Guyana Post Newspaper

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ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

“ GUYANA 51ST FLAG CEREMONY HELD AT THE HISTORIC PARLIAMENT” MAN ON THE RUN AFTER MURDERING COUSIN AT BIRTHDAY PARTY

ESCAPEE’S FATHER CHARGED FOR HABOURING PRISON ESCAPEES

COALITION MP SEES BUDGET 2021 AS VISIONLESS

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Guyana Post Tuesday February 23, 2021

CARICOM HEADS OF GOVERNMENT TO MEET THIS WEEK

are The roll-out of COVID-19 Vaccines will be among major matters for deliberation when CARICOM Heads of Government hold their ThirtySecond Inter-Sessional Meeting, under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, on the 24-25 February 2021.

Access t o vaccines is regarded as crucial to curbing the spread of COVID-19 infections in the Region where many Member States have experienced increases in positive cases. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)

expected to address the Heads on the pandemic. There will also be discussion on regional economic recovery and transformation.

The Heads of Government will examine the status of implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy

(CSME), and any outstanding issues which need to be resolved to ensure that full benefits from the CSME are realised. The CSME is regarded as critical to the Region’s strategy to build economic resilience, and it is felt that the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need to accelerate the pace of the integration process.

The Meeting is also expected to consider recommendations from the CARICOM Commission

COALITION MP SEES BUDGET 2021 AS VISIONLESS

Opposition Member Amanza Walton-Desir

As the 2021 Budget Debate opened in the 12th sitting of parliament, Opposition Member Amanza Walton-Desir has described the budget as visionless, one that does not show how the small man will benefit.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, on Friday, February 12, announced info@guyanapostonline.com

Guyana’s largest Budget at $381.1 B dubbing it as a recovery budget from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In an opening debate statement, MP. Desir deemed such budget as one that has shown no vision for the future of Guyanese, even as they would have inherited a healthy economy from the former APNU-AFC Government.

Desir said that this is shown in the budget speech of the type of economy the new PPP/C Government has inherited but the Government seems to ignore the fact, even as the facts can be found at the click of a finger.

While speaking to the interest of taxation, MP. Desir said that while the Opposition welcomes such moves, the budget does not speak to how those measurements will benefit the small man, where the trickle-down should occur.

She said that with the removal of tax on certain areas, the Government has accomplished much by way of borrowing, which will in the end put Guyana into further debt.

The Government has touted the 2021 budget as

one which acts as a road map to recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic and what the APNU-AFC has left.

In budget 2021, the Government has given the Education sector the largest chunk of the budget of $60.6 Billion, while Health had taken the second largest allocation of $53.5 B. According to the Government, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 20.9%. in 2021 coming off of a 43.5% growth last year.

This the Government, has said, will be done with no new taxes and with a diversified programme that will see Guyana benefit beyond revenues earnings from oil.

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MAN ON THE RUN AFTER MURDERING COUSIN AT BIRTHDAY PARTY

25-year-old, Reaz Mohamed,

Police are on the hunt for a man who reportedly murdered his cousin at his birthday party.

Dead on 25-year-old, Reaz Mohamed, called ‘Boy’, a fisherman of Section ‘A’ D’Edward Village, West Bank Berbice.

According to the police report, the incident occurred at Mohammed’s birthday celebration.

The police said that Mohammed along with family, and some friends were all intoxicated when the incident occurred.

It was during that time Mohamed started using foul language against his father and in the process assaulted him.

The suspect reportedly spoke to Mohamed, continued the assault.

The cousin later became annoyed and armed himself with a knife, the incident then occuured.

The suspect later made a good escape. As such, the police have since then launched an investigation and a manhunt for the suspect.

ESCAPEE’S FATHER CHARGED FOR HABOURING PRISON ESCAPEES

60-year-old Ralph Jones

60-year-old Ralph Jones appeared in court on Monday morning with four counts of harbouring and maintaining four prison escapees.

Jones, a captain of 114 fourth Avenue Bartica is the father of Rayon Jones, one of four men who escaped from Mazaruni prison a week ago.

The court heard that on 16th February, Jones knew that the four men being convicted prisoners at Mazaruni Prison had escaped from the

said prison, received, comforted, harboured and maintained them.

The charges were indictable and Jones was not required to plead.

His lawyer Adrian Thompson told the court that Jones’s son showed up at his home with the other 3 convicts and demanded food and money. Thompson said his client was fearful for his life and him not helping the escapees could have caused him his life.

Magistrate Crystal Lambert refused to grant bail, he was remanded until March 5.

The four men, Imran Ramsaywack, Kenrick Lyte, Samuel Gouveia and Rayon Jones remain on the run.

Guyana Post Tuesday February 23, 2021

MESSAGE FROM THE PPP ON GUYANA’S 51ST REPUBLIC ANNIVERSARY

As our nation celebrates its 51st anniversary as a Republic, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) takes this opportunity to express best wishes to all Guyanese, both at home and in the Diaspora.

M a s h r a m a n i represents our history of struggles and pride in self-governance and builds on the celebration after hard work. As a nation, we must reflect on where we came from and celebrate our efforts that have led

to Guyana becoming a country known for its rich diversity and resilience.

The Party is cognizant that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the muchanticipated annual vibrant Costume and Float Parade on Mash

Day and other related activities across the country prior to and on February 23 would not be held.

These celebrations have become fundamental in reflecting our revelry after hard work and Guyana’s rich diversity which defines our multi-ethnic, multireligious and multicultural composition.

While the characteristic splendour of the multitude of colours splashed to the pulsating beat of the music will be absent and missed this year, it will not diminish the true significance of what Mashramani means to us as a nation, which 51 years ago

MASH GREETINGS FROM PNC

The People’s National Congress extends greetings to the Guyanese nation on the occasion of the 51st Anniversary of the Republic.

The PNC was empowered by the Guyanese people to bring the nation to Independence in 1966 and to Republican status in 1970. It was honoured to have been returned to office, again, to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of both events in 2016 and 2020.

These auspicious info@guyanapostonline.com

celebrations not only evoked emotions of patriotism and pride but, also, of satisfaction with its stewardship to the people while it was in office.The PNC, this year, as part of A Partnership for National Unity, is not in office.

The Party, thoughtfully, had the vision to draft a blueprint for national development by launching the concept plan for the ‘Decade of Development: 2020-2029’ during which Guyanese should expect to enjoy a higher quality of life beyond 2030.

The PNC commits to continuing to work during the coming decade to improve the livelihood of all citizens in all sectors. The Party, most particularly, will work with our Parliamentary group and our political arms and agencies to enhance public health especially during this pandemic, public education, public security, economic growth; energy security; environmental security; regional development; social cohesion; social protection; and the defence

of our territorial integrity.

Republican status represented a substantive fulfilment of our people’s aspirations to chart their own destiny by refashioning our economic and social relations, introducing new national institutions, affirming sovereignty and advancing towards the goal of self-reliance.

The celebration of this 51st anniversary of becoming a Republic is an occasion of national pride. Happy Anniversary!

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saw the end of the final aspect of colonial rule by achieving Republic status.

This 51st anniversary comes at a time when our dear country is on a renewed path to prosperity and transformation through modernisation.

This path may not have been traversed had Guyanese not stood up through relentless struggles for democracy to prevail following the constitutional transgressions of the then APNU/AFC regime and its blatant attempts to subvert the will of the Guyanese people following the March 02, 2020, elections.

That five-month

period tested us as a nation and as a people. In the end, not only were our democracy and image restored, but our resolve strengthened and our commitment to safeguard our democratic processes, fortified.

As we are faced with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that we remain focused on our health and well-being.

As such, despite not being able to revel in the same manner as before, we should remain mindful that we have struggled as a nation but that our efforts have not gone in vain.

Happy Mashramani to all Guyanese

SPEEDING TRUCK KILLS ONE ON SOESDYKE-LINDEN HIGHWAY The Guyana Police Force is currently investigating an accident on the Linden Highway that caused the death of one while leaving another in a critical condition after a truck slammed into two parked pick-up trucks.

Initial reports are that it was just around 20:00 hrs Saturday night on the Dora Public Road, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway when the incident occurred.

A 34-year-old man of Yarrowkabra Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, was proceeding north along the road at a fast rate in his motor lorry.

He lost control and as a result the right side front of the lorry collided with the right side front of one of the pick-ups, which then collided with 60-year-

old, Murvey Andrew Madhoo, of Independence Boulevard La Penitence, Georgetown, and Sherwin Rhodius. The two were standing between the two motor pick-ups.

Both men were flung on the roadway and sustained injuries about their bodies.

Murvey Madhoo was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor, while Rhodius, was taken to the Linden Public Hospital where he was examined by a doctor and admitted as a patient.

His condition is regarded as critical A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver of the lorry and no trace of alcohol was found

Guyana Post Tuesday February 23, 2021

“ Guyana 51st flag ceremony held at the historic Parliament”

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Regional News

Guyana PostTuesday, February 23, 2021

JAMAIC AN ABORTI ON RIGHTS ACTIVIS TS SAY NO TO REFERE NDUM From Jamaica Loop

P r o - c h o i c e advocates have come out strongly against a suggested referendum on abortion reform in Jamaica.

The activists voiced their disapproval during a peaceful demonstration,

organised by community-based advocacy organisation We-Change, along Hope Road in St Andrew over the weekend.

A We-Change representative told Loop News that the

group wanted to hear more from Members of Parliament (MPs) on their stance on the issue.

“So far we have heard that (MPs) might opt to do a referendum but we are saying that a referendum

doesn’t make sense on this particular issue because not many Jamaicans know that abortion is a healthcare issue, it is a human rights issue and women should be able to make the decision on what happens with their bodies,” the woman said.

The push for the reform of the country’s abortion laws is being

led by Juliet CuthbertFlynn, a decorated Olympian and Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

As expected, staunch opposition to any relaxation of the abortion legislation is being led by a number of Church groups. Chairman of Jamaica Cause and Vice President of the

Jamaica Association of Evangelicals, Bishop Alvin Bailey last month called on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to “rein in” Cuthbert-Flynn for her public support of abortion.

Cuthbert-Flynn has since said that she would support a referendum in order to push the discussion forward on the issue.

Barbados has been removed from EU blacklist

Barbados has been removed from the European Union (EU) list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, the European Council announced Monday.

Dominica has however been added to the blacklist.

In a statement info@guyanapostonline.com

the EU group said: “The Council today adopted conclusions on the revised EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, deciding to add Dominica to the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions (Annex I of the conclusions) and to remove Barbados from

that list.”

Barbados was added to the EU list in October 2020 after it received a ‘partially compliant’ rating from the Global Forum.

The council explained: “ It [Barbados ] has now been granted a supplementary review by the Global Forum

and has therefore been moved to a state-of-play document (Annex II of the Council conclusions) pending the outcome of this review.”

The Ministry of International Business and Industry had requested the supplementary review on the grounds that deficiencies identified by the EU had been addressed.

The EU council said

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Dominica has been included in the list as it received a ‘partially compliant’ rating from the Global Forum and has not yet resolved this issue.

Other Caribbean countries on the list are Trinidad and Tobago and Anguilla.

The list includes jurisdictions worldwide that either have not engaged in a constructive dialogue with the EU

on tax governance or have failed to deliver on their commitments to implement the reforms necessary to comply with a set of objective tax good governance criteria.

These criteria relate to tax transparency, fair taxation and implementation of international standards designed to prevent tax base erosion and profit shifting, the EU said.

International News

Guyana Post Tuesday February 23, 2021

ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO DR CONGO DIES AFTER WFP CONVOY ATTACKED

Imran Ramsaywack

Italy’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an Italian policeman and their Congolese driver have been killed in an ambush on a United Nations convoy in eastern DRC. The ambush on Monday occurred as

the convoy carrying Ambassador Luca Attanasio was travelling from the city of Goma to visit a World Food Programme (WFP) school feeding project in Rutshuru, according to the United Nations agency. It said several other passengers

travelling with the delegation sustained injuries during the attack.

North Kivu Governor Carly Nzanzu told Al Jazeera the sevenmember convoy was not escorted by any security forces when the incident happened.

The WFP said it was seeking information from local authorities as the ambush occurred on a road that had previously been cleared for travel without security escorts.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the

attack, which took place at about 10:15am (08:15 GMT).

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio expressed his “great dismay and immense sorrow” over the attack and left a meeting in Brussels with European Union counterparts to make an early return to Rome.

“The circumstances of this brutal attack are not yet known and no effort will be spared to shed light on what happened,” Di Maio said, paying tribute to the victims Nzanzu, the North Kivu governor, said local security forces had not been informed of the delegation’s presence in the area.

“The rebels stopped the WFP convoy with

bullets, before bringing down the passengers on board including the ambassador.

According to survivors, the rebels wanted money from the ambassador,” Nzanzu told Al Jazeera.

“They took all the passengers and the ambassador to the bush. And a few minutes later on their way they killed the Congolese driver and then the ambassador’s bodyguard,” he added.

Nzanzu said Attanasio was hit by bullets fired by the attackers during an exchange of fire between the rebels and Virunga park rangers supported by the DRC’s armed forces who were alerted to the attack.

Myanmar coup: Protesters defy military warning in mass strike

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Myanmar in one of the largest demonstrations yet against the country’s military coup.

Businesses closed as employees joined a general strike, despite a military statement that said protesters were risking their lives by turning out.

The statement prompted fears the protests could turn violent, but they info@guyanapostonline.com

remained peaceful throughout Monday.

Myanmar has seen weeks of protest following the coup on 1 February.

Military leaders overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government and have placed her under house arrest, charging her with possessing illegal walkie-talkies and violating the country’s Natural Disaster Law. Protesters are demanding an end to

the military’s rule and want Ms San Suu Kyi released, along with senior members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

“We don’t want the junta, we want democracy. We want to create our own future,” one protester, Htet Htet Hlaing, told the Reuters news agency in Yangon.

A statement from the military carried on staterun broadcaster MRTV said that protesters were “now inciting the people,

especially emotional teenagers and youths, to a confrontation path where they will suffer the loss of life”.

It cautioned people against “riot and anarchy”. The warning prompted Facebook to remove the broadcaster’s pages for violating its “violence and incitement” policies.

It comes after at least two people were killed in protests on Saturday the worst violence yet in more than two weeks of demonstrations.

Foreign pressure on military leaders has also been high. In a speech on Monday, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called for Ms Suu Kyi’s release.

What’s the latest?

Demonstrations have been taking place in all of Myanmar’s main cities, with people waving flags and chanting.

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Tens of thousands of people rallied in the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, and more than 100 people were reportedly arrested in the city.

But the mass strike also prompted action in smaller towns and more rural parts of the country.

There were large protests in Mandalay, Myitkyina and the coastal town of Dawei.

The day of action has been nicknamed the “22222 Revolution” because it is taking place on 22 February.

It is being compared by protesters to demonstrations on 8 Aug 1988 - known as the 8888 uprising when Myanmar saw one of its most violent protests.

The military cracked down on anti-government demonstrations, killing hundreds of protesters.

For many, the date is seen as a watershed moment in Myanmar.

“Everyone is joining this,” protester San San Maw told Reuters in Yangon. “We need to come out.”

“We came out today to join in the protest, to fight until we win,” another told AFP. “We are worried about the crackdown, but we will move forward. We are so angry.”

Thompson Chau, editor of local media outlet Frontier, told the BBC’s World Service that the protests seemed “a lot bigger than before, with more roads blocked, highways blocked and shops closed everywhere we go”.

“Today is more of a huge strike in a sense that everyone is not going to work. All the shops are closed.”

SPORTS

SIR CLIVE LLOYD HONOURED AS NEW CG INSURANCE SUPER50 TROPHY UNVEILED

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies and title sponsors CG Insurance have unveiled the sparkling new CG Insurance Super50 Cup Sir Clive Lloyd trophy, which will be presented to the winning team following the final on February 27.

CG Insurance have commissioned the new elegant and contemporary glass trophy, which incorporates CG’s company colours, as

part of their long-term investment into West Indies cricket as official insurance partner which is focused on their title partnerships of all CG Insurance ODI Home Series and both Men’s and Women’s CG Insurance Super50 Cups.

In a statement CG Insurance said: “We wanted this year’s trophy to embody the spirit of the islands and the spirit of the series. CG Insurance has offices in many of our

Caribbean nations and we felt this trophy was an opportunity to showcase the water that unites us and the movement and excitement of the sport.

We are thrilled with the outcome and congratulate the team who gets to take this trophy home.”

The CG Insurance Super50 trophy honours Sir Clive Lloyd’s captaincy of the West Indies teams winning back to back 50-over ICC World Cups in 1975 and 1979.

Sir Clive said he was proud to have the trophy named in his honour and said he hoped it would inspire the next generation of West Indies cricketers. He also said it is a celebration of 50-over cricket in the West Indies, dating back more than 45 years ago and a tribute to his teams which won the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975 and again in 1979.

“It’s a very nice trophy

and I’m very pleased. I have been watching the tournament and I am enjoying every moment of it. It is good to see we continue to produce cricketers in the region. It’s an excellent competition with the teams playing hard and fair and you can see the talent on display as we look to continue to improve and develop West Indies cricket,” he

said.

“As a proud West Indian, I’m happy to have this honour. I also see it as not just for me but for all the members of the World Cup teams played alongside me and won in 1975 and 1979. This trophy has my name on it but all the others who played with me they should think they are part of it too.”

The CG Insurance Super50 bowled off on Sunday, February 7 and will climax on Saturday, February 27 with the grand final under lights at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. Fans across the region can watch the matches on ESPN Caribbean and also get LIVE radio coverage on stations via broadcast partner Vibes FM

NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA: CONWAY HITS 99 NOT OUT AS HOSTS WIN FIRST T20 From Loop same time as the T20s.

The five-match series continues on Thursday in Dunedin.

Conway, who was born in

Devon Conway’s unbeaten 99 off 59 balls helped New Zealand thrash Australia by 53 runs in the opening Twenty20.

Playing only his sixth T20 international, lefthanded Conway helped

the hosts recover from 19-3 to post 184-5 in Christchurch.

Australia slumped to 19-4 as Tim South ee and Trent Boult s hared four wickets in the first five overs.

They were bowled

out for 131 with 2.3 overs unused, with leg-spinner Ish Sodhi claiming 4-28.

Victory was only New Zealand’s second in nine attempts against Australia in T20 cricket.

However, the tourists were without several first-choice players because a Test tour of South Africa - later postponed because of coronavirus concerns - was scheduled to be taking place at the

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South Africa, averages 91 in T20s for New Zealand after scores of 41, 65 not out, five, 63 and now 99 not out since making his debut in November.

He made 69 not out, 91 not out and 93 not out in his successive T20 innings for domestic side Wellington before this match.

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