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Friday March 19 , 2021
CID calls in Cevon’s boss over Mandela Avenue land deal
GPSU approaches President GDF RANKS CHARGED Ali over public servants pay FOLLOWING RAPE ALLEGATION AT MABARUMA increase
Guyana Post Friday March 19, 2021
CID calls in Cevon’s boss over Mandela Avenue land deal
AFC Government. The contention is that he had no authority. However, since then, Mr. Archer has maintained that the land was acquired in a legal manner and was purchased at a price following the evaluations. Mr. Archer added that
Attorney at law, Neil Boston, who accompanied Mr. Archer to the CI
One day after, Former CEO and Commissioner of the Land and Survey, Trevor Benn, was called in by the Central Investigation Department for questioning in relation to two land deals, Cevons Waste Management boss, Morse Archer, has been called in also, to give a statement on Mandela Property Matter. Just yesterday, Mr. Benn grilled by ranks of the CID Headquarters in relation to the Land
owned by Archer on Mandela that was bought was reportedly bought for double the price following an evaluation, and, on the other hand, he was also questioned in relation to the Aubrey Barker Road Property that was leased by the land and survey. Attorney at law, Neil Boston, who accompanied Mr. Archer to the CID said that it seems as if the Force is trying to use a statement made by Mr. Archer as
evidence of an alleged crime committed by Benn. “Well, I’m of the opinion that they are seeking to ascertain information from him to see in what way it could be their perspective of alleged misconduct by the former commissioner of Land and Survey… That’s all. “They probably want to see if the statement that he gives will be in support of what they perceived a crime committed by
Mr. Benn,” Mr. Boston said He added that notwithstanding the request he has advised his client not to do so until the next day since the ranks had noted that Mr. Archer is not a suspect and that they only wanted a statement with a layout of how Mr. Archer acquired the land. Attorney General Mr. Anil Nandlall, who just over a month ago wrote the Mr. Archer sought
his removal from the property by March 31 due to it being seen as land gifted by the past Government to him or face the court, Mr. Nandlall further noted that the land which Mr. Archer occupies was sold by Mr. Benn in his capacity as commissioner under the former APNU-
there is no need to settle the matter in court and requested to hold talks with the Government on how he acquired the land. Mr. Nandlall has since then contended that the land deal will be looked at in order to see if the deal was a genuine investment.
emphasized that for the past two years, there has not been any increase for public servants. He said this has occurred even as the union continues to make its proposal to them, though it’s an assessment of what is needed for the survival of public servants in these times. As such, the union had a letter written to the highest office in the land seeking intervention into the matter in order to avoid a dispute over the matter with the union, conference hosted by the especially during the The Guyana Public President Irfaan Ali as salary for public servants GPSU, President of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Service Union is seeking it relates to the current for the past two years. “It was considered At the press union, Mr. Patrick Yarde, the intervention of neglect in the increase of
necessary to bring this matter to the attention of President Ali. So, a letter was sent to him for his interventions (so that) this matter is dealt with expeditiously and thanking him in anticipation cause we could see no reason why since he is the ‘President for all he would not want to help in this exercise,” Mr. Yarde said. According to the union, public service workers have had no increase in earnings since January 2019 which is more than two years ago. This approach comes at
GPSU approaches President Ali over public servants pay increase
Con’t on pg3
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Guyana Post Friday March 19, 2021
GDF ranks charged following rape allegation at Mabaruma
Four ranks of the Guyana Defence Force have been dismissed following allegations of rape at Mabaruma, Region One. Two officers were also implicated. A young woman had
reported that ranks from the Guyana Defence Force had raped her some time in February. The army issued a statement on February 14, last, to say that five ranks were implicated in a rape allegation.
incident. Later, the army announced that it had convened a Board of Inquiry into the incident. The Board completed its report this week. The findings, according to the army, have led to disciplinary actions taken against two Officers and four Other Ranks. “The BOI found that the ranks seriously breached operational orders while deployed on border duty and were therefore disciplined accordingly. Four of these ranks have since been dismissed and the disciplinary process is ongoing against the others,” the army stated. It added that the Guyana Police Force has charged and placed before the court three of those ex-soldiers in relation to the rape allegation. The fourth is awaiting a report from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
According to a report from Mabaruma, a group of girls was in a club. However, they were subsequently asked to leave by persons who knew them to be schoolchildren. The rape allegation followed that
GPSU approaches President Ali....... Con’t on pg2
a time when throughout the entire 2020 faced with the challenges of the infectious coronavirus and increases in the cost of living. The Union added that the public servants have been subjected to a variety of other encounters with no considerations of relief being given to the hardships they experience, or difficult economic circumstances they endured. Even though during this period there were increases in revenue in the government coffers. It was noted that the union has also looked at Budget 2021. It’s also revealed in the Estimates of Current and Capital Revenue and info@guyanapostonline.com
Expenditure 2021. “So we are waiting and hope that this matter will go smoothly because from previous experience one of the most difficulties that we have had with this government is paying money to have it resolved. “As you are aware, most of you are above the age in 1999; it took a 57-day strike to get this Government just to go to arbitration cause we disagree with what they propose and we say let us go to arbitration. We have a legally bound agreement to resolve the matter and they were even refusing to go to arbitration. “The result of the arbitration clearly manifested why they didn’t want to go to
arbitration because what they had put to us that they would have paid through a ten-year period, the result of the arbitration has shown that they could have paid more,” Yarde explained. The union’s proposals during the budget preparation were for the reduction of the rate of taxes paid by individuals (PAYE) as it remains is difficult to comprehend why there was no reduction in taxes and why is it that company taxes are at a flat rate of 25%, lower than PAYE lowest level which is 28% and increases to 40% after the next $120,000 approximately on all additional earnings. Adding to that, the Union submitted in its budget proposals
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for 2021 that the tax threshold should be $120,000. Thus far, the union has had no response to the proposal or inclusion of the requests in thebudget. The body said that it has written on the 11th March 2021 to the Permanent Secretary (PS) Public Service Ministry (PSM) Ms. Soyinka Grogan, as required by the Memorandum of Agreement between the GPSU and the Government of Guyana for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes, calling on the government to commence outstanding negotiations of wages, salaries and allowances for 2020 and 2021 for Public Service Workers in accordance with clause
Man gets 47 years for raping child
A 33-year-old man will spend his next 25 years behind after he was found guilty of raping an underage girl twice. The rapist, Ivor Laud, was on trial for the offense before High Court Judge Jo-Ann Barlow and a 12-member jury on two counts of rape. Laud had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges which stated that between March 1 and March 31, 2015, and August 1 and August 31, 2017, in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual penetration with the girl when she was just eight and ten-years-old respectively.
With the jury finding him guilty on both counts, he was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment on the first charge and 25 years on the second charge by Justice Barlow. The sentences will run concurrently Reports are that on the first day in question, Laud invited the young girl over and told her that he has something to give her. She then was taken to the bedroom, when he forced her on the bed and committed the act of raping her. The young girl in a statement said that she saw some whitish substance from his penis of which he told her to go home and wash it off. On the second occasion, Laud performed oral sex on the girl after he called her over to his home. He was found guilty of both offenses some two weeks ago. He was handed the sentence today after a probation report was presented to the court.
6 of the Agreement referred to above. Copies of the correspondence were forwarded to President Ali, Prime Minister Phillips, Minister of Finance Dr. Singh, and Minister of the Public Service Ms. Parag. On 1st September 2020 the submitted proposals to the Government and in the only meeting held on the 4th November 2020 between Union representatives and the Government delegation led by the Minister of Public Service Ms Parag, the Union was informed by the Minister that she had no mandate to discuss the matter of wages, salaries and allowances with the GPSU. The Guyana Public Service Union
subsequently submitted on February 3, 2021 extensive proposals to be considered for inclusion in the 2021 Budget. The Union was however not invited by the Minister of Finance to ventilate these proposals which were viewed as a departure of both pre and post elections commitment by this administration for inclusiveness. However, the Government has so far announced that an increase in salary will be dealt with in the range of $10 billion, which was reportedly set aside for the issue of public servants’ salary. The union says that this sum remains inadequate, since it is calling for an increase for the past two years in which it was absent.
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Guyana Post Friday March 19, 2021
Leader of the Opposition Harmon meets new Canadian High Commissioner
…raises the need for Berman at the Office new Voters List of the Leader of the Opposition, yesterday. Leader of the Mr. Harmon welcomed Opposition Joseph High Commissioner Harmon met with newly Berman to Guyana for appointed Canadian his tour of duty and High Commissioner extended best wishes for His Excellency Mark a successful sojourn.
The Opposition Leader also updated High Commissioner Berman on the general political situation in the country and a number of concerns of the APNU+AFC Coalition on a number of matters.
Among the matters discussed were: (i) Constitutional Reform and the role that the Canadian government has played in providing assistance in this regard and (ii) the need for a
16-year-old murder suspect for court today
A 16-year-old, who was named the prime suspect in the murder of a 10-year-old is set to appear in court today (March 18) With no Identification given, due to the age of the suspect, the Guyana Police Force has noted that the young man is set to make his first court info@guyanapostonline.com
appearance. This comes days after the force had been granted an extension by the court to keep the young man in custody. The 16-year-old alleged shot and killed Anthony Cort during the execution of a robbery under arms which occurred at C Field Sophia on March
11, 2021. Reports are that on the day, two bandits invaded the home and proceeded to rob those who were present of their valuables. The two bandits later carried the party up to the upper flat of the house and ordered more valuables.
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When the crew got to the upper flat, Cort at the same time came out of one of the bedrooms and he was shot to his left side chest. The two bandits then made their escape and it was through intelligence gathering that the prime suspect was later arrested.
new Voters’ List based on House-to-House registration as a matter of national priority and the role Canada can play in assisting in advancing this critical issue in light of Canada providing funding to GECOM. (iii) The widespread campaign of targeting and discrimination of Afro-Guyanese and the political opposition by the Irfaan Ali regime. Mr. Harmon also expressed the need for a resetting of the relationship between the Canadian High Commission and the political opposition. Mr. Harmon and High Commissioner Berman agreed that there is need for continued regular engagement. This meeting completes a triumvirate
of meetings between the Leader of the Opposition and the ABC countries. Mr. Harmon previously met separately with British High Commissioner Ross Denny and Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy Mark Cullinane. Mr. Harmon also briefed High Commissioner Denny and Mr. Cullinane on a number of matters of concern to the opposition. Mr. Harmon was accompanied by Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Amanza Walton Desir, MP; Khemraj Ramjattan MP; and Geeta ChandanEdmond MP. High Commissioner Berman was accredited on February 1, 2021.
COVID-19 kills 212
The Ministry of Health (MOH) regrettably informs that as of March 17, 2021, three people who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) died. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 212. The fatalities are a 42-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), and two 66-year-old men from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) who died while receiving
care at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit. The MOH expresses sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to render any assistance needed. The Ministry is also appealing to the general public to respect the confidentiality of the deceased and his family and to allow them to mourn their tragic loss in peace.
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Guyana Post Friday March 19, 2021
IS GUYANA HEADING FOR TOTAL BANKRUPTCY? Dear Editor, As a concerned senior citizen, I write this letter to draw the attention of those Bureaucrats, and to request that they inform all Guyanese in all walks of life, what could be expected for the future years ahead. Looking at what has been agreed to with Exxon, and as far as I can see, (please correct me if I am wrong) the Company takes half of all the oil produced, without any cost to themselves and no taxes whatsoever. I am sure their shareholders are going to say thank you so much, you stupid people. On the other hand, Guyana and more importantly, the people of Guyana, have to bear the total cost in every way, start-up, exploration, extraction, and even the toilet paper they use.( my apologies if I am incorrect), from half of the proceeds received from the sale of our crude. So, the question I am asking is what would be left for us Guyanese, if anything at all or with
bankruptcy. Let us look at the known factors. Guyana has received bills from Exxon for approximately US$6 billion start-up-costs and recently US$7 billion for the first year. My fellow Guyanese, we are talking of BILLIONS, not millions. Guyana has never had such a debt in its history. And it will get worse when the bills come in. I can remember my father telling me, the son never hangs your hat where you cannot reach. Now let us look at the income Guyana has received from its share of oil to date. Approximately US$280 million, I repeat millions, not billions. I would like to ask the Bureaucrats if they could kindly produce a graph of income and expected bills from Exxon for five years and ten years, to give Guyanese some idea of what could be expected. I will endeavour to do my own estimate based on the above-known figures, and extrapolate
and stand corrected. Production. Year 1. 100,000 bpd. Year 2. 100,000 bpd, Year 3. 150.000 b[d. Year 4. 300,000 bpd. Year 5. 300,000 bpd. Price per barrel estimated:- Year 2, $80 Year 3, $100. Year 4. 100. Year 5. $120 Shipments Year 1.- 4 Year 2.- 4 Year 3 – 6. Year 4 – 12. Year 5. – 12 I would assume expenses billed as estimated as follows:Year 1. US$7 billion; Year 2. US$6 billion; Year 3 US$6 billion. Year 4. US$10 billion. Year 5. $10 billion. Startup costs, US$6 billion. Total for 5 years $45 billion. Estimated and stand corrected. Estimated Income from shipments for 5 years Year 1. Already ready received $280 million Year 2. $320 million Year 3. $600 million Year 4 $1,200 million Year 5 $ 1,440 million Total: Income in 5 years approximated US$3,840 million. Billed costs $45 billion, or even let us be
conservative and take half of that figure and say that billed expenses is approximately US$22.5 billion and then compare that to the income of $3.840 billion. That is US$3.84 billion. I don’t think a further explanation is needed since we are looking at a loss of US$18.660 billion. Further, even if the Bureaucrats should sit around the table
One British man has died and four more have suffered a dangerous blood clotting condition
after being given the AstraZeneca vaccine, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed on Thursday. The five men, aged between 19 and 59, suffered from Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST), although the MHRA said they did not know if it had been directly caused by the vaccine. The MHRA urged people to continue getting the vaccine, adding that
the chance of suffering the condition after a vaccination was currently just one in a million. The condition is so rare that it is difficult to establish an underlying rate for the population. Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Dr Philip Bryan, MHRA Vaccines Safety Lead, said: “We have had five reports of a unique form of blood clot, Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis, concurrent with low blood platelets.
This is similar to some of the cases reported through Europe. “What we don’t know is whether these have been caused by the vaccines. We are working closely to determine this, because these illnesses do very rarely happen naturally. “We do know that after more than five million this is extremely rare – less than one in a million cases of this even after vaccination. “Covid disease is associated with significant
and Exxon would accept 50 percent of the cost expenses, Guyana would still be bankrupt. That is if we take billed expenses as $11.25 billion against an income of say approximately $4 billion for the period of 5 years. A loss of US$7.25 billion to Guyana and the same should apply to Exxon. Maybe that is the reason Exxon does not have
any expenses. It is common knowledge how the West African countries including Angola are now poorer and are receiving aid from the UN and the World Bank. I am of the view that Guyana would become one of the poorest in the world. Please prove me wrong. My question is what will become of Guyana and its citizens.
One British man has died and four more suffered blood clotting after AstraZeneca vaccine
info@guyanapostonline.com
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mortality. Both vaccines are highly affected. “And there is no proven causal association with what is still an extremely rare medical event.” The MHRA said the benefit of vaccines “continues to be positive” but they are reviewing the individual cases to see if there is a link with the AstraZeneca jab. The regulator said it was unclear if the men had underlying health conditions, although the lower age range suggests
that they may have been classed as vulnerable to be allowed an early vaccine. The experts said the cases were not linked to an individual batch. On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is to rule on whether the AstraZeneca vaccine is responsible for several cases of blood clotting. Several countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Sweden have paused their rollouts of the Oxford jab.
Guyana Post Saturday January 30, 2021
Email or text your letters to us we would be happy to have publish them ExxonMobil Oil Rig
adameharris@yahoo.com lendellnurse6995@gmail.com info@guyanapostonline.com
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