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Friday January 29, 2021

STATEMENT BY BELIZE IN SUPPORT OF GUYANA Pg2

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Statement by the Caribbean Community on detention of Guyanese Fishing Vessels and Crew Pg2

Foreign Minister Pg3 engages Opposition MP on Guyana -Venezuela border controversy

“Who’ll be answerable”: Shoaib Akhtar questions Fawad Alam’s omission from Pakistan team for more than a decade 1

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Guyana Post Friday January 29, 2021

STATEMENT BY BELIZE IN SUPPORT OF GUYANA

Belmopan. January 26, 2021 – The Government of Belize has registered its serious concern regarding official reports of 12 Guyanese nationals and their vessels, the “Lady Nayera” and the “Sea Wolf,” which were intercepted by the Venezuelan Navy the “Comandante Hugo Chavez GC 24” in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone and subsequently detained at Port Guiria, Venezuela on Thursday, January 21, 2021.

Hon. Eamon Courtenay – Minister of Foreign

Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration met with the Venezuelan Ambassador to Belize – H.E. Gerardo Argote, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on January 24, 2021 for an explanation of his Government’s action.

Minister Courtenay took the opportunity to condemn this latest flagrant violation of Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by Venezuela. Belize called for the immediate release of the illegally detained Guyanese nationals and their vessels and urged the Government of Venezuela

to respect international law and ensure a peaceful resolution of this incident.

Belize reiterates its unequivocal support for Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the process underway before the International Court of Justice to finally and peacefully resolve the controversy between the two countries.

Minister Courtenay has remained in close contact with his colleague Hon. Hugh Todd – Foreign Minister of Guyana, on this matter.

Statement by the Caribbean Community on detention of Guyanese Fishing Vessels and Crew

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) expresses grave concern at the escalation of tensions between Guyana and Venezuela caused by the interception and detention in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone of two Guyanese fishing vessels by a Venezuelan naval

vessel on January 21, 2021.

Recalling its statement of January 12, 2021 in which it had firmly repudiated any acts of aggression by Venezuela against Guyana, CARICOM urges the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of

Venezuela to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana and to desist from aggressive acts that will seriously undermine the peace and security not only of Guyana and Venezuela but the entire Caribbean region. Meanwhile, the Caribbean Community

calls for the immediate release of the crew members and vessels. were purchased for him by the State with approval from former President Ramotar.

The Ministry of Legal Affairs, under the leadership of Basil Williams, had contended

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that there was no evidence of an agreement between Nandlall and Ramotar.

Additionally, such an agreement would have been a violation of the Financial Management and Accountability Act. Magistrate Azore had ruled that sufficient evidence was provided by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU)

for Nandlall to answer to the charge. Nandlall then approached the High Court and Court of Appeal to challenge the Magistrate’s decision but both Courts ruled to not intervene in the ongoing matter.

Nandlall then moved to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to appeal the ruling from Appeal Court

Guyana Post Friday January 29, 2021

FOREIGN MINISTER ENGAGES OPPOSITION MP ON GUYANA -VENEZUELA BORDER CONTROVERSY

-Discusses recent developments, detained crew and vessels

Further, the Foreign Minister reiterated the Government’s position on inclusive governance and called for similar engagements from other Shadow Ministers to their subject Ministers Ms. Desir expressed the Parliamentary Opposition’s firm support on the Guyana – Venezuela bordercontroversy and registered

The Honorauble Hugh Todd – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Wednesday met with Ms. Amanza Walton-Desir – ShadowMinister of Foreign Affairs of the Parliamentary Opposition, during which they discussed the recent

actions of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy.

The Foreign Minister provided an update on the detainment of the crew and vessels and the Government’s efforts to ensure their safe return.

her concerns about the welfare of the fishermen.

Minister Todd and Ms. Walton-Desir echoed the need for a bipartisan approach between Government and the Opposition, on matters related to the Guyana – Venezuela border controversy and welcomed continued dialogue on the matter

Minister Todd engages in a discussion with Opposition MP – Ms. Amanza WaltonDesir on the recent detainment of Guyanese fishermen

“NOT A BLADE OF GRASS” PART2 A feature article by leon saul

Brazilian government delegations have met with Guyana and Suriname about a possible Venezuelan military incursion into Guyana!

A Brazilian delegation’s recent quick trip to Guyana and Suriname suggested things are moving beneath the surface of the border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.

The visit’s purpose was to discuss border security

with the Guyanese and Surinamese governments.

However, an unconfirmed report in Brazilian newspaper – O Antagonista claimed the real reason behind the visit was to share information that Brazil’s intelligence services had learned about Venezuela considering a military incursion into Guyana!

But, the United States of America (USA) has

reinforced its commitment to regional security, through a new agreement with Guyana. Guyana and the United States of America (U.S.A) have added new features to its longstanding militaryto-military cooperation with the signing of an Acquisition and CrossServicing Agreement on Tuesday, January 12, 2021; strengthening security collaboration to combat shared transnational threats.

The agreement was signed by Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Admiral Craig S. Faller on behalf of the Department of Defence of the United States of America and Chiefof-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess on behalf of the Co-operative

Republic of Guyana.

Admiral Faller was in Guyana for a threeday visit and engaged in the signing event at State House as part of his planned activities.

In brief remarks after the signing, Brigadier Bess said Faller’s presence in Guyana symbolizes the excellent relations between the militaries of the USA and Guyana.

He said through the agreement, the two militaries will now be able to expand its partnership on issues like climate change, terrorism, trafficking narcotics and small arms and human trafficking among others.

“The GDF welcomes the increase cooperation…we now have greater predictability in our defence partnership and it is a formal basis

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for the exchange of services,” Brigadier Bess said. Meanwhile, Admiral Faller underscored the signing as a pivotal step forward together. He believes it builds on the momentum started with the visit of U.S Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and reinforces the U.S commitment to regional security. “This is a new era of defence partnership,” he added.

The agreement is expected to pave the way for exchanging goods or services of equal value to support future bilateral defence cooperation. It will facilitate and increase interoperability, readiness, and effectiveness of the respective military forces through increase logistic cooperation.

The agreement allows for flexibility in identifying

ways to support bilateral security cooperation. In this instance, the U.S. can provide fuel and meals to partner nations, like Guyana, to support U.S. led counter-narcotics operations in international waters, or the U.S. can loan specialized aviation maintenance equipment.

The agreement creates new opportunities to successfully plan and conduct future cooperation activities and further strengthen the security partnership.

The agreement will streamline the process of exchanging goods or services of equal value, allowing for greater focus on the resulting defence cooperation activities and goals. So, to answer the billion-dollar question: Would Venezuela invade Guyana? The answer is: AT ITS OWN PERIL!

Guyana Post Friday January 29, 2021

$4.4 BILLION FOR HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS ON THE EAST COAST DEMERARA – MINISTER CROAL

Those are the areas we are developing the infrastructural work now to ensure those persons who were allotted for those areas can access and start building. It is intended we will be spending G$4.4 billion on infrastructure work alone for those communities on the East Coast for which we have made allocations for house lots.

“Construction for those areas that we have made allocations have already commenced and, by the latter half of this year, all of those infrastructure work will be complete and you will be able to have a fully developed area for which you can do your

construction,” he said.

The work, which falls under the Ministry’s 2021 work programme, includes the construction of roads and drainage channels and access to water and electricity.

“When we give you communities, we want to give you complete communities so that you will not have an excuse as to why you are not able to access your facility,” Minister Croal said.

The Government is committed to clearing the backlog of house lot applications in the system and is looking to acquire more lands for development.

This, Minister Croal

said, would be done with assistance from President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the Guyana Sugar Corporation and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited.

The PPP/C Administration has pledged to allocate 50,000 house lots over five years, as outlined in its manifesto.

To date, through the President’s “Dream Realized” initiative, over 3,600 house lots have been delivered over four months across three regions.

In the 2020 Emergency Budget, the Government

FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN

building materials to make building homes more affordable. The Government also increased the mortgage

Ministry’s Community Relations Department, which deals with issues concerning encroachment and squatting.

The

implemented several measures to make homeownership affordable for all. This includes the reversal of the value-added tax on

interest relief ceiling from $15 million to $30 million.

Also in attendance today were representatives from the Guyana Water Incorporated and the

Government is hosting outreaches countrywide to ensure it has continuous engagement with residents and communities.

Renita Joseph, her husband and their two young children – ages 10 and three – are now homeless after a fire of unknown origin destroyed their two-storey house at Goed Intent, West Bank Demerara.

03:00h on Thursday while the family was asleep; they barely made it out of the house alive.

“We were all sleeping and it [the fire] was approaching my room,

which is the first room in the house and I saw the big flame and I just was able to grab my daughter and run out of the house from the back door,” her husband and their 10-year-old son was sleeping in a room at the back of the house; it was only when she safely made it outside that she realised they were still in the house. she began shouting for them until they woke up

and ran to safety. The family was not able to save anything Guyana Fire Service arrived promptly at the scene and managed to extinguish the fire, the house and everything inside were already destroyed.

Guyana Police Force and Fire Service continue to investigate the cause of the fire

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Guyana Post Friday January 29, 2021

REMARKS BY THE HONOURABLE HUGH HILTON TODD, MP., MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Colleague Members of Parliament, You are aware that on January 7, 2021 the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela announced during a meeting of the National Defence Council that he had established “a new maritime territory” of Venezuela. This territory is called “Territory for the development of the Atlantic Façade “in order to provide adequate protection and safeguard the jurisdiction of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”.

Following the announcement of President Maduro’s Decree of 7 January 2021, there was increased

activity in Guyana’s maritime space by Venezuelan Navy vessels and other Venezuelan State assets. Such illegal activity continues to undermine Guyana’s development, by threatening Guyana’s sovereign rights of its maritime space and hindering economic activity.

Proving this threat is the unfortunate incident of 21 January 2021, when two Guyanese fishing vessels, namely, Lady Nayera and Sea Wolf, were intercepted

by Venezuelan naval vessel, Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24, off the coast of Waini Point (well within Guyana’s territory). The crew and both vessels were

illegally detained by the Venezuelan Government and are currently still in detention at Port Guiria.

Guyana has strongly condemned the illegal detention of its citizens and the illegal seizure of their fishing vessels by the Venezuelan navy.

As I speak, my Ministry continues to engage the International community to resolve this issue in the most peaceful and diplomatic manner.

At his request, I had a virtual meeting with my Venezuelan counterpart, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, on 25 January 2021, to discuss the detention of the fishing vessels and crew and status of their release.

Individual Member States of CARICOM and the Community as a whole, have denounced the action taken by Venezuela calling upon them to release the crew and vessels.

The Organization of American States has also issued a statement in which it points out that “resolution of the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana is a matter that lies under international jurisdiction, and cannot be settled by unilateral action.

Any attempt to derail this international legal process such as the decree, issued by the Maduro regime is

contrary to international law and standards, and has no legal bearing on significance.” We are encouraged that the international community is seized of this matter and has encouraged Venezuela to release our Guyanese nationals and their fishing vessels and to desist from actions that violate international law and threaten the peace and stability of the region.

Guyana values highly the support which it has received and continues to receive from individual member states of the international community such as Belize, Brazil, Canada, France, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and the United

States of America, as well as through regional and international groupings of CARICOM, the OAS, the Commonwealth, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union in its strenuous endeavours to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

FRANCE SUPPORTS GUYANA ON THE “FISHERMEN’S DETENTION” BY THE VENOES! Ambassador of the French Republic to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana – His Excellency Antoine Joly, Wednesday called on Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Hon. Hugh Hilton Todd. They discussed the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation, among other mutual areas of interest.

Minister Todd provided an update on the Government’s ongoing

efforts to ensure the early release of the crew and vessels following their detention by Venezuela on January 21, 2021. He said that Guyana would continue to apprise the international community as events unfolded.

Ambassador Joly conveyed the support of France with Guyana on this matter. He expressed his solidarity with the detained fishermen and their families.

The Foreign Minister

alluded to the efforts underway by Guyana and Suriname to bridge the Corentyne River thereby connecting the Guiana Shield.

The Ambassador conveyed France’s interest in the project and underscored the importance of infrastructure in regional development. Minister Todd welcomed France’s expression of cooperation and interest in investment.

The Minister and

Ambassador also discussed the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic, and possible areas of cooperation including technical cooperation, education, and military training.

Guyana and France established diplomatic relations on June 22, 1967. The relationship between the two countries also covers the engagement between Guyana and French Guiana.

People are central to the PPP/C Govt’s programmes, policies – Minister McCoy

of the Prime Minister – Hon. Kwame McCoy says the people are the focus of the PPP/C Government’s programmes and policies, and it has ably demonstrated that since taking office in August.

While the Government Minister of Public has embarked on largeAffairs within the Office scale projects to transform

and modernize Guyana, the Minister said it has also been addressing challenges at the community level, which have affected people for years.

“We will never take all the confidence the people placed in us; we will never misuse it. We

will never treat people in a way that suggest we have no care and concern for their wellbeing,” Minister McCoy said, during an interview with US-based broadcaster Mr. Farook Juman on Wednesday.

The Minister said what distinguishes the PPP/C from the Coalition

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is its response to the people’s needs. Now, even in Opposition, the Coalition has done nothing constructive, he said. Their very actions or inaction have suggested that they have no interest in the people of Guyana.

“We have a duty as a party in Government, to

make sure that we never falter along those lines.

We stick to our promises.

We deliver to people. We are there with then in thick and thin. We understand people’s issues, and the most important thing is that we are always doing for the people,” Minister

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Guyana Post Friday January 29, 2021

Govt’s narcotics amendment bill removes jail time for small amounts of marijuana -counselling, community service proposed -reoffending and prison overcrowding addressed

The Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs has released the amended Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2021, which will see persons in possession of 15 grams of cannabis or less being given mandatory counselling.

Currently, possession of 15 grams or less could attract a prison sentence between three to five years and a fine of no less than $30,000!

The amendments are meant to reduce the

burden on the justice system, the amendment bill states. It covers issues like marijuana possession, recidivism and prison overcrowding.

This would not only save the State money, but would also help to keep families together and rebuild communities affected and disadvantaged by the incarceration of persons, especially youth.

Clause 4 of the Bill amends section, 4(1) and (2) of the Principal Act. It now excludes from the offence of possession of any narcotic, defined to

include cannabis, under subsections (1) and (2), to simple possession. This however, cannot exceed the specified amount listed separately under the new subsections (2A) and (2B).

“Under the new subsection (2A) the possession of a quantity of cannabis or any substance held out to be cannabis which does not exceed fifteen grams is punishable by mandatory counselling for a period to be determined by the counsellor,” the document stated.

Further, under (2B) the possession of any quantity of cannabis or any substance thought to be cannabis which exceeds 15 grams but does not exceed 30 grams, is punishable by community service. This includes employment in

by Felecia Valenzuela

a public work under the Extra-Mural Work Act, Cap. 11:02, for a period not exceeding six months.

“Public work is defined by section 2 of the ExtraMural Work Regulations, Reg. 8 of 1998, to include any work on State or Government land or any property belonging to, or rented or leased to the State or with the permission of a local government authority, on any land or any other property belonging to, or rented or leased to, the local government authority.”

Clause 5 of the Act has also been amended.

Section 5(2)(e) has been amended to increase the quantity of cannabis, in relation to the burden of proof being placed on a person to prove that the person is not in possession of cannabis for

the purpose of trafficking.

This concerns an amount more than 30 grams. The amount in the Principal Act is 15 grams.

Clause 6 amends section 12 to remove the fine and term of imprisonment for the smoking, inhaling, sniffing, or otherwise using cannabis, being found in a place used for that purpose, or being the owner, occupier, or concerned in the management of any place used for preparation of cannabis for that purpose.

Further, while the clause removes the fine and term of imprisonment for smoking cannabis in places where cigarette smoking is also banned, it imposes a $10,000 fine for a first offence and a $20,000 penalty for a second and subsequent offences.

Finally, the bill also caters for those instances where an offender may refuse to consent or breach an order of mandatory counselling or community service. The amended Act would grant the court the discretion to order the offender to pay a fine of $250,000 where it sees fit.

People are central to the PPP/C Govt’s program.....

Con’t from Pg5 McCoy said.

Under the previous administration, only a small group of people benefitted.

On the other hand, the PPP/C Government presented an emergency budget in 2020 that helped all Guyanese, after just a few months.

The Minister referred to the Government’s $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash

grant, the $15,000 per student school grant and a range of provisions such as the removal of value-added tax (VAT) on water and electricity, the removal of corporate tax on private education and private healthcare, the removal of VAT on all exports and the reversal of land lease fees.

Minister McCoy also noted that the Government implemented

a coordinated approach to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. This was evident with the massive increase in testing and the acquisition of more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines to conduct the test.

The Minister also highlighted the Government’s inclusive approach to development.

In preparing for the 2021 budget, President

Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali consulted the small political parties. The only party absent was the APNU+AFC Coalition, which rejected the invitation, The Minister said.

Minister Mc Coy added that the PPP/C Government’s inclusionary leadership style goes beyond political parties. “We believe strongly that you cannot

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build a country with the absence of these things.

Otherwise, we will end up speaking to ourselves if we do not include and involve people. We are working for people; we are working to develop people, it is them we have to communicate with to have their ideas and their input,” the Minister said.

Since taking office, President Ali has held

three massive outreaches in Region Two, Six and Ten. Additionally, Government Ministers have embarked on outreaches countrywide for continuous engagement at the community level.

Guyana Post Friday January 29, 2021

COVID-19 Update January 28

The Ministry of Health recorded 34 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday January 27. One case was recorded in Region One, seven in Region Three, 21 in Region Four, one in Region Five, three in Region Seven and one in Region Ten. The total number of recorded cases in Guyana is now 7,380.

The COVID-19 death

toll has increased to 175 with the death of a 65-year-old man from Region Five on January 27. There have been 11 deaths recorded so far in the month of January.

As of January 27 there have been 47,358 persons tested for the virus. 6,488 persons have recovered leaving 717 active cases in the country.

“Who’ll be answerable”: Shoaib Akhtar questions Fawad Alam’s omission from Pakistan team for more than a decade!

Former Pakistan pacer – Shoaib Akhtar has asked who will be held responsible for the omission of the dynamic batsman from the national side?

The return of Fawad Alam in Test cricket after a decade has rejuvenated the batting line up of Pakistan.

In the ongoing first Test against South Africa, he played a fighting 109-run

knock after the hosts were left reeling at 27/4 in the first innings.

While Fawad is getting praised for his century against South Africa, former Pakistan pacer – Shoaib Akhtar has asked who will be held responsible for the omission of the dynamic batsman from the national side?

“Another 100 by @

iamfawadalam25.

So I’d like to know who will be answerable for not selecting him all these years? Great determination!” Earlier, Fawad had said that he was only focusing on honing his skills while playing domestic cricket in Pakistan.

“I’ve never blamed anyone. I have always been saying that fate

had this for me. That if it was in my destiny, then nobody could have taken it away from me.

I was only focusing on doing well in whatever opportunities I get to the fullest, even if its domestic cricket,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Fawad as saying.

Between 2009 and 2020, Pakistan played 88 Test matches but Fawad wasn’t given an

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opportunity. However, the left-hand batsman made most of the break and slammed 26 first-class hundreds and 33 fifties at an average of 56.48.

Despite being away from the international side for more than 10 years, Fawad looks forward to “redeem” himself on the field in whatever time he is left with. “I don’t think about the 10 years going

to waste. How can I say all the runs and records made in domestic cricket went in vain?.

“I’ve got enough respect and I want to redeem myself in whatever time I’ve left in cricket. Maybe I may get more success than what I’ve earned, so I can’t complain and I’m happy about the success,” said Fawad.

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