by decree with no elected parliament since 2019, amid accusations of corruption, protests and the deployment of the military which has been accused of atrocities.

The Chair of CARICOM did publicly declare, in January 2020: “CARICOM is deeply concerned at the continuing unsettled political, economic, humanitarian and social situation in its Member State, Haiti. Indeed, we are particularly concerned about the several incidents of violence and the associated and tragic loss of life”. Since then, CARICOM said nothing more.

Yet, four months later, in its April 2020 update on Haiti, the World Food Programme said that almost four million Haitians need urgent food assistance, and that at least one million of those are suffering from severe hunger.

President Moïse has been close-mouthed about the gangs that, according to the Miami’s Herald’s Jacqueline Charles (a Haitian expert), “have been on a rampage in poor neighbourhoods — kidnapping, raping and killing at will”.

An Editorial in the Trinidad Express Newspaper pointed out on November 25, “The US position is particularly hypocritical in the context of its backing of Haitian President, who has been ruling by decree since dismissing parliament, and who continues to preside over unending human rights abuses and the rise of Tonton Macoute-style

death squads.”

It is well known in the OAS that it is the US government that is principally behind no action on Haiti by the organization whose Secretary-General, Luis Almagro, has been ardent in calling out other countries, particularly Venezuela and Nicaragua, on human rights.

The US and the “Lima Group” of countries in the OAS have been dependent on Haiti’s vote to secure the bare majority needed to secure adoption for controversial resolutions against the Venezuelan and Nicaraguan governments.

Hence, the suffering of the poor people of Haiti is ignored.

Whether by coincidence or cooperation, on the same day – October 29 – US Under Secretary of State, David Hale, and Secretary-General Almagro urged Moïse to hold “overdue legislative elections as soon as possible”.

Moïse has ignored them, continuing to operate with untrammelled power, including by making appointments of personal loyalists to key posts in violation of the Constitution which requires such appointments to be approved by the Senate.

Recently, he appointed the Commander of the Armed Forces, the Head of the Police Force, the Governor of the Central Bank, and the chairman of the National Credit Bank. The holders of these offices were all appointed without the senatorial ratifications required by the constitution.

Consequently, they are not vested with the administrative and financial independence necessary to carry out their duties as guaranteed under the Constitution.

They are instruments of the President, vulnerable to his sole dictates.

Unrest and violence

continue as groups demonstrate against corruption and call for elections. The Police have been active in breaking up protests, reportedly shooting dead one protestor and injuring two more on November 18.

Even within the Police force, protestors exist.

A secret group called “Fantom 509” has been actively protesting poor wages and conditions. The recently appointed Police Commissioner, Leon Charles, commanded his officers to confront and lock up colleagues who are “Fantom 509” members.

On Friday, October 30, President Moïse officially put the Constitution of Haiti “on hold”. He formed a committee, to “revise” the draft of a new constitution, which, reportedly, was drafted by persons appointed by him.

In any event, the President has no authority to modify, reform or change the Constitution.

This unconstitutional behaviour is yet another dangerous threat to democracy and political stability in Haiti if it continues unchallenged.

It violates both the Charter of the OAS and the Inter-American Democratic Charter. It is also inconsistent with the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society. At the very least, they should rebuke Moïse for his violations of the constitution.

It is unlikely that between now and January 20, when US Presidentelect Joe Biden assumes the Presidency, that there will be any movement by the US government – by itself or in the OAS – to address the plight of the Haitian people.

Nonetheless the OAS – and CARICOM within it – should act.

The Haitian people are not a political problem; they are human beings sadly and badly in need of a champion.

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POLICE ISSUE WARNING ON NEW ONLINE SCAM

The Guyana Police Force has issued an alert to citizens, particularly women, of a scam being performed by persons suspected of pretending to be Nigerian.

According to the police, the suspect sends a Facebook friend request to the intended victim and once it is accepted they request their phone number for communication via WhatsApp. Over time the suspect, who apparently resides overseas, expresses an amorous interest in the intended victim and indicates that they would be sending gifts for the victim, including jewellery.

The victim would later receive a call from someone claiming to be employed at a shipping

company informing them that a box has arrived at the airport for them but customs officials scanned the box and observed that it contains money.

The victim is then threatened with potential prosecution and informed that they will have to pay sums of money to several individuals in order to avoid prosecution and uplift the box. The money is to be sent to the identified persons through Money Transfer Services or a Post Office.

After the money is sent, the suspect is never heard from again and the victim is defrauded of his or her money.

No information on the number of persons affected by this scam was released by the police.

POLICE INVESTIGATING KIDNAPPING OF INFANT Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Police Force, Royston AndriesJunor, confirmed that police are investigating the kidnapping of a newborn girl on November 24, last, at the Tuschen Squatting Area, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The mother, 19, told investigators that she was at home around 08:45 p.m. when the child’s father entered the house and demanded that she give the baby to him.

The mother refused to hand over the child, causing the father to take out a gun and point it at her. He then took the child and fled from the house.

The kidnapping was

reported to the police and a search was started for the suspect. He was later intercepted in public transportation, with the baby being held by a female passenger in the vehicle.

They were taken to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station and questioned.

The female passenger claimed that she did not know the suspect and that he asked her to hold the baby just before the vehicle was stopped. This was also confirmed by the suspect.

The child was returned to her mother and the father remains in police custody.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday November 28, 2020

AFC condemns PPP for terminating Dr. Vincent Adams, others

Adam’s Note Book In the run up to the 2015 elections the talk was about the level of corruption that existed in Guyana. The people were so riled up that they called on the new government to jail all those found guilty of corrupt practices.

There were probes into land deals that saw some political leaders acquiring property that many could only dream of. Ordinary people suddenly became filthy rich and the ordinary man could only sit and talk.

There were probes and there was some police action. People like Bharrat Jagdeo, Dr Roger Luncheon, Anil Nandlall, and Irfaan Ali found themselves on the other side of the law. Jagdeo faced a private criminal charge in Berbice but not for one moment was he detained by the police.

Irfaan Ali faced 18 fraud charges and appeared in court but never for one moment was he required to spend time in police custody. The same could be said for Anil Nandlall.

Many people employed by the Guyana Rice Board were placed before the courts. One of them was a Deputy Permanent Secretary.

It must have been a respect for people’s liberty and a firm adherence to the tenet that a person is innocent until proven guilty that none of these people ever spent a night in the police lockups.

When they appeared in court they were released on their own recognizance.

One person was asked to post substantial bail.

That was former Minister Jennifer Westford. She was charged with larceny of public funds. But even she was not required to spend a night in jail.

The government changed this year but for some, memories don’t leave. I could imagine the festering anger on the

part of Bharrat Jagdeo, Anil Nandlall, Irfaan Ali and the others at being challenged to defend their innocence. They simply could not wait to grab the reins of power to exact their revenge.

The first thing that happened was that they got some people to file private criminal charges against those elections officials who participated in the March 2 elections.

Even with the private criminal charges the courts set bail that made some people shiver. Forget about recognizance.

Volda Lawrence was a Minister of Health; that mattered not. She was asked to post substantial bail on each charge she faced.

Clairmont Mingo was the Region Four Returning Officer. The angry horde tore into him like hyenas.

And they got the police to do what they themselves would have liked to do if only they had the authority to. The Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield, was not spared.

What brought the glaring witch-hunt to the fore was the fact that the state then filed charges similar to those filed by the private sponsors. The charges brought by the police mirrored those brought by the private citizens.

So people were charged twice for the same offence. The courts also doubled the punishment.

The courts always say that bail is to ensure one’s appearance in the courts.

In this case although the parties were on bail, some having sped a few days in the prison cells, they court imposed even more bail.

It seemed as if the courts were being instructed by the state or that the magistrates simply did not want to rock the boat.

There were other targets. People had their contracts terminated for no

other reason than they were perceived to be supporters of the coalition. Vincent Adams was terminated because, according to the president, he was a member of the Alliance for Change.

The icing on the cake was the detention of Colvin Heath London. He was head of the Special Projects Unit. He had nothing to do with NICIL until this year but Anil Nandlall still seething from the criminal charges brought against him, called on the police to arrest Heath London.

There is nothing to charge Heath London with but the aim is to ensure that they lock him up, even if only for a few days. So Heath London is in custody answering mundane questions. Even his interrogators were not sure about what they wanted to know.

The police proceeded to hold him for three days.

Acting on the instructions of the people who hold the reins of power the police were advised to seek an extension of the time for them to keep Heath London in custody.

The intervention of attorney at law Nigel Hughes put a spanner in the works so Heath London was released on bail set at $200,000. He was asked to return for further questioning. He has not been charged.

The exercise is seen as an attempt to destroy Heath London’s reputation.

The saga does not end there. Attorney at Law James Bond was also taken into custody.

The state is alleging a conspiracy to defraud.

Where the coalition had a healthy regard for people’s liberty the Irfaan Ali administr ration has no consideration.

Dr. Vincent Adams

The Alliance For Change strongly condemns the unlawful dismissal of Dr. Vincent Adams as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Dr. Adams is, without question, the most qualified Environmental Engineer and Petroleum Engineer in the country, who returned after an outstanding career of fine service in the United

States to serve the people of Guyana.

“During his career in the United States, Dr. Adams worked at the highest levels of Government and enjoyed enviable professional recognition the world ove,” the AFC stated.

There can be no legitimate explanation for Dr. Adams’s dismissal as, despite his political views, he served objectively and

with distinction.

“The words of President Ali, that he would be offered a position to which he is eminently qualified have proven hollow and false.”

“Unfortunately, if this is the leadership that Guyana has to offer, then the nation will undoubtedly suffer. There is a distinct absence of dignity and decorum and in its place unbridled crassness, pettiness, vindictiveness and small-mindedness which has become the principal characteristic of the Ali regime as it carries out a campaign of ethno-political purging of mammoth proportions.

“There is only so much that a people can take and the Alliance For Change calls on President Ali, and his Government, to take stock and pay very close attention before it plunges this country into a dark chasm of inevitable ethnic strife and conflict.

JAMES BOND ARRESTED FOR QUESTIONING

Mr. James Bond

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), James Bond, has been arrested for questioning in relation to

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what the government is calling land giveaways conducted under the APNU/AFC Coalition.

Several plots of State land on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) were leased by individuals and then resold for a large profit, the Irfaan Ali government is contending.

Two businessmen, Eddie Doolal and Avalon Jagnanan, were questioned by police.

They reportedly identified Bond as the person who arranged the deals. Both men said Bond directed them to apply to NICIL for the land, after which he found buyers for them.

Life 1 Pharms Incorporated, which Jagnandan heads, leased a

total of 15 acres of land at Peter’s Hall, EBD, for the sum of US$11,700. This land, referred to as plots “A17”, “A18” and “A19”, was then transferred to another person for $100.

A-Z Pharmaceuticals, run by Doolal, also leased three plots of land at Peter’s Hall for US$11,700 a year from NICIL. The company then also transferred the land to an individual for $100.

And former head of the Special Projects Unit was released from police custody on $200,000 bail, Monday morning. But he was ordered to return to CID Headquarters Tuesday afternoon for further questioning.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Saturday November 28, 2020

APNU+AFC vehemently condemns detention of former NICIL CEO

Former Chief Executive Officer of NICIL Mr. Colvin Heath London

The PPP regime’s campaign of terror against the public service and Afro-Guyanese continues to intensify with wanton disregard for the constitutional rights of persons and the law, according to the Coalition.

“The APNU+AFC Coalition vehemently condemns the detention of former Chief Executive Officer of NICIL Mr. Colvin Heath London,” the coalition said in a press statement.

“Mr. London was detained on Friday, November 20 and remains in police custody with no clear reason or explanation. This is another spurious set of trumped up concoctions aimed at terrorising AfroGuyanese specifically, and perceived supporters of the APNU+AFC Coalition generally.

“Mr. London is not a politician; he is a highly regarded professional who worked tirelessly on

behalf of the people of Guyana.”

The coalition said that the PPPregime’s campaign of terror, victimization and persecution has now ensnared Mr. London.

“It is clear that the PPP regime will do whatever it can in their attempt to taint the good professional reputation of Mr. London in their pursuit of vendetta against the APNU+AFC Coalition whose record in government they are jealous of, cannot match and are seeking to also taint.

“This is obscene and contemptible and we demand Mr. London’s immediate release from custody.”

Colvin Heath London voluntarily attended the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Headquarters Eve Leary on Friday November 20, 2020 at 8.30 AM in the company of his Attorneys at law.

DOCTOR FOUND DEAD IN HOME

He was arrested immediately, upon arrival for the offence of conspiracy to defraud.

Attorney for HeathLondon, Nigel Hughes, during the day he was questioned extensively in a video recorded interview on the following issues only.

Whether he was aware that a clause which requires Lessees from NICIL to secure permission in writing from NICIL before subletting the leased property was included in contracts of four companies.

Whether he knew Horace James, CEO of NICIL Whether he knew where Horace James was.

Whether he knew James Bond.

Whether he knew Timothy Fisher Sworn Land Surveyor.

Whether he knew various executives of companies which had

leased land from NICIL. Some of these leases had the clause which required the written permission from NICIL before subletting and some did not.

Whether he was aware of any Board or cabinet approval for the leases which did require written permission of NICIL before they could sublet the properties.

Mr. Heath London after being informed that he was a suspect and was entitled to exercise the right to silence accepted the invitation of the investigating Officers of the Guyana Police Force and exercised his right to silence.

Mr. London was questioned until 6.30 PM on Friday the 20th November 2020.

AT the time of the execution of the leases subject of the interrogation, Mr. London was not the Chief Executive Officer

of NICIL. That office was held by Mr. Horace James now deceased. Mr. London was head of the SPU. Counsel for Mr. London pointed out to and provided the investigating ranks with electronic copies of NICIL’s Board minutes and records dated the 15th January 2018, a date prior to the no confidence motion, which recorded the following discussions and decisions of the Board of NICIL. NICIL’s CEO (Horace James) duly informed the newly appointed Executive Head of the NICIL/SPU of plans on stream for the Peter’s Hall area to be designated as an industrial park in support of Guyana’s new O&G sector.

The CEO (Horace James) opined that nation’s inability to secure capital to facilitate business alliances such as Continued on pg3

GLDA SEIZES OVER 700 LBS OF ILLEGALLY IMPORTED MEAT

Medical Doctor and University lecturer, Dr. Wesley Torrington

Medical Doctor and University lecturer, Dr. Wesley Torrington, was discovered dead in his Roxanne Burnham Gardens home on Friday morning.

The 60-year-old man served as a Dean at the Lincoln Medical

University in Guyana.

He was last seen alive by a neighbour on Monday. At the time, Torrington, who lived alone, told his neighbour that he was unwell.

The neighbour decided to check on him after not seeing Torrington over the

past few days. After not getting a response, Police were called to the home and they discovered the body.

The initial report from Police said that there were no signs of forced entry into the house and no signs of foul play.

Agents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) have arrested a 19-year-old woman and her partner, 33-yearold Nyron Wilson, after discovering suspected amphetamines and

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methamphetamines and a small quantity of suspected marijuana.

During a raid on Friday at the couple’s ‘C’ Field, Sophia home, the drugs were found in one of the bedrooms. Both pills

and the powdered form of amphetamines were found.

The couple remains in custody and is assisting with the investigation.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post, Wednesday November 25, 2020

KILLING OF BLACK MAN BY GUARDS THREE MORE DIE AT BRAZIL SUPERMARKET SPARKS OF COVID-19 PROTESTS

Protestors

(BBC News) The brutal killing of a black man at the hands of two white security guards outside a supermarket has sparked outrage across Brazil.

The killing happened on Thursday, the eve of Black Consciousness Day, and spurred anti-racism protests on Friday.

Footage showed Joao Alberto Silveira Freitas, 40, being repeatedly punched in the face by the guards at a Carrefour store in Porto Alegre.

One of the guards, it has emerged, was an off-duty military police officer.

They were arrested, and the Brazilian subsidiary of the French supermarket

group Carrefour said it had cut ties with the security firm that provided the guards.

Brazil has a long legacy of racism. It was the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery, in 1888.

Brazilians have traditionally been taught that they live in a racial democracy – President Jair Bolsonaro denies racism exists – but activists say that perception is slowly changing.

Video of Thursday night’s attack in the southern city of Porto Alegre was circulated on social networks and on Brazilian media – sparking outrage.

It showed Mr Silveira Freitas, a welder, being repeatedly punched in the face and head by one security guard while being restrained by another.

Another employee appeared to be alongside filming the incident.

Reports said security had been called after a female worker at the supermarket had been threatened by a man.

On Friday morning, protesters gathered outside the Carrefour in Porto Alegre and in the capital Brasilia, chanting and carrying signs which read “Ashamed of being white” and “Please stop killing us”. Protests were

being called for in other cities.

The Black Lives Matter movement, which has gained momentum worldwide since the killing of George Floyd in the US in May, has resonated with many Brazilians.

In 2019, police in Brazil killed nearly six times as many people as in the US and most of them were black.

Many took to social media to condemn Thursday’s killing, including Brazil international footballer Richarlison Andrade.

“It seems that we have no way out… not even on Black Consciousness day,” the Everton player tweeted.

“In fact, what conscience? They killed a black man, beaten in front of the cameras. They beat him and filmed. Decency and shame have been lost to violence and hatred.”

been 971 cases recorded over the last three weeks.

The COVID-19 death toll has increased to 147 with the deaths of an 89-year-old man from Region Six, a 29-year old man from Region Seven and an 88-year-old woman from Region Ten. As of November 22 there have been 27,566 persons tested for the virus. 4,019 persons have recovered leaving 967 active cases in the country.

The Guyana Police

Force arrested 116 persons who were found violating the national COVID-19 measures in Regions Five and Six. The arrests were made as part of the enforcement exercise of Operation COVI-CURB – which was designed to keep people safe by spreading awareness on maskwearing, social distancing among other measures.

The arrested persons have been placed on bail, pending charges.

APNU+AFC vehemently condemns detention of former NICIL CEO continued from pg3

joint venture arrangements may be stymied. It was therefore put forward by the CEO (Horace James) that lease transactions should be amended to facilitate subletting thus creating a more competitive platform for local companies and nationals to benefit from this new business opportunity.

Decision Points.

NICIL CEO would treat with commissioning of valuation and survey reports, preparation of leases to qualified applicants to facilitate onward subletting by all approved leases Industrial Parks Lease Transactions to be formulated immediately for the Peter’s Hall area and such areas as Berbice info@guyanapostonline.com

and Demerara were also slated as possible industrial park developments sites to be commissioned The above NICIL Board Note dated the 2nd January 2018 approved and stamped by the CEO (Horace James) 12th January 2018 and received

by NICIL/SPU on 15th January 2018 is attached for your benefit.

Upon the request of Counsel for Mr. London that he be admitted to bail on Friday the 20th November 2020 he was informed that a decision had been taken that he should not be admitted to bail and no reason for his detention was provided.

Mr. London was transported to the Brickdam Police station where he was detained.

On Saturday the 21st

November 2020 the clothing and personal items which had been lodged by Mr. Hamilton in the presence of his counsel the night before had mysteriously disappeared and could not be located.

Mr London was denied the opportunity to take a shower or perform the basic personal hygiene measures before been taken away to CIF HQ for further questioning.

The mysterious disappearance of his personal property including his tooth brush and other personal property was duly reported to the investigation rank.

The questioning of Mr. London continued with the further questioning about leases which did not contain the requirement to seek the written approval

of NICIL before subletting of the property.

During the questioning of Mr. London he was confronted by the legal officer of NICIL. The questioning of Mr. London was completed for the day after four hours.

A request for his admission to bail was again denied.

To date the only allegation which has been put to Mr London is that the clause which required the written permission of the lessee to sublet was not included in some contracts.

It was pointed out to the investigating ranks that the omission of the clause which did not require the written permission of NICIL is not a criminal offence and had been

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sanctioned by the Board as per the board decision.

Counsel for Mr. London further requested the identification of any instrument which purported to prohibit, restrict or circumscribe the inclusion of a clause which permitted the subletting of properties which had been leased by NICIL. The Investigating officer said that he had not been provided with these.

Upon further inquiry about the identity of the complainant Mr. London was informed that the current board of NICIL had made the complaint.

It has subsequently come to the attention of the lawyers for Mr London that an application to extend the time for his detention is being prepared by Lawyers for

the state.

No reason has been provided for the detention of Mr London for carrying out the policy of the Board of Directors for decisions taken prior to the No confidence motion.

The State has not lost any revenue neither has any allegation to date to Mr. London that the rent was below the market rate.

It is noteworthy that former CEO of NICIL for several years, Winston Brassington testifying under oath on the 12th November 2020 said in relation to NICIL and its powers “the articles of incorporation which guide the operations of the entity (NICL) gives it broad and sweeping powers to do practically anything under the sun.”

UWI to support Guyana’s human resource development

Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles

(Caribbean News Global) KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has been invited by president of Guyana, Dr Irfaan Ali, to help drive forward Guyana’s human resource development strategy.

Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, held a virtual meeting with Dr Ali on Thursday, November

5, 2020, in which they discussed a strategy for the country’s future described as “exciting, sustainable, and on the cutting edge of Caribbean governance.”

The UWI is currently negotiating an agreement with the government of Guyana to help to train up to 20,000 nationals over the next five years, through The UWI Open Campus. This represents an opportunity not only

to help build a fellow CARICOM nation’s capital infrastructure for economic, social and cultural development, but also to bring the University’s internationally recognised brand of excellence into the country.

The diversity and richness of The UWI’s academic programmes, which have been carefully curated over decades, is

well suited to help support the people of Guyana during this phase of their development.

Dr Ali has called upon The UWI to be “very aggressive” in producing the business plan that will allow it to deliver.

He has identified all areas of human resource development that Guyana is urgently in need of. In response, Vice-Chancellor Beckles has assured the president that The UWI sees Guyana as part of its environment. In fact, some decades ago, Guyana was once a contributing member of The UWI, but opted to take a different path for philosophical and ideological reasons.

Vi c e - C h a n c e l l o r Beckles is excited by this “grand invitation” to enter Guyana to assist with its rebuilding process, thus helping the people of Guyana to meet their full potential as members of one of the most dynamic states in the region.

He says, “This is as

EARLY RELEASE FOR 65 NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS

Georgetown Prison

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has released 65 non-violent offenders in keeping with efforts to reduce overcrowding in

all prisons.

The inmates released were convicted for nonviolent offences and were near the end of their

sentences.

Director of Prisons (Ag.), Gladwin Samuels said the decision was taken to provide more space for

prisoners as the Prison Service implements the COVID-19 measures.

In October, more than 290 inmates at the Lusignan Prison tested positive for the disease.

Several Prison Officers were also affected. The affected inmates were isolated and some were relocated to other facilities to ensure adequate spacing among prisoners to stem transmission of the disease.

The Ministry of Health had also deployed a team of doctors and nurses to the facility to complement staff there, and to train prison personnel to boost the efficiency of daily sanitation exercises.

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exciting as anything we have done in any region in the world, because we are on the margin of one of the largest societies, one of the biggest economies and, arguably, one of the most dynamic going forward.”

The UWI is greatly honoured to be part of Guyana’s roadmap to development.

A meeting is being planned between The UWI and relevant ministers of the government of Guyana shortly. Vice-Chancellor Beckles is confident that the Council of The UWI will endorse this worthwhile and muchneeded project. He has already spoken with The UWI’s Chancellor, Robert Bermudez, who agrees that it must and should be undertaken.

The collaboration between The UWI and Guyana is particularly exciting in the context of The UWI’s Triple A Strategy, which focuses on revitalising Caribbean development through

the application of three areas of focus: Access, Alignment and Agility.

At a point in Caribbean history when the region is facing significant challenges due to the global economic downturn, the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, and political upheaval in countries that are major trade partners, such as the United States, the relevance of The UWI’s input and influence is even greater.

In the words of ViceChancellor Beckles, the Caribbean is at “a moment of convergence”, a point in its collective history in which intraregional collaboration and mutual support will be the key to successful nation-building.

The UWI’s role in propelling the people of the region along a progressive path to prosperity has never been more important.

TEEN PLACED IN CUSTODY FOR ACCIDENTALLY KILLING FRIEND

Police have taken a 16-year-old suspect into custody to assist in the investigation of the death of 15-year-old, Rocky Sawh.

Sawh died after being shot to the head on Tuesday evening.

Sawh was invited by the suspect to his home at Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, for a sleepover. The two teens were said to be home alone.

Police said the suspect breached the lock of a wardrobe where a licensed .32 Taurus Pistol, owned by his father, was stored.

The teen was showing the

weapon to Sawh when he accidentally pulled the trigger.

Sawh was shot to his right side head and fell to the ground. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital and admitted in a serious condition. He succumbed to his injuries at around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Sawh’s body is currently at the Hospital Mortuary awaiting a postmortem.

The .32 Taurus Pistol with seven live matching rounds, a spent shell and 149 .32 rounds were retrieved from the scene.

Guyana Post, Wednesday November 25, 2020

DETERMINES Biden names first female CANU THAT DRUGS SEIZED BELGIUM WERE 4-star admiral to Pentagon INSHIPPED THROUGH GUYANA transition team led by Kathleen Hicks, currently director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Ms. Hicks earlier served as undersecretary of defense for policy in the Obama Administration.

Most of the members of the Pentagon transition team are women and Washington, D.C. think tanks like Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and the RAND Corporation are well represented on the list.

CNAS official Ely Ratner – also on the list – was Mr. Biden’s deputy national security advisor from 2015-2017.

Retired Admiral Howard’s last assignment was commander of U.S. Naval Force in Europe.

She had previously served as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. She retired in 2017 after more than 30 years of service and is currently a professor in the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

Retired Admiral Michelle Howard

The first AfricanAmerican woman to command a U.S. Navy ship and the first woman to achieve four-star rank in the Navy has been appointed to Presidentelect Joe Biden’s transition

team to the Department of Defense.

Retired Admiral Michelle Howard joins more than 20 others making up the “Agency Review Team” for the Pentagon.

According

to Biden officials, they will be responsible for reviewing current operations in the Department of Defense in order to ensure a “smooth transfer of power.”

The team will be

MAN REMANDED TO JAIL FOR MURDERING WIFE The man who is accused of knifing his wife to death has been remanded to jail. Taijram Rahim, called ‘Sunny’, 32, a cane cutter of Lot 7 Marcy Dam, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice appeared on Tuesday before Magistrate Peter Hugh in the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.

He is accused of killing his wife Amrita Rahim called “Sally “, 28, and a mother of three on the evening of Friday November 13 following a misunderstanding at their home.

According to information the couple and their three children went to a birthday party which was held in the said yard. info@guyanapostonline.com

The family subsequently left for home. An argument developed between the woman and her husband who accused her of infidelity. As the argument intensify the woman went and lie down on the bed during which time the man went into the kitchen and returned with a knife which he used to stab her on her left breast.

An alarm was raised by one of the children who noticed what took place.

Relatives who lived in the said yard responded and found the victim in an unconscious state.

She was picked up and placed in a taxi and rushed to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead by

on arrival.

The suspect was subsequently arrested and placed into custody.

A post mortem examination conducted on the woman’s body gave the cause of death as

perforation of the heart as a result of a stab wound.

Rahim has been remanded to jail until December 29 when the case is expected to be called again.

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Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh, has said that the investigation into the recent drug bust in Belgium has revealed that Guyana was used as a transshipment point.

The shipment of 11.5 tons of cocaine that was seized reportedly originated from Guyana and was intercepted when it arrived at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium. The drugs were valued at over USD$1.06 Billion.

The investigations conducted by CANU have determined that the drugs were imported into Guyana from another country and then loaded into the container and vessel that departed from Guyana in September.

Images of the container after it was scanned had been removed and Singh said that this makes the work of the Unit even tougher. He also added that it definitively proves that there was collusion

between the “big fishes” and staff members of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

GRA staff members were detained and subsequently released following the end of the 72-hour detention period. Singh did say that very little information was obtained from their interrogation. The GRA will now have to conduct an internal probe to determine the parties who were responsible.

Singh said that CANU will continue to work along with their counterparts in Belgium to bring closure to the case.

A search is also ongoing for the shipper of the container, Marlon Primo of Lot 701 Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and of 69 Atlantic Village, ECD. He is also the proprietor of MA Trading, located at 35 Factory Road, Paradise, ECD.

TEENAGE EMPLOYEE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER $900,000 STOLEN FROM HIS EMPLOYER A teenage employee of a rice farmer was taken into custody for questioning after $900,000 was found to be missing from the home of his employer.

Abdool Nazim, 72, of La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD) was at home on Monday with the teen and another employee. He left to go plough his rice field in the Windsor Forest Backdam with the other employee between 8:00h and 12:00h and forgot to lock the door to the house. The teen was left with instructions to spray the rice field.

Later in the day, the teen met with him at the

Backdam and told him that someone broke into the house. After returning to his home, Nazim found the place ransacked with several drawers and a briefcase- which contained the money- out of place.

After finding the $900,000 in cash missing, Nazim questioned the teen who denied any involvement.

Police at the Den Amstel Police Station have begun investigations.

The teenage employee was questioned and released into the custody of his aunt. He is expected to return for questioning.

CPL RECORDS ‘INCREDIBLE INCREASE’ IN VIEWERSHIP IN 2020

ADAM’S NOTEBOOK The race and subsequent election of Barack Obama to the White House was the one occasion many vividly remember. Indeed, Guyana has long been looking at the election of the president of the United States.

For some reason Guyanese believe that the president of the United States would somehow impact life in Guyana.

Because of the ethnic composition of the country, Guyanese overwhelmingly favour the Democrats. Perhaps it is because the Democrats have the reputation of being more tolerant of Black people. And to clear the air on Black people, it is apposite to note that Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is called a Black person.

After the elections in Guyana and the studied intervention of Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, many Guyanese feel that Pompeo’s actions have come back to bite him.

The very words he uttered to the Coalition—every vote must count—form the backbone of the argument for President Donald Trump to demit office.

Pompeo must not have seen it coming but when it came he was called on to recognize his very utterances a few months earlier in the case of Guyana.

Indeed the situation is different because there were invalid votes cast in the Guyana elections.

Pompeo went scurrying to find similar occurrences in the United States. One must now wonder whether his present reaction would have been the same. One now wonders whether he would have been as vehement about getting Trump to concede defeat.

The vehemence that followed the regime change in Guyana has left some tongues hanging.

There have been reports of some 800 public servants being terminated. Many of these were contract employees.

Some years ago there was talk about reducing the number of contract employees in the public service. Contracts allowed the employer to pay salaries beyond the range of the public service scale.

Back then the argument was that the government would have been unable to attract the necessary skills at the level of the public service pay scale.

What the propagators of the contract employee did not say was that the system opened the door for the appointment of political hacks and servants.

The result is that there has been a radical sweep of contracted public servants.

Many had contracts in force so the immediate conclusion was that they had underperformed at their duties. Then it dawned that nearly all were people of African ancestry.

Most were highly skilled and were proficient at their jobs.

No one could point to any underperformance. This took many back to 1992 when some highly skilled people were terminated.

In one case a Permanent Secretary who had skills desperately needed within Caricom, and whose local service was terminated, was immediately snapped up by Grenada.

President Cheddi Jagan realized the error and tried to woo back the Permanent Secretary.

There was a similar case this time around.

That matter is still in the balance. The highly skilled individual is needed. He was sent on leave but somehow, his termination was not ratified. Suffice it to say that there is acknowledgement in the corridors of power that his skills are needed.

When President Irfaan Ali took the oath of office he vowed to rule on behalf of all Guyana. The actions of his government suggest otherwise. They seem to suggest ruling on behalf of political supporters. How else can one explain some of the appointments?

Two days ago the political opposition tabled two motions in the National Assembly. This is all well and good except that there is the fear that the motions would not be heard.

This contention was made clear before. When United Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, was coming to Guyana the opposition tabled a motion seeking to have it heard as urgent and private. With two days to go, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir informed that the motion needed to be modified. It was modified and returned.

Lo and behold, with less than 24 hours before the visit the motion was not considered urgent.

Pompeo came; his discussions were kept from the opposition who were not invited. It was a sad day. It was the first time that a foreign dignitary came on what was tantamount to a state visit and the opposition was ignored.

That could have been an oversight until once more the government refused to invite the opposition to the annual Remembrance Day observations. This, too, was history-making.

And it did not stop there.

The Chief Citizen of the country, the Mayor of Georgetown was also not invited.

If the government is an Old Boys’ Club then one can understand ignoring some sections of the society. But the government is supposed to be all-inclusive. President Irfaan Ali said so. But then again, what is a word?

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw an incredible 67% increase in Television, Streaming and Digital viewership in 2020, reaching 523.5 million viewers and passing half a billion for the first time in the tournament’s history.

The research was independently compiled

by YouGov Sport, a division of SMGInsight, one of the world’s largest and most respected research firms.

The 2020 Hero CPL was the first franchise T20 tournament to take place since the lockdown and travel restrictions resulting from COVID-19, with all 33 matches played in a secure bubble at two venues in Trinidad and Tobago.

Since the tournament’s inception, the Hero CPL has long been regarded as one of the premier events in world cricket. This leap

in viewership shows how popular the tournament has become in all corners of the globe.

Key drivers include a big linear viewership increase in India of 81% to over 74.9m, growth of 62% in the UK as well as significant increases across the Caribbean, South Africa and in other key markets in Asia.

As well as the major broadcast deals in key cricketing markets, games were also shown live on Facebook and YouTube, meaning no matter where you were in the world you could follow the Hero CPL. The innovative Hero CPL social media channels also helped drive this year’s audience growth with engaging content being produced both during and outside of the tournament with all the major social media platforms showing

significant advances in audience engagement levels.

Hero CPL’s COO, Pete Russell, said: “We are delighted to have seen such a massive jump in viewership for 2020, and passing that 500 million figure is a huge landmark for us as a tournament.

“The interest in Hero CPL has never been higher and that puts us in a fantastic position moving into 2021 and beyond. The tournament has grown in stature and reputation every year and we are certain that will continue to be the case.

“We are delighted with the linear television and streaming numbers as well as the fantastic growth we are seeing across our digital channels and are excited about our upcoming plans for this year to make our content even more accessible and engaging.” (CPL)

ANOTHER COVID DEATH The Ministry of Health recorded 24 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday November 18. By today, there was another COVID-19 death.

The COVID-19 death toll has increased to 144 with the death of a 60-year-old woman from Region 4 on Wednesday.

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Eight new cases were recorded in Region Four, one case in Region Six, one in Region Seven and 14 cases in Region Eight by yesterday.

The total number of recorded cases in Guyana is now 4,914. Region Four still contains the highest number of recorded

cases at 2,362 followed

by Regions One and Seven with 812 and 419 respectively.

As of Wednesday there were 25,756 persons tested for the virus. The number of active cases in the country is 808.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Australian mining company announces large gold find in Guyana

Australian mining company, Alicanto Minerals, reported the finding of a maiden resource of 500,000 ounces at its Arakaka gold project, in Guyana.

An independently calculated maiden resource for the project estimated it to be 9.1 million tons with a grading of 1.8 grams per ton(g/t) of

gold for 520,000 ounces of contained gold.

The resource estimate was created from data collected by Alicanto and the previous owners of the project, Barrick Gold and Nordgold.

The Managing Director of Alicanto, Peter George, said this maiden resource would most likely be the first of a rapidly growing

inventory at Arakaka.

“This resource is shallow, the mineralisation remains open in all directions, and we already have numerous intersections outside the resource which will form part of the next estimate.

We also have multiple walk-up targets with multimillion-ounce bulk tonnage potential that

remains to be drilled.”, George said.

The announcement from Alicanto comes a few days after Troy Resources, another Australian mining company, announced that it had found around 15 g/t of milled ore at their Karouni Smarts Underground mine in Region Seven.

IRAQ HANGS 21 ON TERRORISM CHARGES IN LATEST MASS EXECUTIONS

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq hanged 21 convicted terrorists and murderers on Monday, an interior ministry statement said, the latest in a series of mass executions it has carried out since defeating the Islamic State group in 2017.

Among those executed at a prison in the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya were people involved in two suicide attacks that killed dozens of people the northern town of Tal Afar, the statement said.

It gave no further details of the identities of the people who were executed or the crimes for which they were convicted.

Iraq has put hundreds of suspected jihadists on trial and carried out several mass executions since defeating Islamic State fighters in a 20142017 U.S.-backed military campaign.

Human rights groups have accused Iraqi and other regional forces of inconsistencies in the judicial process and flawed trials leading to unfair convictions. Iraq says its trials are fair.

Islamic State captured a third of Iraq in 2014 and was largely defeated both there and in neighbouring Syria over the following three years.

CANU REOPENS INVESTIGATIONS INTO GERMANY DRUG BUST

Germany in a shipment of rice from Guyana

Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh has reopened the investigations of the 1.5 tons of cocaine which was seized in Germany in a shipment of rice from info@guyanapostonline.com

Guyana.

The container in which the cocaine was found had made several stops after leaving Guyana and before arriving in Germany. Because of this the initial investigation

ruled out the possibility of the drugs originating in Guyana.

Singh today said that the reopening of the case is based on new intelligence.

The seizure in Germany was conducted after

investigators at the Joint Customs and Police Investigation Group received a tip-off about drug smuggling and after searching the container found 47 large packages hidden between the rice

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sacks and inside those, 1,277 smaller packages of cocaine. The drugs were valued at over US$300M. Just over a week ago another shipment of drugs, which was linked to Guyana, was

seized in Belgium. 11.5tons (23,000 pounds) of cocaine were found in a container which was supposed to have a shipment of scrap metal.

The drugs were valued at US$1,068,156,000.

HURRICANE IOTA RAPIDLY WEAKENING OVER NICARAGUA (Loop News) Hurricane Iota has been downgraded to a category one hurricane as it journeys west over Nicaragua.

The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said Iota’s maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 85 mph (135 km/h) with higher gusts.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the centre and tropicalstorm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 965 mb (28.50 inches). Additional rapid weakening is expected

today into Wednesday and Iota is forecast to dissipate over Central America by Wednesday night.

At 7am EST, the centre of Hurricane Iota was located inland over Nicaragua about 15 miles (25 km) west-northwest of El Pia and about 90 miles (145 km) west-southwest of Puerto Cabezas.

NHC said Iota is moving toward the west near nine mph (15 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue during the next day or so.

On the forecast track, Iota will move farther inland across northern Nicaragua today, and move across southern

Honduras tonight and Wednesday.

Iota is expected to produce the following rainfall accumulations through Thursday: -Honduras, northern Nicaragua, southeast and central Guatemala and southern Belize: 10 to 20 inches (250 to 500 mm) with isolated maximum totals of 30 inches (750 mm).

-El Salvador and Panama: four to eight inches (100 to 200 mm), with isolated maximum totals of 12 inches (300 mm).

-Southern Nicaragua and Costa Rica: three to five inches (75 to

125 mm), with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches (250 mm).

This rainfall will lead to significant, lifethreatening flash flooding and river flooding, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain.

A life-threatening storm surge will raise water levels by as much as five to 10 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the coast of Nicaragua and Honduras.

Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

PERU’S INTERIM PRESIDENT RESIGNS AFTER FIVE DAYS

Peru’s interim president Manuel Merino

(CNN) Peru’s interim president Manuel Merino resigned Sunday, after being in office for only five days. His decision followed nearly a week of violent protests in the country following the impeachment of former President Martin Vizcarra.

“I want to make it known to the whole country that I irrevocably present my resignation for the office of the presidency and I call for peace and unity for all Peruvians. My commitment is with Peru and I will do everything in my power to guarantee a constitutional succession and for Congress to

determine in order for Peru to move forward,” Merino told the nation.

Merino was the President of Congress until being appointed interim president after Congress impeached former President Martin Vizcarra over corruption allegations on Monday.

Vizcarra has denied the allegations.

Vizcarra’s impeachment sparked protests across the country starting Monday and continued for six nights in a row, leaving at least two people dead and 94 injured on Saturday night.

The prosecutor’s

office has opened an investigation into both deaths. Peru’s Office of Ombudsman has been monitoring the protests and called to stop the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters on social media.

Protesters, opposition parties and civil society called Vizcarra’s ouster a legislative coup and refused to recognize Merino as the new president. Among those who called for Merino’s resignation was the mayor of Lima Jorge Muñoz, Nobel Prize winner and influential Peruvian figure Mario Vargas Llosa, and

OVER 480 LBS OF EXPIRED MEAT SEIZED BY GLDA

the Peruvian National Assembly of Regional Governors.

Merino became Peru’s third president in less than five years. Vizcarra took office in 2018 after former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned amid corruption allegations and impending impeachment.

Vizcarra was Kuczynski’s Vice President.

In his final address Sunday, Merino said all Cabinet members had presented resignation offers as the crisis unfolded, but that he intends to keep ministers in place until the situation is cleared in order to avoid creating a power vacuum.

At least eight Cabinet ministers were confirmed to have resigned between Saturday and Sunday according to state press agency Andina.

Following Merino’s resignation, Congress called for a plenary session on Sunday to discuss the appointment of the next president.

Presidential elections are scheduled for April of next year.

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The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and the Ministry of Health, on Monday, seized 483 pounds of expired and undocumented duck meat from a city business.

The meat was imported from the United States.

Dr. Ozaye Dodson, the Ministry’s Director of Veterinary and Public Health, said they were notified by the GLDA of the sale of the product in major supermarkets.

Because the items were undocumented they were not considered wholesome for human consumption in Guyana.

The products will be confiscated in accordance with the Animal Health Act and the Public Health Ordinance. Dodson also said that he hopes the activity will let the country see that they are concerned about the safety of items which are not produced locally. The expired goods will be disposed of and the inspection will continue.

CEO of the GLDA, Dr. Grayson Halley, said his department is planning to conduct more inspections

during the Christmas season.

Speaking on requests made to import meat products or live animals, Dr. Halley said, “We do a general risk assessment to identify what disease may be prevalent in relation to that particular meat and if we are satisfied, and there is no risk to our local population or animals, we issue the ‘no objection letter’.

The letter will then go to the Public Health Department of the Health Ministry and they will do the additional requisite procedure.”

Deputy CEO of the GLDA, Dr. Dwight Walrond, said that there will be no compromise from the GLDA on public health since business owners are aware of the content of the Animal Health Act. “We have a population who depends on us to protect them and we have to do whatever it takes to ensure that the population’s health is protected, and we will do that without any fear or favour.”, Dr. Walrond added.

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