Keeping you updated on current events... Saturday February 13, 2021
ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER
BUDGET 2021 SET AT $383.1B Pg2 Pg2
Pg2 Pg2 OF THE A CLEAR SEQUENCE EVENTS RELATED TO THE BK WATER STREET PROPERTY Pg3
Providence teen admits to trying to extort S10M from ex-boyPg3 friend over rape allegation
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Government allocates $60.7 B to Education
Guyana Post Saturday February 13, 2021
BUDGET 2021 SET AT $383.1B Budget 2021 labelled as “a fast Recovery economic dynamism and resilience” has been set at 3833.1 Billion according to the Ministry with the responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh Building on the 329.5 Billion set in the year 2020 Budget, the PPP/C Government has announced the biggest budget with the claims of on introduction of any new taxes.
The government in this year’s budget has plugged the largest fund in the Education sector, which was set at 60. 6 Billion, while Health, on the other hand, shared the secondlargest budget fund, with the aim of providing through Guyana during the COVID-19 Pandemic that is set at 53.5 B. According to Mr. Singh, Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by
20.9 percent this year. With the growth projected, Mr. Singh has indicated that the growth would be mainly facilitated by oil but cushioned by the non-oil sector. The non-oil sector is excepted to contribute some 6.1 percent through developments primarily in agriculture, manufacturing, and mining sectors even in spite of the pandemic.
A CLEAR SEQUENCE OF THE EVENTS RELATED TO THE BK WATER STREET PROPERTY
The Guyana media including state media have reported that BK bought a valuable piece of property worth 5 Billion for 20 Million by improper means. It is completely false. The response from a former Director on the Privatization Board that top Guyanese businessman, Brian Tiwarie, used political connections to enrich himself prior to the March 2, 2020 general elections in Guyana. Reports in some sectors of the Guyana press have tried to link the past APNU government to a deal inked by Tiwari which saw him buy valuable waterfront property, suggesting that info@guyanapostonline.com
the deal is somehow suspicious. But the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) document on the deal in detail 2006- 14 years ago proves that the deal was sealed by NICIL since 2006. Also adding his version of the events is Lincoln Lewis, the former Trade Union representative on the board. NICIL confirmed that a lease agreement was subsequently entered into between NICIL and BK International Company Inc. with an option to purchase. NICIL was keen to point out that this Agreement was signed by former Head of
NICIL, Winston Brassington, a key player in the previous PPP government. BK International Inc. submitted an offer to purchase based on the terms and conditions of the 2006 deal on November 19, 2009. It was explained that this offer was under active consideration by the then Head and Board of NICIL Eventually. NICIL subsequently began legal proceedings against BK. in June 2013 to recover rental arrears owed. This action was later set aside instead and the judge ordered that the dispute be settled by arbitration as provided for in the agreement. He
also ordered that certain arrears of payments be made this was done immediately. NICIL said it then made an updated calculation that included rental arrears, all outstanding rent and accrued interest. BK accepted the updated calculation in October 2017, and the approval for transfer by sale was submitted to cabinet for approval once again. In late 2019, NICIL resubmitted its request for approval for transfer of sale. Cabinet returned its approval and NICIL and BK Inc completed the transaction just days before the March elections. This execution of sale was gazetted on
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March 28, last using the option price of $110 Million as set out in the 2006 deal as per the price for the property. Lincoln Lewis, who was a representative on the NCIL’s Privatization Board during the previous PPP government under Bharrat Jagdeo, confirmed that. He states that ‘’the entire board, appointed by the PPP/C government, agreed to recommend to Cabinet for the property to go to BK.” Lewis said he did not at the time know BK at all. The aim of the PPP now is to attempt to embarrass BK by claiming somehow that
the APNU transferred the property to BK by improper means. The bottom line is that the deal was done since 2006 during the PPP Administration and finalized during APNU. BK should defend itself with a lot of energy and all those involved in the deal in 2006 will have an opportunity to explain to the judge how the deal went down in 2006. It is my opinion the efforts by the current administration to embarrass BK will fail. Yours Respectfully, .................................... Ramon Gaskin
Guyana Post Saturday February 13, 2021
Government allocates $60.7 B to Education
Building on a 52 Billion COVID-19 Emergency Budget for Education last year, the government
The was announced by this year has allocated the Senior Minister with 60.7 Billion for the responsibility for Finance, development of the sector Ashni Singh during the in 2021.
budget presentation. With the main aim of focusing on Education in a COVID-19 Pandemic, according to Mr. Singh, the Government will be looking at advancing the learning sector to accommodate learning during the pandemic. As such, Mr. Singh said that a sum of $1 B will go the funding of 20,000 online scholarships and a sum of $3.3 will be added to boost the University of Guyana at both Campuses, while also maintain that a sum of that will focus on getting protection equipment against the COVID-19 virus. Adding on that. Mr.
of trying to extort $10 million from her exboyfriend and attempting to frame him of rape. Williams appeared and pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that between January 4 – 7, 2021, in Georgetown, with intent to extort $10 million from Kenrick Thomas, she threatened
to accuse him of attempting to rape her. As such, Williams was remanded to prison, as a probation report was ordered before sentencing as the matter was adjourned to March 1, 2021. The fact states, that the two were in a relationship for 4 months, and after a breakup, Williams sends a voice note to the victims accusing him of rape. She later placed a 10 million price in exchange for her silence. However, the victim later reported the matter, and Willams was later arrested.
An allegedly abusive husband is now dead after being suspected of being stabbed to death by his wife. The said victim has been identified as 45-year-old Anthony Giddings from Pitt Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice Area. Reports are that Gibbings, who shared a marriage with his wife Anita Hanuman requested a lighter, of which the woman said at the moment she did not have any. Gibbings, however, became annoyed, pulled a knife out of his waist, and threatened to stab her to death. Fearful for her life, Hanuman ran in the streets, where Gibbings pursued her and a fight
A mother is now nursing gunshot wounds after being shot by her paramour. Police Constable Shonnetta James was shot by Sergeant Colin Whyte on Thursday night. Whyte is a Subordinate Officer in charge of the
Blairmont Police Station. Reports are that Whyte last evening during a heated argument with the mother of his twin daughters, the man opened fire on her. One of the said bullets reportedly hit James to her neck
after which she was picked up by the same accused and left at the entrance of the Fortwellington Hospital. The two are said to have been together for years but was in the process of separating.
Singh maintained that the Government will be looking at the building of schools in regions, 4, 9, and 8. On the other hand, the budget will also cater to the area of Technical and Vocational Education and Training(TVET), as the sum allotted of 884
million, which will focus on the retooling of the body. Withstanding the allotted sum of funds, Mr Ashni said that the PPP Government will ensure accountability, one of which was not a feature under the APNU-AFC Government
Providence teen admits Pitt Street man murdered to trying to extort S10M by wife from ex-boyfriend over rape allegation
A 19-year-old has found her before the courts over framing her ex-boyfriend for rape in exchange for $10M The accused Princess Williams of the Providence, East Bank Demerara woman, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates and denied the allegation
Anthony Giddings
began. Gibbings, then later with the use of the very knife try to stab the woman, however, that weapon was wrestled away and used by the woman in stabbing him two times to the chest. Hanuman later turned
herself over to the police, recounted what had occurred and Gibbings was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Hanuman also related that she had suffered years of abuse at the hands of Gibbings, who one time broke her arm.
Police mother of two shot by police paramour
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Guyana Post Friday February 12, 2021
ALI PROMISES STRONG LAWS FOR OIL SECTOR
President Irfaan Ali has signalled his intention to punish his Finance Minister and the Finance Secretary if all oil and gasrelated transactions are not published. Addressing the National Assembly today, Ali has noted that he intends to introduce legislation
aimed at promoting the transparency of all revenue and expenses relates to oil and gas sector. “My Government intends to account from the nations for every earned from the industry and for every cent that is spent. To accomplish this legislation will be made
during this session of the national assembly, making the finance minister and the Finance Secretary responsible for publishing details of all revenue and expenditure in the official gazette allowing people to track all transactions. Fail to do so, will be punished severely under the law,”
the President told the House The President explained that the new legislation that will be enacted, would ensure that the Guyanese people keep track, of how the oil and gas sector is being run by the Government. President Ali pointed to
the transformation that the sector is expected to bring to the country as he said its revenue must benefit Guyanese. “The right to make decisions in our national interest, while the prospect for the oil and gas wealth is now real. It could dissipate if we fail to take the
necessary steps to ensure that Guyana’s interest and its rightful income is safeguarded.” Ali said The Head of State promised a robust laws that would guide investment, guide Guyana’s negotiations with oil companies and a Local Content Policy.
Opposition MPS protest President Ali’s presence at Parliament The APNU-AFC Opposition today protested President Irfaan Ali’s presence in the National Assembly. The Parliamentary opposition MPs have labelled the President’s presence as disrespect to the House The APNU-AFC MPs were not present in the House for the President’s address. The lone opposition MP was Deputy Speaker Lennox Shuman. Chanting “fraud is a fraud”, the opposition MPs stood at the entrance of Arthur Chung Conference Center where the National Assembly is being held. Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon described
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the action as peaceful, “we are here today to basically protest the statements which would be made by President Ali in the Parliament,” Harmon said “In fact, you recall that we spent 133 days during last year recounting ballots that were cast at the second of march election and this place is the place where the fraud which was discovered that benefited the PPP that is on the basis in which PPP Regine now exercises governance” Mr. Harmon said. Harmon blasted the government for failing to consult with the parliamentary opposition as well as his constitutional office as he said his members
represent more than half of the voting population. “We have a situation in which that regime has failed to recognize and fail to recognize the representative, the legitimate representative of over 217,000 persons whom we represent in that house and so that
disrespect in which he has shown to us,” Harmon pointed out, “If you disrespect me outside my house, You cannot come into my house and disrespect me,” he said. Even as the protest continued on the arrival of the Head of State,
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Opposition MP. Sherod Duncan claimed that he was assaulted by the ranks of the Guyana Police Force with clear directions from authorities. The confrontation occurred when opposition members were told that they cannot
get close to the ACCC with their placards. A move, the opposition labelled this hypocritical as they argued that the then opposition PPP was allowed to protest President David Granger in a similar way.
Guyana Post Friday February 12, 2021
Pharmacist takes first jab with COVID-19 vaccine
In the interest of Guyana reaching herd immunity, the Ministry of Health administered the first dosage of vaccine On Thursday, one day after a donation of 1500 dosages of COVID-19 Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine from Barbados. Frontline healthcare worker Brinnet Bernarai a pharmacist attached to the Georgetown Hospital Public Hospital was the first to receive the jab. Bernarai in relating her experience said that she was nervous but then felt relaxed later in the process. With the first dose being administered, several other health care workers are expected to get the vaccine. Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said that his ministry will be rolling out an awareness campaign aimed at sensitizing the public on the safety of info@guyanapostonline.com
the vaccine. “We will really need a lot of public education awareness to ensure that people understand how vaccines work, how they can protect you,” Dr. Anthony said, “and also dispel the negativity that surrounds vaccines. They are persons that are totally against the vaccine, and you know, that isn’t gonna be helpful in this fight against the pandemic” Anthony explained. As the vaccination campaign rolls out, the Government of Guyana will be focusing on immunizing some 80% of the population. By which, the Ministry has noted that some 22,000 healthcare workers in the Public sector and private sector will first be vaccinated since health care is the first to come into contact with the virus. As the process continues older persons
among others will be vaccinated. “We are starting today, but by the end of the month and going into march our hope is that every single health worker will be able to get vaccinated,” Dr. Anthony said, “so by then, we would have enough dosage of vaccines to be able to provide for every health care worker. We have worked out a deployment plan for how we are gonna roll out vaccine and the first set of people the health care workers after that we will go to persons who are older cause against the base on the risk profile, we have seen older persons will get the more severe form of the diseases,” the Minister said The Health Ministry intends to use the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and other vaccines as they become available.
Magistrate to do PI to ascertain whether there is evidence against Roxanne Meyers
Magistrate Leron Daly had ruled that the matters Involving Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Roxanne Myers would remain indictable. As such, two charges against Myers for misconduct in office will go through and preliminary inquiry, leaving it up to the Magistrate to determine whether or not the evidence provided is sufficient enough to commit her to a trial in the high
court. Myers’s lawyer Nigel Hughes had made the submissions asking that the matters remained indictable. Special Prosecutor, Ganesh Hira told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will be appealing the ruling of the Magistrate and will provide it to the Court on March 9, 2021. Myers, who is currently on $300,000 bail on two charges of misconduct in the office during the March 2020
Elections. P ol i ce back t hen woul d have l aunched an i nvest i gat i on i nt o al l egat i ons of f r aud at t he GE COM and Meyer s was want ed f or quest i oni ng. Myers, Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith L o w e n f i e l d , and Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo are facing criminal charges in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court relating to alleged electoral fraud.
21 year old housewife found murdered
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 21-year-old woman. The woman was found face down in her yard in an unregulated housing settlement in La Retraite. The dead woman was identified as Yashoda Andrews, called “Debbie” Based on reports,
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people from the area recalled seeing the woman lying motionless in her yard. As such, police arrived on the scene and later confirmed those reports. On arrival of the body was checked for marks of violence but none were seen. However, a black
telephone wire was seen next to the body, a wire of which neighbors in the area, who came to her aid, removed. The body was later escorted to the West Demerara Hospital where it was pronounced by a doctor on duty. An investigation is said to have been launched into the matter.
Regional News
Dutch King Willem Alexander to make a state visit to Suriname now that diplomatic ties between the two countries has been Strenghtened ,
PA R A M A R I B O , Suriname — The Nederlands Daily, Dagblad, reports that the Dutch parliament on January 9 is urging Dutch King Willem Alexander to make a state visit to Suriname
now that “diplomatic ties between the two countries have been strengthened after the departure of Desi Bouterse, who was president for ten years.” “A state visit would be good to give the relationship a further
boost” a majority of the House of Representatives have urged the cabinet. And according to the motion, “the King’s visit should take place in the context of the celebration of 46 years of Suriname’s independence. That will be celebrated in Suriname on November 25.” Last state visit was in 1978, three years after Suriname became an independent country. “The last state visit of the Royal Family to the former colony of Suriname was in 1978, then Juliana was still queen.” President of Suriname, Chandrika Prasad
Santokhi announced his first presidential visit to the Netherlands on January 13. Since 2006, there has been no presidential visit from Suriname to Holland. Sankokhi campaigned for closer ties with the Hague, and it will be his second overseas visit since taking office, Guyana being his first. The Netherlands foreign minister Stephen Blok visited Suriname in November 2020. “Relations between both countries have intensified since the government of Santokhi / Brunswijk has taken office. The two
foreign ministers have now started a journey of renewed cooperation,” Santokhi said. “Various discussions have led to the restoration of diplomatic relations between both countries at ambassador level. The technical cooperation has now been reactivated and has resulted in the Hoog Civil Service Conference in November 2020,” he also said in January 2020. Santokhi added: “Various sectors have been identified for concrete cooperation, as well as the use of the remaining treaty
resources. Support for discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also been confirmed.” Under the previous government of Suriname, the economy was despondent, but conveniently, the Netherlands and the United States were blamed. However, it is remittances, travel and tourism from Holland and the United States that kept the economy afloat. Reportedly, Santokhi would like Holland and the diaspora to invest in Suriname.
Export-oriented businesses in Barbados, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis will be offered globally standardised testing at domestic laboratories as early as next year
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Exportoriented businesses in Barbados, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis will be offered globally standardised testing at domestic laboratories as early as next year says Daniel Best, Director Projects Department at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The bank has partnered with the European Union (EU) and the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) to upgrade labs, train staff, and, in the case of St Kitts and Nevis, develop a national quality policy; to ensure businesses can deliver globally recognised goods and services info@guyanapostonline.com
required for the trade. According to Best, the Strengthening of the Regional Quality Infrastructure Programme in Barbados, Dominica, and St Kitts and Nevis Project, which is supporting these upgrades “will add value to local and regional enterprises and focuses on several important subsectors in each economy namely, agro-processing, transportation and construction.” This, he indicated is being provided at an opportune time given the economic hurdles being faced by the region. The intervention is being funded by the CARIFORUMEuropean Union
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility for Capacity Building financed by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and managed by CDB. It is part of the Bank’s wider thrust to stimulate private sectorled growth focused on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development. Director-General of CARIFORUM at the CARICOM Secretariat, Percival Marie set the context for the project, stating that while there have been improvements in the region’s trade with Europe by businesses leveraging export opportunities, there
were gaps in both private and public sectors which required attention. The region in response has committed significant funding to strengthen the relevant institutions. According to Marie, “one of the major components of this CARIFORUM regional capacity building programme is a programme of support to CARIFORUM Member States in seizing market access opportunities through advancing the use of internationally recognised regional quality infrastructure”. Increasing the capabilities of the regional enterprise is the intent of several interventions supported by the EU in the region. Luis Maia, head of
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cooperation at the EU delegation in Barbados stated: “As COVID-19 forces unprecedented changes to the way we work, live, and learn; the Standby Facility creates a critical avenue to address inequalities and constraints threatening growth in trade while providing much-needed aid to effectively implement CSME and EPA related activities at the national level”. Deryck Omar, chief executive officer at CROSQ, which is implementing the US$ 874,932 project, supported this view. “Through projects and resources, such as the European Union’s Standby Facility, we can make steps to bring our businesses and, by extension, our economies ever closer to being more competitive and sustainable.” US$ 587,325 was allocated from the Standby Facility while CDB provided US$118,840 from its Special Development
Fund (SDF). Exporters from various productive sectors in the region face several barriers when entering new markets, including issues related to quality and adherence to globally accepted standards. This project will assist local firms in accessing resident metrology services increasing export readiness. These arrangements will serve to strengthen manufacturing, reduce production costs and increase the competitiveness of local commodities. The Standby Facility is a €8.75 million resource managed by CDB, which offers opportunities to 15 Caribbean economies to grow trade; deepen integration and economic involvement; and impact competitiveness, market access, and exports by implementing targeted projects in thematic areas.
Guyana Post Friday February 12, 2021
Haiti – a country to which all other countries that suffered slavery are deeply indebted – is once again in turmoil. By Sir Ronald Sanders
Therefore, no Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country should stand aside, silently, while Haiti is sliding into further catastrophe, retarding its already impoverished economy and depriving the Haitian people of hope for an improved future. Of course, no country should interfere in the internal affairs of any other state. CARICOM has never done that. In the times, when the organization has played a role in resolving political, electoral, and constitutional issues in a CARICOM memberstate, it has done so at the invitation of the government and other political parties. This occurred most recently in Guyana, where CARICOM played a pivotal role in upholding democracy and ensuring the credible result of elections. Non-interference in the internal affairs of a state should not be construed as approval. And, when conditions reach the point of loss of lives, the least that friendly states should do is to offer to help to bring about peace and to assist in resolving the issues that are causing violence and destruction. While the Haitian government might info@guyanapostonline.com
not agree, the present circumstances of the country are crying out for remedial action. Hence, CARICOM was right, on February 11, to issue a public statement “encouraging all parties to engage in meaningful dialogue in the interest of peace and stability” and “strongly urging that action be taken to foster a safe environment, a return to normal life and the building of sustainable democratic institutions”. Since October 2019, when president Jovenel Moïse postponed parliamentary and local elections, there has been no legislature in Haiti. The president has ruled the country by decree, contrary to its Constitution. Even at the municipal level, when the terms of elected Mayors end, Moïse has appointed persons of his own choosing. Further, in the absence of a legislature which, under the Constitution, is required to approve appointments to independent institutions and law enforcement agencies, including the police, president Moïse has unilaterally installed favoured persons. For over a year, these circumstances have infuriated opposition
parties as would be expected, but they also caused alarm among human rights groups within the country and internationally. More recent events in Haiti, however, have attracted strong criticism of Moïse. The most compelling condemnation has come from seven members of the House of Representatives of the United States of America (US). In early February, they wrote to the Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, demanding the departure of Moïse “in accordance with the Haitian Constitution”. For several months, the contention has been made by political and civil rights groups in Haiti, that in conformity with the Constitution, the president’s term ended on February 7 – five years after the last elections in November 2016. He has contended that, notwithstanding the position stated in the Constitution about the life of the president’s term, he is entitled to remain in office for another year, since he did not assume office until February 2017. In a situation in which a president’s stewardship has brought peace, economic development
and social progress, the Haitian society may have gone along with Moïse’s view. Unfortunately, the situation on the ground in Haiti has been very different. Moïse was not a popularly elected president. The 2016 elections had a low turnout of voters. His actions, since then, especially his ruling by decree, weakened his approval still further. In this atmosphere, the country slipped into lawlessness – some of it allegedly engendered by Moïse’s ruling party. Kidnappings and killings haunted rich and poor alike, and marauding gangs ruled districts driving fear into communities. Massacres occurred in neighbourhoods where opposition to Moïse is strong. All this led to street protests which the government met with an iron fist. In recent weeks, police have fired live ammunition into crowds, killing and wounded people including two journalists, one of whom is in a critical condition. During this, on February 7, Moïse alleged that there was a plot to overthrow him. Police arrested and detained 23 persons,
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including a former presidential candidate, a high-ranking police inspector and a judge on the country’s highest court. Additionally, Mosie, arbitrarily sent three judges of the Court of Justice on retirement. One of these judges was named jointly by the opposition parties as the “interim president” of Haiti – much as happened with Venezuela’s Juan Guaidó. The US Embassy in Haiti issued a statement questioning the merits of the action to unseat the judges. Several nonCARICOM countries, looking for a solution to the current problem, are doing what they usually do – focussing on presidential elections to end the conflict. The problem is that there is no credible election machinery in Haiti, including no upto-date and verifiable electoral list. What is more, Moïse appointed a Committee of his associates to make recommendations on institutional and political reform, including of the provisional electoral council (CEP) which administers elections. The much greater problem is that he plans
to hold a referendum on April 25 on a draft constitution that his Committee has drafted. Amongst other things, the draft Constitution, will set the stage for presidential and other elections. The process has no credibility and no support from opposition political parties and civil rights groups and, therefore, will continue to rouse protests and crowd demonstrations. Haiti, including president Moïse, and all the other actors – political and civil – need the help of honest brokers and mediators to help create agreed conditions to remedy the institutional issues, including the election machinery. Without it, the situation in Haiti will worsen. No country or organisation can impose itself to assist Haiti. The Haitian players must invite such help. Until they do so, all organisations, including CARICOM and the Organisation of American States should express their concerns and stand ready to be helpful to the people of Haiti who deserve the chance for a better life.
Guyana Post Friday February 12, 2021 International News US President Joe Biden Minnesota health clinic has rescinded the national killer was charged emergency order used to fund Wright County Attorney Donald Trump’s border wall. Brian Lutes said
Gregory Paul Ulrich
Loujain al-Hathloul
In a letter to Congress on Thursday, Mr Biden wrote that the order was “unwarranted” and said that no further tax dollars will be spent on the wall. Mr Trump declared a state of emergency over the southern border in 2019, which allowed him to bypass Congress and use military funds for its construction. When Mr Trump left office, about $25bn (£18bn) had been spent on the project. Judge: US can’t expel migrant children over Covid-19 How much of Trump’s wall has been built? Who decided to separate immigrant families in the US? The announcement from President Biden is the latest in a series of executive orders that have rolled back key parts of the former president’s agenda. Last week, Mr Biden signed orders seeking to reunite migrant families split up by Trump-era policies, and ordered a probe of his predecessor’s immigration agenda. In a letter on Thursday, Mr Biden wrote that he would also seek a review of “all info@guyanapostonline.com
resources appropriated or redirected” to the construction of the wall. Building a border wall was a signature pledge of Mr Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. But the project faced strong opposition in the Democratic-controlled House, and the Republican president announced he would use emergency powers to fund its construction. An emergency declaration allows US presidents to circumvent the usual political process and to access military funding. Various types of fencing totalling 654 miles (just over 1,000 km) were already in place before Mr Trump became president in 2017. During his time in office, 80 miles of new barriers were built where there were none before, and almost 400 miles replaced existing parts of the structure. “Trump’s national emergency was never about security,” wrote Arizona Democratic Congressman Raul Grivalva on Twitter following Biden’s
announcement. “Now we must cancel the contracts and ensure that not another foot of the border wall is constructed.” Former Trump campaign advisor Jason Miller also took to Twitter to comment on the decision, writing “Biden loves illegal immigration”. But some parts of the Trump administration’s immigration policy will be left in place. At a press conference on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki appeared to confirm the new administration would keep a Trump-era policy that allowed border officials to summarily expel undocumented immigrants amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Due to the pandemic and the fact that we have not had the time, as an administration, to put in place a humane, comprehensive process for processing individuals who are coming to the border,” she said. “Now is not the time to come, and the vast majority of people will be turned away”.
The suspect in the Tuesday shooting at a Minnesota health clinic that killed one person and wounded four others was charged with murder on Thursday. In a criminal complaint that detailed the gruesome attack, authorities said Gregory Ulrich, 67, also detonated two explosive devices. Ulrich was charged with second-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and one count each of felony use of an explosive device and carrying a pistol without a permit. According to the criminal complaint, Ulrich entered the clinic just before 11 a.m., pulled out a semi-automatic
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handgun, and began threatening the staff. He then allegedly entered the reception area and shot two victims, before moving to the interior of the clinic and shooting three more. The first four shooting victims survived. But the final victim, who was hit by a bullet that tore through her liver and spine, later died of her injuries, the complaint said. The victim was later identified by Allina Health as Lindsay Overbay, a 37-year-old medical assistant who had worked for Allina Health since November of 2018. “The victim was a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister,”
during a morning press conference. “She went to work and she didn’t come home due to the senseless gun violence inflicted by Gregory Ulrich.” Ulrich is also accused of detonating two bombs in the building, one near the entrance and a second in the interior of the clinic. Investigators found a third, undetonated explosive near his briefcase that consisted of black powder in a small cylinder, the complaint said. At 10:58 a.m., Ulrich called 911 and told police that he would surrender, the complaint said. Police said they found him laying facedown in the entryway with his arms out. When he was searched by police, he was allegedly carrying two loaded magazines, ammunition, and two marijuana cigarettes, and a preliminary search of his phone allegedly revealed a “rambling video message that alluded to an incident at the clinic.”
International Sports
Guyana Post Friday February 12, 2021
Fernando Alonso has been involved in a road accident while cycling in Switzerland
The two-time world champion is “conscious and well in himself” and now awaiting further medical examinations on Friday morning, his Alpine F1 team said in a statement. No further details were released, with the team saying that the next update will be on Friday.
Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Alonso was hit by a car while he was cycling on roads near Lugano. The newspaper says that the Spaniard was hospitalised for checks, with X-rays showing a suspected jaw fracture, and that Alonso was being transferred
to Bern for further examination. F1 pre-season testing starts in Bahrain in four weeks’ time, with the racing season underway at the same venue on March 26-28. Alonso is returning to F1 this year after two seasons spent racing in other categories, with
the 39-year-old back with the team he won his two world titles with in 2005 and 2006. The former McLaren and Ferrari driver won the World Endurance Championship with Toyota in 2019, while he has also competed in the Indy 500 and Dakar Rally.
Facebook says it is “horrified” at the continued
online abuse of footballers and has announced what is says are tougher measures to tackle the issue The social media platform is changing the rules governing direct messaging on Instagram, a platform it also owns. It will disable the accounts of those found to have repeatedly sent abusive private messages on Instagram. UK head of content policy Fadzai Madzingira said it was “saddening” to
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see continued abuse on the platforms. Madzingira told BBC Sport: “I’m horrified at the type of abuse that people, especially these footballers, have to deal with on the basis of who they are, whether it’s their race or their religion or their gender, and as a company, we’re disappointed to see that
sort of behaviour that plays out offline also playing out on our platform. “It’s why we’re making the announcements today about taking tougher measures to go after accounts that are violating our community standards and our goals within Instagram direct messages.” Con’t on pg9
Facebook says it is “horrified”.........
A number of Premier League footballers including Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Axel Tuanzebe, West Brom’s Romaine Sawyers and Chelsea full-
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back Reece James - have been subjected to abusive online messages in recent weeks. The Football Association has called for action from the
government, which has since stated social media companies could face “large fines” potentially amounting to “billions of pounds” if they fail to tackle abuse on their
platforms. Asked by BBC sports editor Dan Roan whether Facebook was enabling such abuse, Madzingira said: “No, to imply that it’s about enabling I think would be inaccurate. “I think that platforms like ours allow communities of people to connect on the things that they love. If we need to have a conversation about hate, it really needs to be not what is just happening on the platform.” What will change on Instagram? Footballers past and present have called for users of social media platforms to be required to provide verification documents when creating accounts so that they can be traced more effectively if they breach rules. Facebook says this measure would prove challenging in communities where such documents would not be readily available. “If we were to insist on using government ID or passport details we would be barring access to the very people who use our platforms to build communities, so we are very conscious we allow for that access,” added Madzingira. The company claims it “took action” on 6.5 million pieces of hate speech on Instagram between July and September last year, including within direct
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messages which are harder to police because of privacy rules.“To date, if someone violated the rules in Instagram direct messages, we would set a specific ban or a block for a certain amount of time and extend that period, should they continue to violate,” Madzingira explained. “Today we’re announcing that we will now be removing those accounts, should they continue to violate within Instagram direct messaging.” Facebook said it would not spell out how many offences would trigger removal as offenders could use the information to “game the system”. We are a small part in fixing this’ Facebook said it was “doing everything we can to fight hate and racism on our platform” but added the “problems are bigger than us”. Some users have sought a ban on specific emojis commonly used in racist messages but Madzingira argued against banning symbols that could be used innocently in other contexts. She also said filters could be used to prevent others from leaving offensive comments on posts, and that work was also being done to prevent banned users from opening new accounts. Asked whether Facebook has prioritised profits over clamping down on abuse, Madzingira said: “I think that would be an inaccurate assessment. “Because if people didn’t feel safe on the platform they wouldn’t be able to be there. “We accept that being able to deal with this issue is everyone’s responsibility and we want to play our part. The frustration that these players have is right - it is horrifying the abuse they are receiving.” ‘The police need more help from social media platforms’
Bristol Rovers full-back Mark Little - the target of a racist message on social media that is being investigated by police - said he was surprised that those in charge of the platforms were only reacting now. He said: “I welcome that they’re making a change but it’s quite confusing for me, as what they have announced is what I assumed was happening before. “They’ve jumped to a standard rather than getting anywhere near what I would think would be acceptable for what is going on.” Little, 32, added that “a big corporation like Facebook should be able to set the precedent for what is going on in wider society” and that “the police need more help from the social media platforms”. He added: “I don’t think it would be that difficult to identify the people who are doing this. “Everyone should have some form of identification to use these platforms and I think that would eradicate a very large portion of the abuse.” ‘More has to be done to stamp out abuse’ Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden welcomed the tougher measures but insisted “racist abuse is still a fact of life for too many people and more has to be done across the board to stamp it out”. He added: “For too long, the world’s most popular and powerful social media companies have failed to tackle the stream of horrific racist attacks on their platforms. “We’re introducing a new age of accountability for these companies through our upcoming Online Safety Bill and this could see huge fines for firms which fail to clearly and transparently protect their users.”