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Friday February 5, 2021

Claims of bias addressed by Speaker Pg2

GOVERNMENT TERMINATES TAIWAN’S OFFICE AGGREMENT

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Stafrei Alexander Construction walks free of another worker pinned murder charge to death Pg3

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Guyana Post Friday February 5, 2021

Claims of bias addressed by Speaker

Criticisms mounted by the APNU-AFC Opposition over accusations of the Speaker of National Assembly of being bias did not sit well with him, as he maintained that words and actions of the opposition would not move him and can only be vending through a motion and not in public.

Responding to claims of being bias as it relates

to ruling and the flow of motion put forward by the opposition in the national assembly, Speaker of National, Manzoor Nadir, was elected by the Government, said that in respect to him having order in the national assembly, he will not allow any level of criticism on his actions orally but through a motion.

Mr Nadir in his opening

remarks, this morning in parliament, said that the 16th Sitting felt like an open season for criticisms of the speaker’s work, which would have led to several breaching of some standing orders and with those breaches some members can reap some level of consequence.

“Reflections of the character or actions of the speaker, for example, and

allegations of bias could be taken by the house a breach of privileges and can be punished accordingly” Mr Nadir emphasis Nadir maintained that despite the calls on him for being biased by the opposition he said that how I’ll stand his ground and will not be intimidated by backyard behaviour, as he will put his foot down if this behaviour continues.

“I’m am neither anyone little boy nor am I intimidated by the front yard or backyard bullism….any occurrences of recurrences of the breaches of the standing orders: I will have to ask a minister to move a motion and that is in standing order 43.3, to refer the error member or members to the committee of privileges.

At the time, the speaker referred to the post made

by Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan on his face bias, non-partisan for now allowing the motions to for debate on the Henry Boys killings and the narcotics bill tabled by the opposition.

Mr Duncan said in the program that the Speaker of the national assembly appears to be influenced by the Governing Party due to his decision to disallow the motions.

Leader of the

Opposition also added in the very program that the speakers appear to be working with the PPP/C in blocking certain motions.

This the speaker said was not the case as the two bills were put to the floors days after the motion was ready and were subsequently denied by a vote of the majority PPP/C ruling party.

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Government Terminates Taiwan’s Office aggrement

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd

The Government of Guyana, while being criticized over the past 24 hours for the agreement to have an Office of investment for Taiwan set up, Guyana has terminated that agreement according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. info@guyanapostonline.com

That termination came with some level of criticism for one clear violation of its relations with China and its OneChina Police This policy notes that China which does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state and as such any such agreement

would put relations with China and Guyana in limbo.

The agreement that was not formally announced by the Foreign Ministry in Georgetown, Taiwan has noted that they have signed an agreement on January 11, 2021, and would start operations on

January 15.

As such it was noted by the Minister in a release that “The Government has not established any diplomatic ties or relations with Taiwan and as a result of the miscommunication of the agreement signed, this agreement has since

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been terminated,” This falls on the backdrop as the Assistant US Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs tweeted and was later shared by the US Embassy here, that the US Government applauds the agreement to establish a Taiwan Office in Guyana.

This according to

the US was set on “deepening ties between Guyana and Taiwan will advance their shared goals of prosperity and security.

Closer ties with Taiwan will advance cooperation and development in Guyana on the basis of shared democratic values, transparency, and mutual respect.”

Guyana Post Friday February 5, 2021

Stafrei Alexander Construction worker walks free of another pinned to death murder charge Royston Souvenir

A Local Construction company, friends, and family are now mourning the loss of a senior worker of Gaico Construction, who was killed after being pinned by an excavation.

The Dead Construction Stafrei Alexander

Career Criminal Stafrei Alexander, who was on trial for the 2015 murder of his fellow gang member was on Monday acquitted of the charge following a not guilty verdict by a jury.

Alexander called ‘Mad dog’ is currently serving a life sentence for the attempted murder committed on Curtis Thom at Laing Avenue on March 22, 2015.

He was on trial before Justice Brassington Reynold and a 12-member jury at the Demerara High Court for the murder Terrence Thomas December 8 and 11, 2015 at Linden.

According to reports Alexander and Thomas

were jointly charged for the murder of Linden businesswoman, Shevon Gordon, who was gunned-down outside of her Linden home in April 2015. While in custody at the Mackenzie Police Station on December 8, 2015, the duo escaped but Thomas decomposed body was fished out from at Demerara River on December 11, 2015 The state was represented by prosecutor Seeta Bishundial while Alexander was represented by Damien Da Silva.

The jury after deliberating for over two hours on Monday afternoon returned with a unanimous not guilty

verdict. The Judge in court said that upon his reading for the deposition in the case there were issues of law and creditability.

Alexander is also on remand awaiting trial for the High Court for the murder of Gordon and also Richard Wellington, who was gunned-down during a robbery at Chung Lee Hill, Wismar, Linden in February 2015.

Alexander was one of the six inmates who broke out from the Camp Street Prison on July 9, 2017, and was recaptured on July 29, 2017, at Topoo Village, Corentyne.

Stafrei Alexander escorted by officers of the Guyana Police Force info@guyanapostonline.com

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Worker is identified as 49-year-old Royston Souvenir of Canal No.1 Polder, West Bank Demerara.

According to information coming out of the company, it was related that an accident occurred at the wharf development project in the Houston, East Bank Demerara area.

In what was described as a tragic death, it was reported that Souvenir walked into the path of

an excavator that was turning.

It was at this moment, the excavator reportedly pinned him down after hitting him.

Souvenir was at the time working as a senior construction worker, at the site of the Guyana Shore Base Company.

In a Facebook post, the GYSBI noted confirm the death and said that their thoughts and prayers are will the family and friends of Souvenir

Guyana Post Thursday February 4, 2021

POLITICAL SPACE FOR DIALOGUE OPENS BETWEEN GUYANA AND VENEZUELA AFTER RELASE OF FISHERMEN

A decision by the Venezuelan Government to release 12 Guyanese Fishermen from their locks has sprung some level of hope into a possible smooth dialogue between

Guyana and Venezuela.

The 12 fishermen were held some two weeks ago after Venezuela claimed that the men were fishing in their waters, a claim Guyana has denied.

Since the men were held the Venezuelan Government came under some level of international pressure by the Organisation of American States,

CARICOM, Canada and several international governments, who demanded the men’s release.

As such, it was confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Todd last evening that the

men are set to be released last evening and will be in Guyana sometime later in the week.

This Minister Todd said that he thinks has opened up a space for dialogue and international relations with the Venezuelan

government.

“I think the early release of the vessels provides political space for dialogue in terms of inter-state relations and I think that it is a good show from the Maduro

Con’t on Pg5

Henry Boys Family calls for support in protest for justice

IN the second outing of protesting outside the Office of the President, Family members of the two Henry Cousin, who were brutally murdered in the Cotton Tree Backdam last September are now calling for support from the general public in standing by their side in protest for Justice.

Joel and Isaiah Henry, bodies were discovered in the backdam, after they would have left their homes to get pick coconuts and would have met their demise in a very gruesome manner where info@guyanapostonline.com

they were chopped, tied, beaten and dumped.

Since the incident, it has caused a widespread protest in the Berbice area and Georgetown, in the call for justice and later three men were charged with which some folks and allegedly are denying that they have committed the act.

As such, the two families building on that momentum, today in their quest for justice called on citizens to come out in support of the call by standing with them on the protest line, a move which is far beyond the

support elsewhere.

“I wanna thank the public in the way they are supporting us, in these protesting, and I am calling for people to come out and help us, as we as the henry families, we need for people to come out and support us in this peaceful protesting that we could get justice for our sons,” Joel Henry’s Dad said.

He added that this must be a persistent call for justice and as such they need for support will be welcome since the way in which the investigation and prosecution are

going there might not be anything fruitful in the lines of justice.

“We want to be persistence with what we are doing concerning justice, we need justice right about now, and up to now the way how this thing is going we still have to because the way how the trio that they have in custody and what they trio has said according to the information that we have and we are fully aware of what they say that confess but we are looking for more than confession.

We are looking for

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things like evidence and these things, more investigation” the father maintained.

The father said withstanding their opinion and public opinion on the matter, the henry family will stand with the court in its work, but at the moment the evidence that is provided does not add up to the men being in custody being the rightful or only killers.

With some five months gone since the murders of Joel and Isaiah, Henry and three persons were charged about a month

ago namely 19-yearold Akash Singh, aka “Monkey,” of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo; his stepbrother, 33-yearold Anil Sancharra, aka “Dan pole” and “Rasta,” of D’ Edward Village, WCB; and 34-yearold Vinod Gopaul, aka “Magga,” of Yakusari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice.

Since then the three have publicly noted that they were not a part of the murders, this has added some fuel in the directions of family members of the accused.

Guyana Post Thursday February 4, 2021

Murder

POLITICAL SPACE FOR....

Con’t from Pg4

administration and we must commend them and at the same time we must commend President Ali for his leadership and direction in this regard”, Minister, Todd said.

With such a move by the Government of Venezuela, the tension between the two countries was eased but Venezuela’s latest decree claiming Guyana’s maritime space still remains a sore point.

With the men now on their way back to Guyana to join their worried family member, Mr Todd

also explained this move will bring some level of a good relationship between the two nations.

He said, “I see the relationship as an action consistent with international law and norms and we must commend the Government of Venezuela for the early release that shows goodwill and it helps to rebuild some of the bridges between Guyana and Venezuela and by extension, the rest of the Caribbean community”.

However, goodwill still remains one to be measured, as the Venezuela military still remains on patrol in Guyanese waters, that of which along the claims of Essequibo will remain an issue as Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali made it clear that Guyana remains united on issues related to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

As such the Government of Guyana is moving ahead to set a border patrol agency.

Fatal Accident

A horrific accident at the Beharry Edward Beharry and Company Ltd has claimed the life of a 32-year-old, Supervisor, who was struck off a loading truck by pressurized air.

The dead worker is being identified as Mark Games of Long Pond, Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara.

According to a police statement on the matter, the incident would have been said to have occurred at the company’s Mandela info@guyanapostonline.com

Avenue, Georgetown location at the time of the incident MArks supervised the transfer of flour from a pressure tank.

At the time the tank was mounted on a truck, which was connected to a silo when the pressure tank began whistling and Gomes went to check and see what it was.

Gomes at the moment climbed onto the back of the truck when a hose connected to the tank and silo disconnected.

He then later attempted

to fix the hose, however in doing so the pressurized air hit him in the face hitting him out the truck causing him injuries about his body.

His colleagues, after seeing what had taken place, picked up the injured Gomes and rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

CCTV footage according to the police are gonna be used to fully determine what had transpired.

Family in the West La Penitence are now mourning the loss of a 29-year-old, Taxi Driver, who was gun down outside a birthday celebration in North East Lapenitance.

The dead are being identified as a father of two children, Osafo Pollard According to reports of the shooting which took place just after 10:30 last night, February 2nd stemmed from an old grievance with some suspect/s.

Those suspect/s after yet to be identified as

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police continue their investigation.

Reports are that during the time of the shooting a group of individuals in the area were having a get-together, when Pollard, who was not a part of the invitation list but was a part of the get together was seen laying on the floor with a gunshot wound about his head.

This came after a person at the get together heard several explosions, sounding like the sound of motorbikes in the area, but it quickly became known of the man’s injuries, when loud screams were

heard.

Pollard was later seen laying on the ground.

As such, an emergency ambulance was summoned to the area but it was related to News Source that the ambulance was going to leave the man on the ground because of who he was but a demand by the persons in the area led to them taking him to hospital.

It was however later reported that Pollard died sometime after midnight while having medical attention.

No arrests have been made so far.

Guyana Post Tuesday February 2, 2021

20 PERSONS RECEIVE $1M EACH FROM SBB UNDER THEIR GREEN TECH FUND

An awardee receives her certificate from Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce - Hon. Oniedge Walrond.

CEO of the Small Business Bureau - Mr. Lowell Porter The Small Business Bureau (SBB) has granted 20 persons a total of $20 million grant through its Green Tech Fund. The beneficiaries each received $1 million at a ceremony hosted on Monday. The grants are for existing and start-up businesses that are technology and environmentally based.

Ms. Kaimwantie Seenarine, of “Smart Learning Guyana” will develop a mobile app that will help children in Guyana. The App will cater primarily for children who do not have regular access to the internet.

She explained that once the app is downloaded, it could be used without internet access.

An awardee receives his certificate from Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce – Hon. Oniedge Walrond.

“We are actually going to take concept from schools and convert it into more interactive selflearning system. We are trying to help children learn independently because during this COVID-19 time and

many children do have assistance from teachers directly so we will be teaching them to be more independent learners,” she said.

An awardee receives her certificate from Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce – Hon. Oniedge Walrond.

Ms. Cherryann Greene, who will be launching her business under the name “Ridealong Gy”, said the aim is to reduce the carbon emission foot print that have far ranging environmental and health effects “by promoting more pedal cycling in and around Georgetown. I will also aim to collaborate with other small businesses like myself to promote, health and fitness and tourism in Guyana”.

Ezee Loans, owned

by Mr. Rupesh Ganpat who worked 10 years in the banking industry, developed an app to guide individuals through the loan process.

CEO of the Small Business Bureau – Mr. Lowell Porter “The application is

going to allow you to put in the pertinent information and guide along if you are going qualify and also, I am to partner with the bank as well so that they can take another step and guide the individual,” he told DPI. Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce representative Mr. John Edghill told the awardees that the Bureau and the Government was there for the people.

Ms. Cherryann Greene receives her certificate from Mr. John Edghill – Director of Business and Entrepreneur Development.

“Through the Small Business Bureau and other agencies under our remit we will increase access to finance we will increase entrepreneurship skills development to all entrepreneurs both budding and potential.”

CEO of the Small Business Bureau – Mr. Lowell Porter said the agency will continue to promote businesses that are innovative and environmentally friendly.

He said the Government

An awardee receives his certificate from Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Hon. Oniedge Walrond.

An awardee receives her certificate from Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce - Hon. Oniedge Walrond.

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is willing and ready to support more innovative businesses.

The Bureau will be following up with the awardees to ensure they follow through with the grant and there is a threemonth time frame by which they have to set up or at least start. The Bureau will also work with them in this area.

Ms. Cherryann Greene receives her certificate from Mr. John Edghill - Director of Business and Entrepreneur Development.

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

Guyana Post Saturday January 30, 2021

China to “no longer recognize” British overseas passports in Hong Kong

China, on Friday, said it will “no longer recognize” the British National (Overseas) passport for Hong Kongers, as Britain prepares to offer millions of former colonial subjects a way to escape Beijing’s crackdown on dissent.

From Sunday, those with a BN(O) passport and their dependents will be able to apply online

for a visa allowing them to live and work in the United Kingdom. After five years they can then apply for citizenship.

The new immigration scheme is a response to Beijing’s decision to impose a sweeping national security law on the city last year to snuff out huge and often violent democracy protests.

Britain accused China of tearing up its promise ahead of Hong Kong’s 1997 handover that the financial hub would maintain key liberties and autonomy for 50 years.

It argues it has a moral duty to protect its former subjects. But, on Friday Beijing hit back ahead of the upcoming change. “From January

31, China will no longer recognize the so-called BN(O) passport as a travel document and ID document, and reserves the right to take further actions,” Foreign Ministry spokesman – Zhao Lijian told reporters.

It is unclear what China’s declaration means in practical terms. But, around 300,000 people are

expected to leave Hong Kong for Britain using a new visa route which opens on Sunday. Boris Johnson said the move – which was announced in the wake of Beijing’s national security law being imposed on Hong Kong last year – honored the “profound ties of history and friendship” between the UK and its former colony. Hong Kongers with British National (Overseas) status and their dependents are eligible for the visas. After five years they will be able to apply for settlement, followed

by British citizenship after a further 12 months.

Although there are 2.9 million BN(O) citizens eligible to move to the UK, with a further estimated 2.3 million dependents, the Government expects take-up of the offer to be far smaller.

Meanwhile, the former head of a Chinese Stateowned asset management company was executed Friday, on charges of

taking bribes…in an unusually severe penalty for a recent corruption case.

Lai Xiaomin of China Huarong Asset Management Co., was among thousands of officials snared in a long-running anti-graft campaign led by President Xi Jinping.

Others including China’s former insurance regulator have been sentenced to prison.

And, a man who was beaten, slashed, stripped and robbed by a violent mob in Manhattan Chinatown is a known gang member with a lengthy criminal record, according to police sources. The brazen attack, which was caught on surveillance video, occurred at Canal Street and Allen Street around 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 22. when a group of individuals assaulted the 26-year-old male victim and removed his cell phone, pants, underwear and shoes!

Capitol Police bolstering travel security for lawmakers The Capitol Police are stepping up security at Washington-area transportation hubs, and taking other steps to safeguard traveling lawmakers…as Congress continues to react to this month’s deadly assault on the Capitol.

Capitol Police will be stationed at area airports and Washington’s Union Station railway hub on busy travel days, the House’s chief law enforcement officer wrote in an email obtained Friday

by The Associated Press.

Timothy P. Blodgett, the acting Sergeant at Arms, wrote that officials were setting up an online portal so lawmakers can notify them of travel plans and urged legislators to report

threats and suspicious activity.

Meanwhile, “AOC’ tells Ted Cruz she doesn’t want to work with him on “Robinhood” probe, because he “almost had me murdered” during the Capitol riot. Ms. OcasioCortez again called for

Mr. Cruz to resign.

And, the Minneapolis Police Department would be replaced with a new entity responsible for “various public safety functions”. This is under a draft ballot measure introduced by three council members. What’s

happening: The proposed charter amendment would maintain a division with police officers but remove a requirement to maintain a minimum head count based on population.

How we got here: The lawmakers who drafted the measure – Phillipe

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Cunningham, Steve Fletcher and Jeremy Schroeder – were among those who vowed to “begin the process of ending” MPD following George Floyd’s killing.

Schroeder said the revised approach will “expand our public safety

toolbox,” making the city “safe and equitable for all.” The other side: Frey told The Star Tribune he’s concerned the change would “dilute accountability by having the head of public safety report” to both him and the 13-member council.

What’s next: The proposal is subject to review by the council and the city’s Charter Commission before appearing on the November ballot. Authors say this year’s timeline means the proposal can move ahead with or without the commission’s support. Ultimately, voters would have to sign off.

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

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