Keeping you updated on current events... ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER
Saturday, February 21, 2021
BARTICA MINER DIES AFTER STABBING
ES 23 YEAR OLD WOMAN CAUGHT WITH COCAINE
LINE CREEK MAN FOUND DEAD IN HAMMOCK
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Guyana Post Saturday February 20, 2021
CARIBBEAN PEOPLE AT RISK OF PROLONGING COVID-19 TO THEIR DETRIMENT
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) People in the Caribbean, who refuse to take vaccinations to counter the Coronavirus, will cause the COVID-19 pandemic to remain longer in the region, endangering lives, livelihoods, and entire economies. Whatever genuine fears may exist, these people must be educated about the value of the vaccine to their own health and they must be encouraged by all influential agencies to take it. If they need convincing, they should look at the experience of other countries where more than 139 million people have taken the vaccine and not one of them has died from it. The Churches, whose leaders have been preaching against the vaccine, are doing neither their followers nor their countries any good. Similarly, the representatives of trade info@guyanapostonline.com
unions, who argue that their members have the right not to take vaccines, might consider enlightening them about the benefits of the vaccine to their individual well-being, their families, the wider community, and the businesses from which they derive a living. At the rate at which vaccines are currently available and being rolled out in the world, the Caribbean will be behind Britain and the U.S. in controlling the virus by at least a year. If a significant number of people remain unvaccinated, the delay will be even longer. Caribbean countries cannot afford a year, let alone a more extended period, to suppress the virus. Many economies are already in dire straits. Poverty is expanding, unemployment is rising, economies are declining, hospitals are besieged, and many more people are dying. This is why at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) on 17 February, all independent CARICOM countries joined Antigua and Barbuda in promoting adoption of a resolution calling for equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines
globally. Action is necessary to get vaccines into Caribbean countries so that at least 80 per cent of the people can be inoculated to build ‘herd immunity’. This is achieved when a large part of the population is immune to the disease. If enough people are resistant to the coronavirus, it will have nowhere to go and it will peter out. Right now, every country in the Caribbean is way behind developed countries with which they interact for tourism, trade in goods and other commercial and social activity. For example, at the time of writing (February 18), Britain has inoculated 23.7 per cent of its population with the first dose of the vaccine; the U.S 12.3 per cent; Canada 3.48 per cent; and many of the countries in the European Union almost 3 per cent. No country in the Caribbean has vaccinated more than 0.9 per cent of their populations. The main reason for this is that rich countries, representing only 16 per cent of the world’s population have bought, and are hoarding, 60 per cent of the available vaccine candidates. This means that 40 per cent is left for 84
Sir Ronald Sanders
per cent of the global population, including the Caribbean. This situation demands urgent attention if the Caribbean is to survive the already devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why the Antigua and Barbuda initiative at the OAS was strongly and fully supported by other CARICOM nations. It is also why the resolution received full support at the OAS. Twenty-nine of the Organization’s 34 member states, including the Caribbean, are among the over 100 nations that have vaccinated less than 1 per cent of their people. The Caribbean needs greater access to vaccines and at an affordable price. Hence, the donation of 570,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by India to CARICOM countries is a great relief. The rollout has started in a few countries. But, there are not sufficient stocks to accelerate the inoculation programme to get all CARICOM countries to at least 80 per cent of their populations.
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The main vaccine manufacturers have to be urged to rampup their production at an affordable price. Concentrating on selling only to the rich nations will not eliminate the global pandemic. A research study, sponsored by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research in Massachusetts, shows that even if wealthy countries are fully vaccinated by the end of this year, but poor countries remain largely shut out, “the global economy would suffer losses exceeding $9 trillion, a sum greater than the annual output of Japan and Germany combined”. What should worry every citizen and resident of Caribbean countries is that their economies have already declined so significantly that, even if there is recovery later in 2021 or in 2022, it will not be sufficient to return them to 2019 levels. Foreign direct investment in the Caribbean declined last year by more than 50 per cent. With many economies across the region in a state of prolonged inactivity, the downward
investment trend for 2021 is even more precipitous. The year 2022 is unlikely to get any better unless each country gets the virus under control. The populations of Caribbean countries, amounting to 20 million people, are competing with 450 million people in Latin America and another 360 million in the U.S. and Canada to achieve 80 per cent inoculations. They are also competing against 7 billion people globally. They cannot afford to leave themselves behind – they must get themselves inoculated. Leaders and influencers in every sector – the Churches, the trade unions and the media – have to support Caribbean governments that have tried their best with scarce and reduced financial resources to manage the coronavirus and now to inoculate against it. No Caribbean country can afford to be a year behind the nations with which they interact for their livelihood and development.
Guyana Post Sunday February 21, 2021
BARTICA MINER DIES LINE CREEK MAN FOUND DEAD IN HAMMOCK AFTER STABBING
A 29-year-old, miner was stabbed to death by a Brazilian National on Friday night Dead is Third Avenue, Bartica, Essequibo River, resident, Randolph Semple. Reports are that Simple was approached by a male Brazilian National just around 18:00 hrs at Pedymachi Black Water
Backdam, Cuyuni River at a shop, where he sat on his bike. The suspect, who was at the time armed himself with a knife and stabbed the accused in the back. He later retreated into a shop but later again armed him with a knife and stabbed Simple to his chest after which he made a good escape.
Simple who was at the time badly wounded and was calling for help collapsed 400 feet away from where he was stabbed and died. As such, police are currently on a manhunt to capture the suspect and to get to the bottom of what may have been the cause of the altercation.
Police are currently investigating the death of a 46-year-old farmer, who was discovered in his hammock in the Line Creek Village. The dead man is being identified as Aaron La Cruz.
According to the police statement, Cruz, who was suffering from a prolonged illness, visited a health centre in the area where he was treated and sent away. It was sometime later that Cruz was
found lying motionless in a hammock at his residence. Cruz’s body bore no marks of violence. He was pronounced dead by a doctor on scene and was handed over to the family for burial.
CANU BUSTS COCAINE IN MISSING CARPENTER FOUND BOX WITH LOCALLY HAND DEAD IN SEPTIC TANK MADE CRAFT
A woman is now in custody after she was found with drugs stashed in her private parts. The woman was attempted to board a Caribbean Airlines flight to Barbados from the Eugene Correia International Airport, Ogle info@guyanapostonline.com
Police said the 23-year old woman was seen acting suspiciously. She was then called in for a search. During a physical search, the authorities discovered a bulky package wrapped in condoms in her vagina.
They suspected this to be narcotics. The woman was later questioned and admitted she had swallowed some 73 pellets. She is currently under observation and is expected to be charged.
Renowned journalist Enrico Woolford has sued Dr Leslie Ramsammy for sums totaling $85 million and Guyana Times for sums totaling $100 million. The action stems from a publication dated March 18, 2020. The caption read ‘Ramsammy’s Ruminations—Caricom, ABCE, Commonwealth, OAS—time for sanctions
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now, no more patience’. The article was further disseminated on the internet. The article stated, inter alia, that several people in the APNU/AFC were the driving force in hijacking the Caricom operations… Given the present assault on democracy in Guyana in the full view of local and international observers, in the first instance, we will
be pursuing sanctions against the following individuals and their families, who are part of the plot or complicit in rigging the March 2, 2020 elections in Guyana.’ Ramsammy proceeded to name Enrico Wolford. Woolford is alleging malice that stretches to his innocent family members
Regional News
Guyana Post Sunday February 21, 2021
ARGENT INA HEALTH MINIST ER RESIGN S OVER COVID VACCIN E SCAND AL
Argentina’s health minister has resigned after reports surfaced that people in the South American nation were using connections to jump the queue and receive COVID-19 vaccines. In a statement posted
on Twitter on Friday, Gines Gonzalez Garcia said individuals were able to sidestep proper procedure for vaccinations due to “unintended confusion” in his office while he was away. “Responding to your
express request, I present my resignation from the position of minister of health,” Garcia wrote in a letter addressed to President Alberto Fernandez, who had sought the minister’s resignation. “I express my gratitude to the vast majority of the Argentine people for their commitment and support for the policies we implement to rebuild our federal health system, with greater equity, access and quality,” Garcia also tweeted. The scandal broke after an Argentine journalist said he had received a COVID-19 jab after speaking directly to the minister. Garcia will be
replaced by one of his deputy ministers, Carla Vizzotti, who was responsible for securing the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which the country has deployed since December. A r g e n t i n a gave priority to healthcare workers in its coronavirus v a c c i n a t i o n programme and vaccinations for people over age 70 began on Wednesday in the province of Buenos Aires. The country of 44 million people has reported more than two million cases of COVID-19 and 51,000 c o ro n a v i ru s -re l a t e d deaths, according to Johns Hopkins
University data. Deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines have lagged far behind what Argentina initially hoped for, however. As of Wednesday, about 250,000 people had received two doses. Argentina is not the only country in Latin America facing a coronavirus vaccine scandal, fuelling public anger and resentment. Peru’s health and foreign affairs ministers resigned this month after reports surfaced that hundreds of government officials, including former President Martin Vizcarra, received jabs before vaccines were widely
available. Interim Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti said last week that 487 officials took advantage of their posts to secretly receive early inoculations. Al Jazeera’s Daniel Schweimler, reporting from Buenos Aires on Saturday, said the presidents of Peru and Argentina hope to get the scandals behind them and rebuild citizens’ trust. “I think what will speak most resonantly to the populations is vaccinations,” he said. “Really, that’s how they will speak to their people: get the vaccinations in and rolled out as soon as they possibly can.”
CARICOM Chairman calls for equitable distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine
Office of the Prime Minister, Port of Spain – Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and Chairman of CARICOM, Dr the Hon. Keith Rowley has called for the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccine resources for the benefit of all nations. Dr Rowley made the info@guyanapostonline.com
call while addressing the World Health Organization’s Media briefing on COVID-19 today (Thursday 18th February, 2021). Prime Minister Rowley said that while there is an understandable rush to receive vaccines, small island states “are more than a little bit
concerned that there is, or is to be, hoarding and price gouging as well as undue preference in some quarters.” The CARICOM Chairman said small states have made and continue to make huge sacrifices in an endeavour to protect their populations from the worst ravages of the virus. He urged the WHO not to forget about small states. “All we ask as members of the family of nations is that we not be forgotten, ignored or worse, taken advantage of in this business of life and death.” Prime Minister Rowley thanked the WHO’s DirectorGeneral Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the staff at the WHO
for their continued leadership, guidance and dedication. He also said, “Now more than ever you are required to protect us from the many offshoots of the viral
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era and encourage the science not only to further understand the biology, physiology and management of the virus but the defeat of its power through equitable distribution of
its nemesis, the vaccine. We anxiously anticipate the promised relief and general benefits that a successful early vaccination program can bring to each of us.”
International News
Guyana Post Sunday February 21, 2021
ALGERIA FREES IMPRISONED JOURNALIST AND PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVISTS AFTER PRESIDENTIAL PARDON
Imran Ramsaywack
Algerian authorities freed an imprisoned journalist and more than 30 other prodemocracy activists on Friday in a conciliatory gesture ahead of the second anniversary of their Hirak protest movement. Chanting “Free and Democratic Algeria,”
dozens of people gathered at the prison where journalist and activist Khaled Drareni had been held in Kolea, west of the capital Algiers. Standing behind a police cordon, they cheered his release. “I thank all those who have shown solidarity
with us in Algeria and abroad, because of our combat as free and independent journalists and the fight of all imprisoned journalists and all prisoners of opinion. We will all be free when all the prisoners are free,” Drareni said after his release.
Drareni was imprisoned for “inciting an unarmed gathering” and “endangering national unity,” charges linked to his coverage of the protest movement. His arrest drew criticism outside Algeria as a threat to press freedom.
Drareni founded the Casbah Tribune news site and worked for French TV channel TV5 Monde, among others, as well as for the international media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. “I’m brought to tears, Khaled has just been freed!” said Mahrez Rabia, a friend and radio journalist. The Hirak movement helped push out Algeria’s long-serving former president in 2019 and inspire new efforts to fight corruption. But protesters demand deeper change to Algeria’s secretive power structure, and new demonstrations were expected on Monday to mark two
years since the birth of their movement. P r e s i d e n t A b d e l m a d j i d Tebboune announced this week he was pardoning 33 activists, reshuffling the government and dissolving parliament to hold early elections, partly in response to protesters’ demands. The justice minister said on Ennahar television that Drareni was released as part of outreach by the president on the anniversary. The Justice Ministry said the activists were all being pardoned for “their activities on social networks or public gatherings”. Tebboune said that up to 56 or 57 activists would be released overall.
Rockets hit Iraq military airbase hosting US contractors
At least four rockets struck an Iraqi airbase on Saturday night, the Iraqi military said in a statement, while other officials said one person was wounded at the base where a United States defence company services combat aircraft. The wounded individual worked for the US company, the Associated Press news agency reported, citing four officials who info@guyanapostonline.com
spoke on condition of anonymity. No group immediately claimed the attack on Balad airbase in Salah al-Din province. Jamal Akab, the media spokesman for the province, told local media the missiles landed “near the perimeter of the airbase in an open area”. In January 2020, the base, which lies about 80km north of the capital, Baghdad, was attacked by eight Katyusha
rockets, wounding four members of the Iraqi air force, including two officers. US defence company Sallyport has its headquarters within the airbase, and currently has 46 personnel there contracted to provide services to support Iraq’s F-16 programme. The US has previously evacuated some of its contractors from the base for security reasons.
It was the second salvo of rockets to hit a base hosting US forces or contractors in less than a week. Armed groups that some Iraqi officials say are backed by Iran have claimed similar incidents in the past. Last week, one foreign civilian contractor was killed and nine others wounded after a volley of missile attacks at the military base inside
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Erbil’s airport, in the Kurdish-controlled region in northern Iraq. The attack was claimed by a littleknown armed group that called itself Awliya al-Dam – or the Guardians of the Blood. Iraqi officials said the group had ties with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) – the Iraqi paramilitaries established in 2014
from mostly Shia militia groups to fight the ISIL (ISIS) group. Saturday’s attack comes after NATO announced it would dramatically scale up its mission in Iraq from 500 personnel to 4,000 to battle the remnants of ISIL (ISIS), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this week. The increase comes as US-led coalition troops have gradually reduced their presence in Iraq over the last year. NATO’s training mission was launched in 2018 to help the conflict-ravaged country develop new academies and military schools for its armed forces. It was initially located in the capital, Baghdad, and in neighbouring Jordan.
SPORTS
AUSTRALIAN OPEN: NAOMI OSAKA BEATS JENNIFER BRADY IN WOMEN’S FINAL
Japan’s Naomi Osaka cemented her place as the outstanding star of the women’s game by beating American Jennifer Brady in the Australian Open final to win her fourth Grand Slam title. Osaka, 23, is unbeaten in major
finals after a 6-4 6-3 win in Melbourne. Osaka edged the first set when Brady, in her first Grand Slam final, paid for some glaring errors in the final game. The third seed seized control from that point, racing 4-0 ahead in
the second set before sealing a deserved victory. Osaka has now won two Australian Open titles after also triumphing at Melbourne Park in 2019, with her other Grand Slam successes coming at the US Open in 2018 and 2020. She has not suffered a defeat since February 2020 after extending her winning run to 21 matches. Osaka’s face lit up with a wide grin, raising her racquet above her head, when she clinched the title on her first match point after Brady looped a return long. Osaka is the first women’s player to win her first four Grand
Slam finals since Monica Seles in 1991. And asked if she could reach double figures in slam titles, Osaka replied: “I’m taking it in sections. Right now, I’m trying to go for five. After five I would think about maybe dividing the 10, so maybe seven or eight. Osaka proves again why she is seen as ‘an inspiration’ Softly-spoken Osaka has emerged as the sport’s biggest star in recent times and illustrated that yet again with another Grand Slam victory. On the court, her clean hitting and clear thinking has proved too much for her opponents to handle.
Off the court, she has grown into one of the world’s most marketable athletes and found her voice to become a prominent social activist. “I feel like the biggest thing that I want to achieve is playing long enough to play a girl that said that I was once her favourite player,” said Osaka. “I think that’s the coolest thing that could ever happen to me. I just think that that’s how the sport moves forward.” In her runnersup speech, Brady said Osaka was “an inspiration to us all”. “What she is doing for the game is amazing. I hope young
girls are watching and inspired by what she is doing,” Brady said. “I like to take things not big picture. I know that the people that I’m playing against are the best players in the world and, if my time comes to win another Grand Slam, it will come.” Around 7,500 fans were allowed to watch the final on Rod Laver Arena and Osaka lapped up the acclaim after her US Open victory came behind closed doors. “It feels incredible to have fans, I played the last Grand Slam without fans, to have this energy means a lot,” said Osaka as she clutched the Daphne Akhurst Trophy.
EVERTON END 22 YEARS WAIT From BBC FOR A WIN AT LIVERPOOL Sports
Everton produced an outstanding Merseyside derby performance to beat Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since 1999. In a landmark result for both sides, Everton earned their first derby win anywhere since
2 0 1 0 , w h i l e Liverpool have now lost four successive home matches for the first time since 1923. Everton finally rid themselves of their Anfield bogey with a brilliantly drilled
performance in which goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane were excellent, while Richarlison led the line tirelessly. Richarlison put Everton in front after three minutes when he latched on to a superb pass from James Rodriguez to beat Allison.
Liverpool responded and Pickford saved well from Jordan Henderson, who went off injured in the first half, while Everton captain Seamus Coleman should have added to Richarlison’s strike only to head straight at Alisson from six yards. Sadio Mane wasted two headed chances for Liverpool in the second half while Pickford saved superbly from Salah, leaving Everton to wrap up their first derby win in 24 attempts when substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson scored from the spot with seven minutes left after Dominic CalvertLewin tangled with Trent AlexanderArnold. Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti was
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all smiles at the final whistle but this was more abject Anfield misery for his Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp, as his team’s flimsy Premier League title defence crumbles. This Anfield means more than just three points for Everton. It means the end of a miserable sequence stretching back to 27 September, 1999 when Kevin Campbell gave Walter Smith’s side a 1-0 win. Since then, Everton and their fans have endured unrelenting gloom when crossing Stanley Park - so it was no surprise this win was greeted with such joy by manager Ancelotti and his team. This will be a huge psychological lift for Everton, who have
now won eight of their past 12 away games and demonstrated here exactly why they are so good on their travels. Ancelotti’s smart game plan worked to perfection as he achieved the feat that eluded David Moyes in 11 years in charge as well as his successors, Roberto Martinez, Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce and Marco Silva. Everton struck early, then defended magnificently while always carrying a threat on the break, although it took heroics from keeper Pickford, the villain when Virgil van Dijk was injured in the derby at Goodison Park last October, in the vital moments to keep listless Liverpool at bay.
SPORTS
T&T VS GUYANA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER TO BE PLAYED IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC From Loop
In a statement on Saturday, the football body lamented the decision of the Ministry of Health to not allow the TTFA to host the match in a hotbubble environment on
March 25. It said: “The TTFA has therefore taken a decision to stage the match at the Pan American Stadium, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic.
The date of the match remains March 25th. The TTFA will provide further information over the coming days in relation to arrangements for the Men’s Senior Team
leading up to this important opening qualifying match.”It added that oer the last few months, it has been in discussions with the Ministry of Health, Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago and other relevant Government agencies. Based on these discussions, the TTFA said numerous proposals and scenarios were put forward to host the match in Trinidad, but unfortunately none were ultimately successful, which would satisfy our FIFA mandates for international competitions. It added: “The Ministry of Health’s protocol and
guidelines mandate fourteen (14) days quarantine for anyone entering the country. This condition is not feasible given the FIFA international match window and the MOH has declined the TTFA’s request of an exemption to facilitate a hot-bubble which would allow members of both teams, including staff, to arrive within a suitable time period conducive to international football.” The TTFA said it has worked tirelessly with FIFA, CONCACAF and the government to find solutions but regrettably a compromise could not be found. It added that
it is incredibly disappointed and shares the public’s frustration at not being able to play the designated home match on local soil. The local football body said: “However, we do understand the responsibilities of the MOH and appreciate the efforts that they are making to preserve the safety of the citizens of our country. While the decision is a bitter pill to swallow, we believe that sport and the positive mental health aspects of sports must not be undervalued and applaud the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for allowing outdoor recreational sports to resume.”
LEWIS HAMILTON: F1 WORLD CHAMPION SIGNS NEW MERCEDES CONTRACT FOR 2021 SEASON
Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has signed a new one-year contract with Mercedes for the 2021 season. The 36-year-old’s previous deal lapsed in 2020 but he will now race for Mercedes for a ninth season. Hamilton became the sport’s most successful driver ever
in 2020, breaking Michael Schumacher’s all-time win record and drawing level with the German’s seven titles. “Our team has achieved incredible things together,” said Hamilton. “We look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously
looking to improve, both on and off the track.” Part of the new deal involves a commitment from Mercedes to continue to work with Hamilton on seeking “greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport”. They will work on creating a new joint charitable foundation
and Hamilton says the manufacturer has been “extremely supportive” on the issue. “I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport,” he added. “I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.” Lewis Hamilton: The exceptional kid who conquered the world Stefano Domenicali interview: New Formula 1 chief urges drivers to lead by example Why only a year? Team boss Toto Wolff said the duration of the contract was a consequence of the lateness of the talks, which was caused by
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them having to delay negotiations when Hamilton contracted Covid in December, and their mutual desire to “see how the world develops”. There is the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, as well as by a number of major rule changes in F1, including a budget cap that starts this year at $145m (£114m) and new technical rules for 2022 aimed at closing up the field. Wolff said the global situation could have an impact on the team’s revenue, while Daimler as a group is having to invest in electrification, adding: “We are living a financial reality that is very different from a few years ago.” He added: “We are totally in line - Lewis and me and the wider group in Mercedes -
about the situation, so there was never a discrepancy in opinion. “It was just we felt that we had a good signature on a 2021 contract and we needed to get going and then find some time in 2021 earlier than this time to discuss the future. “And it’s not to discuss only 2022 but also beyond, and that was not something we wanted to carve out via video conferencing between Christmas and the end of January.” Wolff emphasised that the decision to set up a foundation on inclusivity and diversity with Hamilton - an idea that originated from Daimler boss Ola Kallenius - “shows our long-term commitment to each other”.
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