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Saturday, March 6, 2021

BUDGET 2021 PASSED WITHOUT OPPOSIT ION INVOLVE MENT

BOG says ScotiaVENEZUELA DENIES PRESENCE Bank sells to coy OF ITS JETS OVER GUYANA with no licence to operate in Guyana

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Guyana Post Saturday March 6, 2021

Statement of the Leader of the Opposition in response to President Irfaan Ali’s preconditions for consultation

I have taken note of media reports quoting President Irfaan Ali as saying that he will engage in no talks with me until I recognize the government and seeking to place the burden of responsibility with me for talks to occur.

I offer my considered rejection of this notion.

This is an absurd proposition and a continuation of the intransigence of the PPP regime is absolutely refusing to engage in dialogue.

I am, as I have been and as is well known, since being appointed Leader of the Opposition, prepared to meet with President Ali in the best interest of advancing the cause of the Guyanese people.

It continues to be clear as day that the PPP regime and President Ali have no interest in genuine consultation and dialogue; the president has no interest in all Guyanese whom he claims to represent;

he has no interest in One Guyana.

He is purely and adamantly concerned only with being in power and with less than half of Guyana who comprises the PPP supporters.

I have already outlined that the constitution of Guyana does not set pre-conditions for consultation and dialogue between the President and the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr. Ali and his handlers in the PPP can decide whether they want to put the country first, as I am prepared to do, or they wish to continue with their discriminatory, partisan and isolationist approach.

I have stated from the outset and I reaffirm now, once again, that I am prepared to meet with President Ali at a mutually convenient time in the interest of meaningful dialogue and consultation and with a view to

advancing the interest of the people of Guyana.

Finally, I reiterate the eight points with which I concluded my recent Budget Debate submission which in my view will move the country forward and which should form part of the agenda between the President and myself. i)​The PPP Government cannot function by just seeing red or green communities.

Our communities are made up of people. ii)​ We must agree that constructive engagement based on clear principles and broadened stakeholdership at the National, Regional, and Community level is a sine qua non for our development. iii)​We must immediately shift from ethnic marginalization and vindictiveness. iv)​We must agree to meet to cause redress on what has occurred.

Leader of the Opposition.Joseph Harmon

v)​We must agree to a collective focus on poverty and the plight of our poor citizens. vi)​ We must agree that there is a need for immediate and urgent protection of our sovereignty and

national patrimony. vii)​ We have no representation on the COVID-19 task force – which we believe must be expanded to include representation at a meaningful level.

Hardheartedness does

not reflect who we are as people. viii)​We must agree that there is an urgent need to update our Elections laws to ensure a List of Electors which reflect the reality of Guyana.

AFC Dismayed at Disintegration of Law, Order and Parliamentary Norms

The Alliance For Change is dismayed, distressed and disappointed with the unholy turn of events and disintegration of law,

order, and parliamentary norms as witnessed during the recent 2021 Budget debates and consideration of the Financial Estimates.

Daily, members of

the Opposition, and in particular women, were verbally accosted and abused and subjected to the worse forms of personal indignity that

no woman or Member of Parliament should have to endure.

Most, unfortunately, the AFC is shocked and dismayed by the consistent failure and refusal of the Speaker to intervene and provide protection to Members of the House.

A Speaker is elected to preside over the affairs of the National Assembly, and though there is a duty to ensure that the Government’s programmes are allowed to proceed, the protection and facilitation of the opposition is of equal importance. This has not

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been the case.

Things came to a head with the physical assault by a Government Minister of a female Member of Parliament, within the precincts of the National Assembly. The Speaker treated this matter very lightly and refused to ensure that there was an impartial investigation, in the interim, to ensure that the accused perpetrator was withdrawn from the House pending the outcome of the investigation.

The same Government Minister has repeatedly been referring to our young indigenous

female MP as a “Bartica Prostitute” in clear earshot of the Speaker and other MP’s without sanctions.

The AFC calls on the Speaker to do his job and to create an enabling environment for the people’s business to be properly conducted and signals that it is ready, willing, and able to participate in any discussions and deliberations that will lead to a return to normalcy, which is palpably absent now. Guyana’s parliamentary democracy is absent and urgent bipartisan attention must be paid to this crisis.

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BUDGET 2021 PASSED WITHOUT

OPPOSITION INVOLVEMENT

In a rather peculiar environment, Budget 2021 was passed in the National Assembly without the presence of the APNU-AFC Opposition to scrutinise the majority of the Ministries and Agencies.

Speaker Manzoor Nadir had disallowed the request of the Opposition to call for Government MP Kwame McCoy to leave the National Assembly

due to assault allegations on MP, Tabitha SaraboHalley.

The Speaker lamented that he could only remove the member by a motion.

That was also refuted, as opposition members continued their protest and later left.

As such, the budget 2021 which is set as $353.8 billion was passed, with a $29.2 billion set aside that is chargeable by law as

detailed and summarised in the schedule, in which a larger part of that sum will be used to service debts.

The budget was also passed along with all the necessary legislation to give effect to the measures outlined in the fiscal plan.

Speaking on the heels of the passing of the Budget, Senior Minister with the Office of the President Responsible for Finance, Ashni Singh,

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into a purchase and sale agreement with the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) to purchase its operations in Guyana.

The Bank of Guyana (BOG) notes that FCB

entered the said agreement without informing the BOG. FCB does not have a licence to operate in Guyana.

FCB has not submitted an application, in keeping

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Obesity Levels in CARICOM Countries Are the Highest Compared to the Rest of the World

said that he thanked all who contributed to the budget.

“I want to say thanks, not just to my staff but also the stuff of the various ministries who contributed so significantly to the …and Alarmingly High budget to the preparation of the budget, and in Our Children to preparation on Port of Spain, Trinidad consideration of the and Tobago. This year the estimates and the staff of Caribbean and the World the parliament office.” commemorated World Obesity Day on 4 March under the theme “Every Body, Needs Everybody”.

Obesity is no longer only a problem in developed countries but is now a critical issue for developing countries, including CARPHA Member States (CMS), especially since this disease is affecting a significant number of children.

The Caribbean has some of the highest rates of overweight and obesity in the Americas with adults ranging from 18.9% in Antigua and Barbuda to 31.6% in the Bahamas.

Alarmingly, overweight and obesity prevalence levels in children aged with the requirements of 5-9 years in CARICOM the Financial Institutions countries are increasing, Act 1995 (FIA), to the and highest in the Bahamas BOG to acquire control of at 39.5% and lowest in a bank (BNS) operating in Saint Lucia at 26.1%.[1] Guyana.

The prevalence of obesity in Caribbean children is

BOG SAYS SCOTIABANK SELLS TO COY WITH NO LICENCE TO OPERATE IN GUYANA

Bank of Guyana, issued a statement, yesterday.

That statement read: First Citizens Bank Limited (FCB) published a Notice in the Trinidad Guardian on its decision to enter

Guyana Post Saturday March 6, 2021

two to three times higher than in the World.[2] With the obesity epidemic in children and adolescents, the future seen through the risk factor lens for NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs) looks dismal, as these young persons will be the future working generation but living with higher rates of NCDs. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of persons with obesity, and other NCDs. It is not yet clear why there is a link between COVID-19 and obesity, however, increased susceptibility to respiratory problems, inflammation, and immunological disturbances in people living with obesity may all be contributing factors.

Obesity also has a number of NCD comorbidities such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease which have also been shown to increase the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.[3] Obesity is caused by a combination of genetic,

Guyana Post Saturday March 6, 2021

RAPE ACCUSED REMANDED

Accused, 38-year-old, Thurston Semple

A Tucville Resident who allegedly beat a Venezuelan National almost senseless after she refused to have sex with him has been remanded to prison on a charge of rape.

The Accused, 38-yearold, Thurston Semple, with no sign of emotion, appeared before the Chief Magistrate and was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.

According to the charge Simple between February 24 and February, 25 raped a Venezuelan National.

The Police Prosecutor strongly objected to bail noting that it’s not his first

Obesity Levels in CARICOM Countries Are the Highest..... environmental factors and behavioural factors, such as physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet.

However, the obesogenic environment, which is usually driven by factors outside of the individual’s control, makes the healthy choice the difficult choice to take.

Persons with obesity also face stigma and discrimination due to their weight that can lead to poor emotional well-being and low self-esteem.

Realising that a whole of society approach is necessary to reduce the burden of obesity and diet-related NCDs, CARPHA continues to support its member states and collaborate with regional and international organisations in an effort to minimize the impact of obesity in the Caribbean region.

Some initiatives spearheaded by CARPHA info@guyanapostonline.com

to combat childhood obesity include the SixPoint Policy Package which sets out priority areas for action on mandatory food labelling, nutritional standards and guidelines for schools, and reduction in the marketing of unhealthy foods.

CARPHA, in collaboration with Ministries of Health and Education in Grenada and Saint Lucia, implemented an intervention in schools to promote healthy environments and diets to prevent obesity and diabetes.

‘Reversing the Rise in Childhood Obesity’ was funded by the World Diabetes Foundation. As part of the project, a recipe book Kids Can Cook Too was developed to support the sustained healthy eating behaviours of children.

No single intervention will combat obesity. This is why “Every Body,

Needs Everybody”.

CARPHA joins the rest of the world in commemorating “World Obesity Day” to raise awareness and encourage the “whole of society approach” where everybody can work together for happier, healthier and longer lives for everybody.

Individuals can do their part by becoming more physically active by moving more and reducing the consumption of salt, fats and sugar and increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

CARPHA as part of its ongoing support to the Member States will continue to assist countries in developing and implementing tools to reduce obesity, especially childhood obesity, in collaboration with our development partners.

offense and that he might cause harm to the witness.

The Prosecutor Maintained that since this incident occurred other women have come forward with allegations against him.

Simple was remanded to prison until March 11.

According to reports, Simple was at Cummings and Robb Streets in the car. He left and later returned and requested to talk to the victim.

It was the two who agreed to a $10,000 fee in exchange for sex, The two later left and went to the man’s home in Tucville, where she sat on a bed smoking and subsequently took off her clothes.

A few moments later, the victim said she was experiencing some pain

and requested Semple to stop. He eventually stopped but later asked her to perform oral sex.

She said that she refused.

Annoyed with what had transpired, Semple went to the kitchen area, returned with a knife. placed it to her neck and threatened to kill her if she didn’t perform oral sex. She eventually did but later tried to escape, while she had the chance, through a window.

As she successfully got through the window and tried to escape Simple allegedly ran behind her and beat her mercilessly in the presence of neighbours, who were told to stay out “man and woman story” The Woman managed to escape for the second time on the public road

and was picked up and wrapped in a sheet before she was taken to the hospital and was examined by a doctor Semple was arrested and released from custody but was later arrested after the woman decided to talk to the media after she felt that she was not getting justice.

In court this morning, Semple claimed that the woman’s story was nothing but lies. He also added it was domestic violence that suddenly changed to rape and he doesn’t know about the other cases that he was accused of.

With such utterances, Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan asked that those words be added to his statement.

Husband killed, wife critical after car crash

A horrific accident in the Berbice area has left a husband dead, while his wife remains in critical condition in the Georgetown Public Hospital. The car in which they were traveling collided with a culvert.

The dead man has been identified as 33-year-old Vijay Jaigobin while the injured woman is identified as 30-year-old Sherry Alicia Jaigobin

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from Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.

Reports are that it was just after 5 PM Thursday afternoon the crash occurred when PYY 6586 was driven at a fast rate by Vijay.

He reportedly lost control of the car and crashed into a concrete culvert on the northern side of the road and then ended up in a nearby trench on the Berbice River Bridge Public

Road.

People quickly rushed to aid the couple by pulling them out of the wrecked car and later rush them to a nearby hospital.

Unfortunately, Vijay did not survive the crash while his wife was admitted as a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Police investigations are continuing at the moment.

Guyana Post Saturday March 6, 2021

VENEZUELA DENIES PRESENCE OF ITS JETS OVER GUYANA

As Guyana continues to condemn the aggression by the Venezuelan Government over the flying of two of its Fighter Jets unauthorized in Guyana’s airspace, the Government of the neighbouring republic has denied these claims and is accusing Guyana of painting a false narrative.

On Tuesday, two jets were seen flying over Eteringbang in Region Seven. Since then the Government of Guyana has condemned the actions of the Venezuela Government and has since summoned the Venezuelan Ambassador to formally protest the actions.

However, in a statement, the Venezuelan Government said that the Government of Guyana is trying to manipulate reality and order for others to have a negative impact on them. info@guyanapostonline.com

“The Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Relations of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela vigorously rejects the inaccuracies and false accusations contained in the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on March 3, 2021, with which they seek to manipulate the reality to feed a negative matrix against Venezuela in relation to the territorial controversy over Guayana Esequiba.” the statement mentioned.

The Venezuelan Government added that the Guyana Government is trying to generate a false account of what took place and what is deemed a regular border patrol.

“Once again, in a wild way, the Government of Guyana tries to generate false versions about the regular patrol operations

of the Venezuelan borders, carried out by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, strictly circumscribed to the undisputed Venezuelan territory, in order to appear alleged “act of aggression,” the statement added.

Additionally, the Government of Venezuela had noted that with the current dispute over the Essequibo no one can claim the regions as its own.

The two jets were photographed by residents in the Eteringbang area, flying at a very low altitude of 1500 feet. The fighter jets circled the location once before proceeding in an easterly direction.

The Venezuela Government continues to deny that the arbitral award that was agreed to back in 1899 when it was found that the Essequibo

belonged to Guyana, was null and void and has since continued to claim the region.

On 26 May 2015, Venezuela issued a decree titled Presidential Decree 1.787 of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

It was revised on 8 June 2015.

This decree laid claim to all the Atlantic waters off the Essequibo coast of Guyana and affected the maritime space of not only Guyana but also of a number of other countries nearby.

The Government of Guyana has moved to inform the international community of the aggression.

The ICJ has ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the matter but Venezuela continues to choose not to participate in any of the court proceedings.

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Two remanded for ganja trafficking

One day after ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit busted three individuals with close to 100 pounds of Marijuana stashed in a car, two were today remanded to prison.

The two, 33-year-old, Taxi Driver Veerasammy Armogan, called “Vishal” of 1779 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice and with Alma John, of 68 Glasgow Village, East Bank Berbice, both appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh.

The court heard that on March 3, 2021, at 68 Glasgow Village, East Bank Berbice, John trafficked 44.974 kilograms of cannabis.

She was caught with the drugs at Princess Elizabeth

Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice Between February 1, 2021, and March 3, 2021, at Lot 68 Glasgow Village, East Bank Berbice, and Crabwood Creek Public Road, Armogan aided John to traffic the said cannabis which was found during a search by CANU. The two pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded to prison until March 26.

Reports are that ranks of CANU had the car under their surveillance and it was on the day in the question while witnessing the exchange that the car was stopped and searched.

Three were later arrested but only two were charged today.

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