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Friday March 4, 2022

SOLUTION TO FOOD SECURITY, SUSTAINABILITY LIES IN REGION – ALI TELLS CARICOM-SICA SUMMIT EXXONMOBIL GUYANA REPLANTS MANGROVES AT OGLE FORESHORE

POLICE OFFICER IN MAHAICA FATAL CRASH ON $1.5M BAIL

FATAL INCIDENT

TEXTBOOKS TO BE GIVEN TO EVERY PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPIL

Friday March 4, 2022

SOLUTION TO FOOD SECURITY, SUSTAINABILITY LIES IN REGION – ALI TELLS CARICOM-SICA SUMMIT

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali

The Guyanese leader made this plea while addressing regional leaders during the Fourth Caricom-SICA (Central American Integration System) Summit that was held in Belize. The one-day engagement followed the 33rd Inter-Sessional Meeting of Caricom Heads of Governments during which President Ali, as Lead Head on Agriculture, Agricultural Diversification and Food Security, presented an action-oriented and solutions-based proposal that aims at reducing the Caribbean’s US$5 billion food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025.

The Guyanese Head of State told the joint summit that Caricom’s ambitious agenda is targeting the transformation of the regional agriculture sector towards full commercialisation in order to enhance competitiveness and better meet the food and nutrition needs of the region. To achieve this, he explained, regional cooperation and collaboration is key.

“The solution to food security and sustainability lies right in this room.

What is required is the commitment and joint approach in addressing food security in the region…work with us on how we can employ the

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technology, resources and mobilise the expertise in advancing this agenda of Caricom,” the Guyanese leader posited.

President Ali went on to the agricultural capability that current exists among SICA Member States alone, including Guatemala, where 25% of its GDP is from agriculture; Honduras, which employs 39% of its people in the agriculture sector; and Costa Rica, which is a global player with high competitive advantages in the sector.

“Central America, as a whole, contributes half of the total value of the region’s export in agriculture and food production,” he stated.

According to Ali, discussions have already commenced in this regard, and these Central Americans all expressed strong interest and commitment in supporting Caricom’s ‘25 by 2025’ agenda.

However, in further advancing this agenda, the Guyanese President on Thursday proposed a joint meeting between the Central American Agriculture Council and the Ministerial Taskforce establish by Caricom, so that the two regions can marry their priorities and establish a timebound framework that is in keeping with the Caribbean’s ambitions.

“We are extending and

reach out to our friends in this room to support this agenda and support us.

You are our first call,” Ali stressed.

In addition, he also invited the Central American nations to participate in the regional agriculture investment conference slated for May 19 to 21 in Guyana.

“The areas you have competitive advantage in are almost identical areas we have identified in Caricom to boost production and improve competitiveness. So, this is a low-hanging fruit… in which we can bring real benefits and real results, and show the population of a region that we are not only prolonged dialogue and conversation. But here is it that, as a joint region, we are prepared to put up an actionable

timetable that we are going to open up ourselves to accountability to the people in achieving the integration and food security,” President Ali asserted.

Investment projects During the two-day Intersessional Meeting, the Guyanese leader had come in for high praise from his Caricom colleagues for driving the region’s transformational agriculture agenda.

President Ali had outlined the significant contributions made over the one-year lifespan of the Special Ministerial Taskforce (MTF), with specifically developed investment projects in poultry, corn and soya, and mutton (black belly sheep).

He also delivered a detailed presentation on each country’s report of current and targeted commodities to achieve 25% reduction by 2025, outlining both constraints and actions needed.

At the same time, he highlighted that coffee, cocoa, coconut, spices, hemp (industrial) and palm oil are high-value imports into Caricom with potential for development in the region.

Regional production is expected to increase between 25% and 700% to be able to significantly

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reduce food imports by 2025. To achieve this, national expenditure on agriculture must be increased, and President Ali stressed that a significant increase – at least 5% – of expenditure in agriculture by each Member State is required by 2025.

In the meantime, the Lead Head for Agriculture also reported to Region Heads that there has been concrete progress in access to financing for agriculture investment through a facility called the ‘Caricom Sustainability Agriculture Credit Facility’, using Republic Bank Limited as a lender.

This is a special facility designed for agriculture activities including, but not limited to, development of priority crops, capital equipment for farming, feeder roads to provide access to arable lands, bulk storage for crops, processing plants, shade house farming.

Guyana, Guatemala Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the CaricomSICA Summit, President Ali and his Guatemalan counterpart President Alejandro Giammattei Falla met on Thursday to discuss shared issues of trade, investment, and climate change.

According to a

missive from Ali’s Press and Publicity Unit in Georgetown, the two Heads of State recognised the importance of working together, and committed to strengthening the bonds of cooperation and friendship existing between Guyana and Guatemala.

Moreover, they shared the aspirations of both countries to develop broad and effective cooperation for mutual benefit, including in the areas of security, climate change, agriculture, and food security.

President Ali and President Giammattei Falla agreed on the importance of a strong partnership in agriculture, particularly in assisting Guyana to revitalise the sugar industry, considering and recognising the significant role of the agricultural sector in achieving food security and economic development.

Finally, the two Presidents expressed their mutual interest in concluding a Memorandum of Understanding in the near future between their countries to further advance cooperation in the above-mentioned areas. (G8)

Friday March 4, 2022

ExxonMobil Guyana replants mangroves at Ogle foreshore ExxonMobil Guyana has replanted the mangrove vegetation cleared at the Ogle foreshore, East Coast Demerara for the landing of its fibre optic cable which will service its offshore facilities.

The exercise was overseen by officials from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) as part of regulatory approvals the company received to clear a 240 square-meter area. The replanting exercise is part of an environmental mitigation plan developed for the project.

The exercise entailed the removal of mangroves plants and cordgrass. A section of rip rap boulders within the approved zone also had to be removed to facilitate the cable connection. The boulders were also replaced.

“ExxonMobil Guyana is committed to conducting its business in a manner that is compatible with the balanced environmental and economic needs of communities where we operate.

Working with the relevant regulators to mitigate environmental impacts is an integral part

of that commitment,” said the company’s Projects Environmental and Regulatory Manager Erik DeMicco.

ExxonMobil Guyana also used the opportunity to remove some 1.4 tonnes of trash from a 100-meter stretch along the seawall. The trash was transported to the landfill facility at Haags Bosch, East Bank Demerara.

Meanwhile, the mangrove vegetation cleared was chipped.

There was the possibility of recycling and using the material explored instead of disposing of it.

POLICE OFFICER IN MAHAICA FATAL CRASH ON $1.5M BAIL

A Mahaica police officer who was behind the wheel of a police van and claimed the life of two people on the Mahaica Bridge has been charged and placed on $1.5 M bail.

Defendant, Police Corporal, 27-year-old, Lawrence Carmichael appeared before Magistrate, Fabayo Azore and was not

required to plead to the double fatality charge.

It is alleged that Carmichael on February 2, on the Mahaica Bridge, drove a police van PAB 3143 in a manner dangerous to the public and therefore caused the death of 16-year-old Shereeda Persaud and 21-year-old, Christopher Bhagwandat.

It was alleged that

on the day in question, Carmicheal along with three other colleagues received a call that Bhagwandat along with Persaud would have evaded a road block and was heading towards them.

S u b s e q u e n t l y, Carmicheal, who was at the time the driver in hot pursuit, went after them.

After catching up with

them on the bridge, the two collided. They also hit a motor lorry.

As a result, all three vehicles and the occupants received injuries with Persaud and Bhagwandat receiving the brunt of it.

The two were rushed to the hospital where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

In the circumstances, the Police Prosecutor objected to bail based on the serious nature of the charge, the fact that Carmichael is close to two main witnesses, the penalty of the charge and the fact that two lives were lost.

That no objection quickly caught the attention of Carmichael’s Attorney Dexter Todd, who said in court, the

defendant has nowhere to run since he is a serving member of the force and that reporting regularly to the station can fix the issue of such.

Mr. Todd noted that this matter should have never come as indictable under the orders of the Director of Public Prosecution since the court remains independent.

He added that the matter should have also not come to court knowing that it’s a matter that could be rectified through the police and not through the court.

The right moves according to Mr. Todd should be through the setting up of a Commission of inquiry.

Todd said by bringing it to the court it caught the defendant and him

by surprise since there is no telling what the police should do beyond the police procedures.

He said that while two lives were lost one simply cannot isolate this incident with others, in which illegal items were found in pursuits.

In circumstances, bail was set at $1.5 m and Carmichael was ordered to return to court on March 10.

Outside of the courtroom, parents and other families of the dead youth protested the granting of bail.

They said that the accidentt should not have happened in these circumstances.

The police murdered their children, they said.

TEXTBOOKS TO BE GIVEN TO EVERY PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPIL

The Ministry of Education on Wednesday fulfilled another promise by the Government of Guyana with the commencement of the distribution of brand-new textbooks to all primary school children in the public system. info@guyanapostonline.com

The textbooks cover each core subject area, Mathematics, English Language, Science and Social Studies.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, visited the No. 48 Primary School and the Corriverton

Primary Schools in the East Berbice Corentyne Region (Region Six) where she distributed the textbooks.

She underscored the importance of each child having access to their own textbook.

She said that it is the government’s aim to ensure that there is equitable access to educational resources to every pupil and gone

are the days when only a handful of pupils were privileged to own textbooks.

“We have gone out and we have looked at each book; we have looked at what causes or helps to bring about success and we have bought those for every single child.

“So it’s not the wealthy children alone who can do well; it’s not the children in private school alone

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who will get the resources; it’s not the parents who have fancy jobs. It is every single child.”

Minister Manickchand also spoke to parents about the importance of caring for the books so that other pupils can benefit from the investment over the years.

Parents are required to sign a contract promising to ensure that the books are well-kept and returned at the end of the school

year. Failure to return the books will result in children being unable to receive other books in other grades to take home and even unable to benefit from the “Because We Care” cash grant for the new school year.

Over the coming weeks, thousands of pupils from Grades One through Six in every region of Guyana will receive their textbooks.

Friday March 4, 2022

FREE DIGICEL CALLS AND TEXTS TO UKRAINE

In a show of solidarity for the people of Ukraine and their loved ones and supporters around the

world, Digicel is giving customers across the Caribbean and Central America the ability to

IDB Lab, the innovative laboratory of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) is providing financial support to STEM Guyana Inc. to help 1000 children across 40 communities in all ten regions of Guyana.

This support includes technology tools and supplementary learning in Maths, English, and Science. IDB Lab is investing US$950,000 in the three-year programme, ‘Guyana’s Learning Pods – Supporting Success in Education for Vulnerable Children.’

The STEM Guyana pilot will expand the education model, which caters to children ages

seven to fifteen from lowincome and vulnerable communities. In the pilot, small groups of children in communities across Guyana access a connected learning platform at a local community centre to foster ‘STEM’ skills, with the support of an in-person facilitator and an online teacher.

The IDB Lab support will create more ‘Learning Pod’ centres for public spaces for students from grades one through ten, to access content and technology tools, as well as in-person and online live teaching sessions, three times per week. The program will use the core

KHEMRAJ RAMJATTAN’S SON CHARGED FOR ASSAULT, CASE DISMISSED

Commenting Oliver Coughlan, Digicel Group CEO, said; “We know how important it is to be able to stay connected with friends and loved ones – no more so than at a time like this.

We encourage everyone to reach out to their people in Ukraine to let them know they’re call and text from their not alone and that the Two-person charged home country to the world is with them.” with the brutal murder of Ukraine for free from cousins Isaiah and Joel today.

Henry was committed to stand a high court trial for the murder, on Tuesday.

Vinod Gopaul, called Country Representative ‘Magga’, 34, of Yakusari, Lorena Solorzano Salazar. Black Bush Polder, “There is a need for Corentyne, Berbice; and us to adapt and learn Anil Sancharra, called innovative technologies ‘Dan Pole’ and ‘Rasta’, and talents that can 33, of D’Edward Village, contribute to inclusive and WCB, appeared before sustainable development Magistrate Peter Hugh at and guarantee the future the Blairmont Magistrate’s wellbeing of our people, Court. our country, and the The magistrate found region.” that sufficient evidence The ‘Learning Pod’ was made out against the programme is expected two men by police Legal public school curriculum to contribute to better Advisor Mr. Mandel of all Moore. As a result, they for an expanded range of performance students and help reduce subjects. were committed to stand Karen Abrams of attrition from the school trial at the next convenient STEM Guyana says, system. sitting at the Berbice It targets 50 per cent Assizes.

“The Learning pods programme provides participation of girls.

Gopaul and Sancharra for small class in person STEM Guyana expects were jointly charged and and tech-driven learning a future expansion of the remanded to prison on support for students who program to benefit as Friday, January 15, 2021, have been disadvantaged many as 5,000 vulnerable for the murders of teen by the COVID pandemic students over the life cousins, Isaiah and Joel school closures, and also of the investment post Henry in the Cotton Tree ensures their safety as the COVID-19. ‘backdam’, West Coast STEM Guyana Berbice. program makes available cleaning supplies, masks, is a nonprofit tech The cousins, Isaiah and and temperature checks to organization that partners Joel Henry were found with public and private murdered one day after all enrolled students.”

“Opportunities are sector agencies and they went to pick coconuts increasing in Guyana and uses software tools to in the #3 Village backdam. the demand for skills is help solve national and A post-mortem found rapidly changing,” says regional problems. that the two teenage Guyana’s IDB Chief of cousins had died of Operations and acting haemorrhage and shock,

IDB Lab invests in STEM Guyana ‘Learning Pods’ to reach 1000 children

due to multiple incised wounds. They’d both sustained a severed spine, along with multiple chops about the body.

The killers went so far as to carve a huge ‘X’ on Isaiah’s head, and cut open Joel’s chest back in September 2020.

The two were freed following a no-case submission.

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C., wrote to the magistrate requesting the documents from the PI to ascertain why the accused were discharged.

The DPP then concluded that there is sufficient evidence available to pursue the charges against the duo.

With the two being committed, Sancharra’s step-brother Akash Singh still remains in custody on the said murder charges.

GECOM Appoints Attorney-at-Law Kurt Da Silva as Legal Officer The Guyana Elections Commission at its Statutory meeting held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 appointed Attorney-atLaw Mr. Kurt Anthony Da Silva as the Legal Officer.

Mr. Da Silva holds a Master of Laws Degree in Public Law from the University of the West

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Indies.

Shortly after being called to the Bar in Guyana in 2017, he served the Chief Justice (ag) and other Judges of the High Court as a Judicial Research Assistant. He then moved onto the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in 2019 where he currently serves as the

President and Judges as the CCJ as a Judicial Counsel.

Based on his experience in both the Caribbean Court of Justice and Guyana’s High Court for researching legal issues, analyzing submissions in cases from Attorneysat-Law, writing legal opinions for Judges, and

his knowledge of the new rules of procedure and the electoral laws, the Commission appointed Mr. Da Silva as the Legal Officer.

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