Guyana Post Newspaper

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ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER

Friday July 9, 2021

GUYANA’S FLAG ON GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF – PRESIDENT ALI

PM THREATENS NO CONFIDENCE MOTION

HAITI’S POLICE KILL FOUR SUSPECTED AGAINST HARMON, SENIOR COUNSEL SCOFFS ATTACKERS, ARREST TWO AT THE IDEA

Friday July 9, 2021

GUYANA’S FLAG ON GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF – PRESIDENT ALI His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, has declared that as a show of respect for the late President of Haiti, His Excellency Jovenel Moïse, national flags at all Government Ministries, Agencies, and Institutions, will be flown at half-staff.

The Golden

Arrowhead is to be flown at half-staff today, Thursday, Friday, and on the day of the funeral of the late Head of State.

That date is yet to be announced.

Other CARICOM member states have agreed to do the same.

President Moïse was assassinated in the early hours of Wednesday morning at his home.

HAITI’S POLICE KILL FOUR SUSPECTED ATTACKERS, ARREST TWO

A deadly gun battle between police and the men suspected of assassinating Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse has been raging in Portau-Prince. Jovenel Moïse was killed when attackers stormed his home in Portau-Prince.

Police chief Léon Charles said four suspects had been killed and two detained but some remained at large and that a manhunt was still underway.

“They will be killed or captured,” the police chief said.

Mr. Moïse, 53, was fatally shot and his wife was injured when attackers stormed their home early on Wednesday.

Police chief Charles described dramatic scenes as officers confronted the alleged assassins.

“We blocked [the suspects] en route as they left the scene of the crime,” he told a news conference.

“Since then, we have been battling with them.”

Officials say the suspects are well armed and had taken three police officers hostage. The police officers have since been freed.

Mr. Charles urged residents to stay indoors for their own safety.

The acting prime minister, Claude Joseph, has described Haiti as being “in shock” after the killing of Mr. Moïse.

Heavily armed assassins

stormed the president’s home in the hills above Port-au-Prince around 01:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

Mr. Moïse died at the scene. The president’s body had 12 bullet wounds, Magistrate Carl Henry Destin told Le Nouvelliste newspaper.

He said the president’s office and bedroom were ransacked and that he was found lying on his back, covered in blood.

First Lady Martine Moïse has been flown to Florida where she is said to be in a critical but stable condition.

The couple’s three children, Jomarlie, Jovenel Jr, and Joverlein, are reportedly in a “safe

location”, officials said.

Mr. Destin said that Jomarlie had survived by hiding in her brother’s room, while two domestic staff members had been tied up by the attackers.

What do we know about the gunmen?

Police chief Charles gave no further details of the attackers, who he called “mercenaries”, nor did he say what the motive may have been.

Mr. Joseph said they were “foreigners who spoke English and Spanish”. Haiti’s official languages are Creole and French.

Haiti’s communications minister later said there were Haitians among the suspects.

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Video released after the shooting purports to show heavily armed men dressed in black outside the residence shouting in English: “DEA [US Drug Enforcement Administration] operations, everybody stays down!”

Haiti’s ambassador to the US, Bocchit Edmond, said that while the attackers had disguised themselves as US drugs agents, he believed there was “no way” they really were US agents.

Haitians mostly heeded the call by the interim prime minister to remain calm and stay indoors.

Mr. Joseph has declared a two-week state of emergency, which allows for the banning of gatherings and use of the military for police roles, along with other extensions of executive powers.

The UN Security Council is set to hold a closed-door meeting on Thursday.

It has condemned the assassination, calling on all parties to remain calm and avoid further instability.

World leaders also condemned the killing.

Pope Francis said it was a “heinous murder”.

Even before President Moïse’s assassination,

the situation in Haiti was marked by instability and there had been widespread protests demanding his resignation.

Parliamentary elections should have been held in October 2019 but disputes delayed them, meaning Mr. Moïse had been ruling by decree.

During his four years in office, the president had six prime ministers and on Monday, a day before he was killed, he had nominated a seventh, Ariel Henry.

But Mr. Henry had not yet been sworn in, leaving his predecessor, Claude Joseph, in charge.

Mr. Joseph has said he will take control until elections can be held. But in an interview with Le Nouvelliste on Wednesday, Mr. Henry insisted he and not Mr. Joseph was the prime minister.

Haiti’s constitution says the president of the Supreme Court should take over in the event of a presidential vacancy.

However, Chief Justice René Sylvestre died of Covid-19 weeks ago.

The US said it believed elections should go ahead this year, to bring about a peaceful transfer of power.

Friday July 9, 2021

PM threatens No Confidence motion against Harmon, Senior Counsel scoffs at the idea

One day after Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon NoConfidence Motions (NCMs) against two People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government Ministers, Prime Minister Retired

Brigadier Mark Phillips has given notice that he intends to slap Harmon with an NCM of his own.

Phillips is demanding Harmon’s immediate resignation from the position of Leader of the Opposition.

Phillips is also critical of the Opposition Leader’s “recklessly misinformed the public and the National Assembly” when it comes to the Covid 19 vaccine, its efficacy, and its acquisition by the government.

This is a reference to Harmon’s recent

campaign against the Government’s acquisition of Sputnik-V vaccines, during which he even called for a halt to the distribution of the vaccine.

According to Phillips, Harmon’s actions endangered lives and increased vaccine hesitancy among an already vulnerable population.

But Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde has scoffed at the Prime Minister.

The Opposition Members of Parliament have every confidence

in the Leader of the Opposition. The PPP is not only desperate but is also seeking to pervert the Constitution and inject into it that which it does not provide for.

The Leader of the Opposition in accordance with Article 184 of the Constitution is elected by the non-governmental members of the National Assembly.

Further, the Leader of the Opposition can only be removed by a majority of the non-governmental members of the National Assembly.

By definition, the

Leader of the Opposition does not have to enjoy the support of the Government members of the National Assembly.

Unlike, the two incompetent installed ministers – Dr. Frank Anthony and Robeson Benn – they are to enjoy the confidence of the National Assembly.

Any attempt by the PPP to file a noconfidence motion against the Leader of the Opposition will be baseless, frivolous, unconstitutional, vexatious, and an

abuse of the National Assembly. The Speaker will have no basis to allow such a motion and will have no choice but to discard it.

The installed Prime Minister, Mark Phillips, in whose name it is reported the purported motion is to be filed may wish to allow himself the benefit of advice and guidance from credible constitutional experts and legal minds of which there appears to be a considerable and growing deficit within the ranks of the PPP.

Man held trying to rape homeless woman

The screams of an elderly homeless woman have led to the arrest of a young man, who was at that time allegedly

raping the woman at the LaPenitence Market.

The report is that just after 19:00hrs yesterday, a woman who reportedly

in her 80 eighties began to scream for help in the Saffon Street, LaPenitence Market area. She was later recused by persons

passing by.

That, however, not the case at first. People during the initial stage of the incident thought it was a couple but upon closer introspection, saw that woman was resisting.

Subsequently, as someone yelled at that young man he tried to run but was later caught by some passersby and handed over to the police.

He was later escorted to a nearby police station, where an investigation was launched into that entire ordeal.

Man kills uncle over plantains

A 27-year-old man allegedly killed his uncle by repeatedly hitting him with a piece of wood during a dispute over some plantains the info@guyanapostonline.com

assailant took.

Now dead is 51-yearold Aubrey Jonas called Baddja, a farmer of Phoenix, Leguan.

Reports are that

just after 14:55 hours yesterday, the incident occurred on Leguan Island, Essequibo River.

It was explained by the now-dead Jonas’s

23-year-old niece that at the time of the incident she observed the suspect enter the now deceased’s farmland and picked some plantains.

Shortly after, Jonas came out the backdam with a cutlass in his hand and asked his nephew to say who gave him permission to pick the plantains.

That sparked an argument and subsequently, they both left and went their separate ways.

Shortly after, the suspect armed himself with a knife and went to

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the Phoenix koker and sat. As Jonas was walking past him heading into the village, they started arguing again.

Jonas then allegedly hit the suspect with his cutlass on his leg. This resulted in the suspect going into his mother’s yard and arming himself with a piece of wood which he used to deal several lashes to Jonas’s head, resulting in injuries.

The suspect then made good his escape on foot, while Jonas was picked up by his niece, who had videoed what transpired.

Jonas was taken to the Leguan Cottage Hospital.

It was there while being treated for his injuries, the Jonas eventually succumbed about 16:00 hours.

At about 17:00 hours, acting on information, police went to an abandoned house in Phoenix, Leguan, where the suspect was contacted, told of the allegations, and arrested.

The body of Jonas is said to be lying at the Leguan Cottage Hospital Mortuary awaiting a Post Mortem Examination.

The decomposed body of a Tailor

Thursday July 8, 2021

Corentyne.

Reports suggest so far suggest that the Father of three went missing on the 4th July during his regular venture to the back dam.

This resulted in a searched party being formed by the Family in which the crew turned up empty-handed. Days after, a farmer while heading into the number 43 back dam was met with a foul odor and upon investigating discovered the remains of the missing sailor.

The Farmer later then alerted other residents close by who then later contacted the police and Immediately an identified as 57-yearThe decomposed Backdam four days’ was body of a Tailor was this after He went missing. old Floyd Austin, a investigation launched. morning found a Berbice The dead man has been tailor of Empson village

BK GROUP OF COMPANIES DONATED FLOOD RELIEF TO CDC

CDC’s Logistics Officer, Captain Michael Andrews receives donations from the Director of BK Group of Companies, Mr. Brian Kyle Tiwarie.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) today received a sizeable donation from the BK Group of Companies.

This donation will help the Commission’s nationwide flood relief efforts, according to the CDC. The donations which include flour, sugar, rice, and pasta were handed over to CDC’s Logistics

Officer, Captain Michael Andrews in the compound of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG).

Director of BK Group of Companies, Mrs. Briony Tiwarie-Gabriel said that the company feels obligated to support the effort of the CDC, noting that no one should endure such disaster.

“It’s our corporate responsibility to give back. We are happy to make our contribution to the flood victims and we will continue to do what we can in order to assist our fellow Guyanese,” Mrs. Tiwarie-Gabriel said.

Since the massive flood countrywide, the CDC has implemented several measures

to ensure the lives of citizens return to normalcy.

The government has conducted a number of flood assessments in affected communities and immediate interventions were made to lessen the impact. Additionally, thousands of food and sanitation hampers have Director of BK Group of Companies, Mrs. been delivered Briony Tiwarie-Gabriel

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Thursday July 8, 2021

BK International seals Mahaicony sea defence breaches within months …awaits certificate of completion

Guyana’s leading sea defence contractor, BK International, consolidated its performance record when it completed over one kilometer of government sea defence within months of the contract awards.

The Atlantic Ocean has been attacking the coastline for decades, forcing sea defence maintenance and new sea defence works from the Essequibo Coast to the Corentyne Coast.

The most recent work completion by BK International involved sea defence breaches at Content, and Danzig, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

The Atlantic had created breaches that threatened homes and farmlands in the Mahaicony district. Two contractors, MB Construction and Ryasstad, had been awarded the contracts to seal the breaches.

After months of laboring they could not seal the

breaches. The residents of the area became angry and frustrated.

During that time the government summoned BK International and entered into an agreement with BK International for the supply of 20,000 tons of boulders on November 1, 2019, to conduct emergency works.

The contract also involved the contracting company completely rehabilitate the earthen embankment.

On December 31, 2019,

the government amended the original contract for 20,000 tons of boulders to include an additional 10,000 tons. The breach was still not sealed.

The government in desperation, turned to BK International to take control of the works.

The saltwater from the Atlantic had already caused havoc among the residents at Mahaicony.

Crops were lost and livestock killed.

Emergency works were necessary. The contracts with MB Construction and Ryasstad were cancelled and awarded to BK International.

On June 16, 2020, the government further

amended the two supply contracts it awarded BK International. The company was now required to seal 450 metres of sea defence at Danzig, Mahaicony. The contract also entailed rehabilitating the existing boulder slope. This contract was completed on May 12, 2021.

As this work was progressing the government contracted BK International to seal a further 500 metres of sea defence, this time at Content, Mahaicony. This contract was also signed on June 16, 2020.

Chief Engineer Ganesh Sawh said that the 500-metre breach

at Content, Mahaicony, was sealed within five months, on November 2020. However, design flaws saw overtopping and more flooding of the homes and farm lands in the community.

Mr. Sawh said that the design was not resilient.

The entire 500 metres had to be re-done. It took the company a further seven months to correct the design and to seal the breach. This was achieved on June 21, 2021.

The company, on completion of the works, supplied the government with the two notices of completion. It is still awaiting the certificate of completion.

Two charged with taxi driver murder, one reportedly confesses

Seyon James

Kenty Bacchus

Two men who were reportedly fingered in the brutal killing of a taxi driver during a robbery and later dumping his body in the Ogle area have been charged and remanded to jail for murder.

The two Kenty Bacchus, called ‘Trini’, and Seyon James, called

info@guyanapostonline.com

‘Lil Alfey’ appeared before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and were both not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that the two on June 30, 2021, at Block 1 Ogle, East Coast Demerara, murdered

53-year-old taxi driver, Kenrick Trim, during the course and furtherance of a robbery The two were later remanded to prison until August 6, 2021.

Reports are that the body Trim, of Belfield Housing Scheme; East Coast Demerara, was found just after 9:00 am

the said morning. It was believed that he may have been dumped there with stab wounds and a battered body.

An examination of the body found that Trim had multiple stab wounds about his body. There were bloodstains on the mouth and around the nostrils.

His car was also reportedly found a short distance away from the body with the key still in

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the ignition and the radio on.

It was during the investigation that police then nabbed one suspect who revealed that he had linked up with the other suspect while serving prison time for simple larceny of a cell phone.

The confessor then noted that on the day of the incident he was picked up from the bus park and two went to a snackette located at Carmichael Street to purchase something to eat.

The confessor reportedly told police that he told the other man that he was in need of a place to stay since he was homeless at the time.

Subsequently, after spending some time at the snackette the two then stopped a car that Trim was driving and they both entered.

It was further explained by the confessor that he was seated behind the driver and the other man was seated behind the front passenger seat. He reportedly said that as they got to Ogle one of them grabbed the taxi driver by his neck and choked him “until he passed out.”

They then pulled the deceased over to the back seat but he was still moving so one of them dealt the taxi driver several stabs about his body.

Shortly after, the two removed the valuables from the man, threw out the body, and later parked the car in another spot. The murder weapon was discharged in some bushes nearby while the two subsequently escaped on foot to a minibus close to the area.

Thursday July 8, 2021

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