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Wedneday Jan. 12, 2022

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GEORGETOWN CHAMBER ADDITIONAL CALLS FOR AMEASURES HOLD ON BEING EXAMINED TO TACKLE RISING COMMODITY PRICES NATURAL RESOURCES –as gov’t seeksBILL to cushion internal, external shocks with Budget 2022 FUND

GPL GUARANTEES ADEQUATE FOR CHRISTMAS

CANU MAKES 200 LB GANJA BUST

ANIL NANDLALL PETITIONS Pg4IN ELECTIONS PETITION CCJ CASE, SEEKS EXTENDED STAY

Wednesday Jan., 12, 2022

ADDITIONAL MEASURES BEING EXAMINED TO TACKLE RISING COMMODITY PRICES –as gov’t seeks to cushion internal, external shocks with Budget 2022

IN preparing Budget 2022, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that his government is examining further measures that could be implemented to address the effects of rising commodity prices on households, and, by extension, the entire economy.

President Ali, in an invited comment on the sidelines of an event at the CARICOM Secretariat on Tuesday said that the issue of increasing prices is not unique to Guyana, as countries the world over have been contending with high levels of inflation because of various reasons.

“The price of a lot of these things is linked to what is happening internationally.

We import inflation, we import increases in fuel prices, we import increases in fertiliser prices, we import increases in agrochemicals, pesticides and everything,” President Ali related.

Cognisant of the challenges which Guyanese are facing because of increasing prices, the government is actively examining ways to mitigate the impact of

the global situation. “[Even though] we are importing this [inflation] to a large extent, we intend to address that, and we are now working on the budget, and we are examining different initiatives and measures that we can further add to the menu of measures that we have already announced to deal with the issue,” President Ali said.

Over the past year, the government has rolled out a slew of welfare measures geared at not only mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other

global crises, but also addressing challenges created by severe flooding across the country.

One of the first measures introduced by the government was the $25,000 cash grant to every household across the country, which resulted in over $7.5 billion being distributed to families across all ten administrative regions.

Further, all public sector employees also received a one-off $25,000 grant each in December 2020, totaling $2 billion. Frontline workers in the health

sector, and members of the Joint Services also received year-end bonuses totalling over $1 billion in December 2020.

The monthly old-age pension was increased from $20,500 to $25,000, amounting to a total annual benefit of $4 billion to the elderly.

And the government also increased public assistance by 33 per cent, from $9,000 to $12,000, handing over an additional $500 million in annual benefits.

In August 2021, the government introduced a one-off $25,000 grant

for old-age pensioners, public assistance recipients, and persons living with disabilities; this initiative benefited some 90,000 persons and valued $2.2 billion.

The government also purchased $200 million in electricity credits for the most vulnerable households.

Additionally, the Because We Care cash grant, which was discontinued by the former ‘Coalition’ administration, was reinstituted by the incumbent, and increased to $19,000.

This programme was

was served the petition outside the prescribed time for service.

As such, Attorney for Petitioners, Brennan Nurse and Monica

Thomas moved to the appeal court.

Then the Government of Guyana challenged the jurisdiction of the court of appeal to hear the matter under several bases; one of which the Attorney General along with the battery of Lawyers had argued, the court of appeal does not have the power to hear and determine the matter which was not even fully determined in the high court.

The Judges however in a 2-1 margin ruled that the court has jurisdiction.

The Government signaled its intention to appeal within two weeks.

In the notice of Motion, it asked that the CCJ grant a stay of the Court of Appeal’s ruling on December 21, 2021.

The stay granted by the court of appeal expired on January 4.

The Government is now asking the CCJ for a further stay.

“The intended appeal is a matter of public interest which touches and concerns national, general and regional elections and as such, are proceedings of great general and public importance,” the AG tells the CCJ. “This Honourable court has a duty to protect the

also extended to private school children.

“We have been highlighted by most international reports for the strong steps we took to ensure that there was not a full pass on the impact on people’s pockets and households,” President Ali said.

To this end, the government spent over $7.8 billion to assist persons who were severely affected by the May/June rains last year, while another $1.5 billion was spent on emergency drainage and irrigation works.

The government’s interventions saw over $9.3 billion being expended to assist more than 50,000 households in some 300 communities across the nation.

In December 2021, the government announced an across-the-board retroactive salary increase of seven per cent for all public servants, while workers in the health sector and the Joint Services enjoyed an additional incentive in the form of a tax-free bonus.

Anil Nandlall petitions CCJ in elections petition case, seeks extended stay

Attorney General Anil Nandlall feels that the Government of Guyana has a real prospect of winning this appeal against the hearing of the Elections Petition. The Appeal Court in Guyana ruled by a majority that it has jurisdiction to entertain Election Petition #99 dismissal.

The Government through the Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall has asked that the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) grant a stay of the appeal court ruling until the determination of their appeal in the very court.

Elections Petition, 99

of 2020, was struck out

by Chief Justice, Roxane George early this year, on the basis that the second named respondent, Former President David Granger,

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integrity of appeals so that they are not rendered nugatory before they are heard and determined.

Unless the status quo ante is preserved, the intended appeal before the [court] would be rendered nugatory, insofar as the orders granted by this court would take effect before the intended appeal is heard and determined.”

It is unclear when the matter is set to be heard, but it expected that matter to be heard before the court of appeal in Guyana hands down its orders following the Government loss in the case.

CANU makes 200 lb ganja bust

value of $12.1 million These drugs were reported found on Sunday in Scottsburg Village, Corentyne, Berbice during an operation in the vicinity of the seawall.

So far, one person has since been arrested and is assisting with the investigation.

The parcels were taken to CANU Headquarters in Georgetown where they were tested and Ranks of the Customs seized a large quatity of seized some of 202 weighed. pounds (92 kg) of Anti-Narcotics Unit Marijuana in Berbice.

This time, Ranks cannabis with a street (CANU) have yet again

Government plans to blacklist contractors

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, says that contracted companies must be held accountable for unacceptable works. He said that the Government will soon introduce blacklisting legislation for companies that fail to produce works done.

Speaking at a press conference hosted by the Ministry of Public Works to review the highs and lows of 2021, Ministry Edghill pointed out that over time the Government has put up with contractors failing to produce on works.

As such, the Government will be focusing on legislation that will seek to block companies from participating in the awarding of contracts.

“We need to get a register of contractors that would be very efficient in terms of management because we also have to look at what you might want to call blacklisting legislation or debarment legislation.

That is something that needs to be examined.”

Over years the PPP/C while in Opposition was critical of contracts being handed out to individuals who would not complete in works in the specified time nor in the prescribed manner.

Now in office, the PPP/C Government has taken several contractors to court and in some instances has also issued warning documents.

The court seems like the only way to turn to for recourse, Minister Edghill

pointed out. There remains a need for legislation to block those seeking contracts, and who in the past have not fulfilled their obligation on a technical side of things.

There Is a need for the Ministry to play a greater role in ensuring, also, that the contract is handed to the right person.

“The legislative framework for blacklisting contractors lies with the Ministry of Finance and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

That was in my previous life. In this life, I have to depend on them but we have made the necessary recommendations and suggestions at the Ministry.”

“When it comes to awarding contracts we

Wednesday Jan., 12, 2022

74% of teachers turnout for classes, despite calls for an ‘Isolation Day’

Despite calls to teachers to stay away from classes to observe an Isolation Day, the Ministry of Education, reported on Monday that 74% of teachers were in schools actively teaching. The Ministry noted that the figure represented 84% of schools for which the Ministry has received data at this time.

The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), recently issued a letter to teachers calling for an isolation day, due to the surge in COVID 19 cases and reports of students, teachers, and support staff testing positive for the virus. have the responsibility to The United Nations ensure that when they are Children’s Fund engaging a contractor, he is someone who has the reputation and who could get the job done.”

Minister Edghill added that this is needed since it is the Ministry with the technical support that will ensure the contracts are signed by the right person.

“While there is no legislation, we are keeping a very clear eye out on non-performing contractors, contractors who lack the capability or who do shoddy work” Mr. Edghill said that this is to ensure that the records at the ministry remain clear and that the contract was handed out to the right contractor.

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(UNICEF) said that this generation of children and youth cannot afford any more disruptions to their education. The Ministry of Education shares this belief and has arranged for the return to face-toface classes at all levels although in different proportions.

The statement further noted, since the first day of school on January 3

the Ministry of Education has constantly been monitoring the situation in schools to provide necessary support and guidance to teachers, parents and the school administration.

Wednesday Jan., 12, 2022

Despite being labelled a hero for saving the lives of passengers aboard a Roraima Airways, which crash-landed in Haags Bosch Landfill site back in August due to fuel starvation, the Pilot of the said aircraft is facing a suspension.

CRASH PILOT ON SUSPENSION

It was back in August last year just about 11:30h when the aircraft, destined for the Eugene F Correia International Airport, made what was considered an emergency landing at a swamp-like section of the sanitary landfill site.

Carrying three passengers and two crew members, the flight had initially departed from the community of Imbaimadai, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), at 10:20h on Saturday.

Minutes before the

bizarre dive, residents in Perseverance and other neighbouring communities on the East Bank spotted the plane flying considerably lower near their homes, prompting an alarm. It would then hover for some time before making

a nosedive into the landfill.

Immediately, a rescue team including the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Defence Force were at the site, where all five injured persons were attended to.

Some time later, the pilot was called a hero for landing the plane after it had gone through some technical difficulties and had to do the emergency landing.

Months passed and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and other stakeholders later concluded that the plane has been fuel deprived which caused it to experience technical difficulty.

As such, a decision had to be made against the pilot. That decision, according to the directorGeneral of the Guyana

Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Retired Lt. Col. Egbert Field, came in the form of a suspension, he said during a press conference hosted by the Ministry of Public Works.

“Some penalties were applied to the operator and to the pilot involved and those penalties have been activated. The pilot is now undergoing or in suspension for that accident for a particular period,” Mr. Field said.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, has insisted that going ahead the Ministry will not take any of these situations lightly.

Going forward Minister also pointed out that there must be a safer sky and no plane should be involved in an accident or the operators can face dire consequences, Edghill said.