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Thursday, March 4, 2021

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MV BARIMA CATCHES FIRE IN PORT KAITUMA VENEZUELAN FIGHTER JETS OVERFLY GUYANA AT ETERINGBANG

Pg2 info@guyanapostonline.com

Guyana records another COVID-19 death

Guyana Post Thursday March 4, 2021

A blatant case of land giveaway goes unquestioned

It has been some time since I did one of these broadcasts. In fact, it has been almost six weeks. I became ill, very ill. For a man who boasted that he does not get sick, people could imagine the impact.

I had shivers, I felt weak; food tasted like cardboard in my mouth so that I didn’t eat for about four weeks.

I spent three days in hospital, underwent numerous tests and CT Scans and a whole regime of medical procedures. It turned out that I had contracted typhoid which I took for nothing and the infection followed.

I developed a clot in my liver and something by my pancreas. I was pumped full of antibiotics and only because some friends literally lifted me out of my house to hospital that I suppose I survived.

All is well that ends well. I lost about 25 pounds so that my daughter who raced home to ensure that I did not die said, “Me father you look horrible.” Those were the first words she said on seeing me two weeks ago.

When I returned to work a similar sentiment was expressed to me.

But my appetite had returned and pretty soon I started to gain some of the weight I lost.

And while all that was happening I could not help but notice that Anil Nandlall had mounted a campaign against people perceived to be opposed to the ruling People’s Progressive Party.

He started his attack with Brian Tiwarie, a man who was once close to the PPP. Courtney Benn soon followed. And those are only two.

It was not long before Anil tried to go after the head of Cevon’s Waste Management. This was a classic case of Anil just lashing out. He told Cevon’s that it had until March 1 to break down the multi-milliondollar structure that it had erected on Mandela Avenue.

Mr. Morse Archer, who heads Cevon’s, detailed the process he underwent before he constructed anything.

Then Anil changed his tune. Suddenly the land belonged to the National Sports Commission but the sports commission did not know. How did Anil know?

Anil was suddenly the poodle, according to Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who was chasing after those property that he perceived were given away by the coalition.

It mattered not that all the legal processes were followed.

Suddenly Anil concluded that the

lands were worth more than the price for which they were sold.

He has gone to court against one person whom he and his party hates. In fact, Anil and his government are doing everything to ensure that this individual gets no contract in Guyana.

And if anyone wants proof just look at the recent decision by the government to scrap a Caribbean Development Bank sea defence contract.

The bids went out and only one met the criteria. That was like putting smelling salts under the nose of a dying man. The eyes flew open and the contract was scrapped.

Other contracts had been scrapped before but only after they had been awarded.

In his budget presentation on Friday, Roysdale Forde, said that there was nothing wrong with going after property that appears to have been improperly gained.

Mr. Forde said that even if the Government wants to go after lands in the interest of fairness it must do so with a balance.

As such, Mr. Forde suggested that Government be fair in its investigation of land purchased by National Hardware under the Jagdeo Government.

Forde, who give details on the sale said that “On January 12, 2010, NICIL entered into an Amendment to an Agreement of Sale and Purchase with National Hardware signed on December 28, 2009, to sell the Property measuring 103.88 acres for the consideration of $598,659,398.

The price per acre sold to National Hardware ($5.8M) was substantially less than what National Hardware had bid for a similar property (approx.. 40 acres) in January 2009 in the same Liliendaal/ Pattensen area and where the highest bid received in January 2009 was $16.24M per acre.

That price had appeared inadequate by NICIL at that time. Also NICIL had received an offer of approximately $15.1M per acre for the said land when the property was advertised

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for Expressions of Interest in mid-2008.

On March 12, 2010, a Vesting Order # 4 of 2010 was signed by the Minister of Finance vesting the ownership from Government of Guyana via Guyana Lands and Survey Commission to NICIL. On March 20, 2010, Vesting order # 4 of 2010 signed on March 12, 2010, by the Minister of Finance was published in the Official Gazette – Legal Supplement – B dated 20th March 2010 On March 16, 2010, NICIL wrote Edward Boyer informing him that the 103 acres of land was vested to National Hardware as per the agreement of sale and requested the payment of outstanding balance of $540,659,398.

On June 1, 2010 NICIL wrote Mr. Edward Boyer, Managing Director

of National Hardware requesting the outstanding balance of $540,659,398 due since March 16, 2010 and that interest was accruing until paid.

Between October 29, 2010 and Dec 1, 2010 the balance was paid.

May 9, 2011, the transport for the property was issued to National Hardware.

In 2012, National Hardware sold Edward B. Beharry & Company Limited 16.615 acres of land for $495,085,500.

“Imagine 16.615 acres of land being sold for $495,085,500; the 16.615 acres forming part of same 100 acres which was sold for $$598,659,398 to National Hardware.”

It is surprising that Anil Nandlall has not gone after National Hardware. Perhaps it has something to do with kith and kin.

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Guyana Post Thursday March 4, 2021

CCJ dismisses appeal against name change at Ogle Airport

The Caribbean Court of Justice on Tuesday, dismissed a matter which challenged the former Government, APNUAFC, renaming the Ogle Airport the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

The matter was filed by Air Services Limited and others, who contended that the process of renaming

the Airport was not done well, since they were not properly consulted.

On May 9, 2016, the Ogle International Airport was renamed the Eugene F Correia International Airport. This sparked some level of debate.

The name change was approved by the Minister of Public Infrastructure but several operators

disagreed with it on the ground that there was no proper consultation.

Several airlines filed court proceedings noting that the Minister had a duty to consult with them before he proceeded with the renaming exercise.

They contended that such an undertaking would be harmful to them and their business interests.

However, Justice Denys Barrow, in delivering the judgment of the Court on Tuesday, found that the duty to consult in this case was done so in its fairness to the operator.

Justice Barrow insisted that according to the evidence, the Operators were consulted and were able to discuss the name change, among other

issues, at a meeting with the Minister on November 18, 2015.

He said that following that meeting, they provided a brief to the Minister of all the issues discussed, including the name change. In that brief, the submission in relation to the renaming required nothing more than to ‘Leave Ogle Airport name as it is.

Nothing provided by the Operators suggested that the Minister would not have understood the nature and substance of their objection.

The Court found that the Minister took their concerns seriously enough that he commissioned a legal review of the lease.

The Court thus held that there was no need for further consultations, as advanced by the appellants. This was a case where the appellants disagreed with the merits of the Minister’s decision,

for which the law gives no remedy.

When Ogle International Airport was officially renamed the Eugene F Correia International Airport on May 9, 2016, seven of the domestic airline services in Guyana and an association formed by them sought judicial review of the Minister’s approval of that name change.

The orders sought were refused by the High Court and the appeal against that decision was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

The applicants applied for special leave on August 25, 2020 to appeal the decision of the Court of Appeal on many grounds, but the CCJ granted special leave only on the grounds addressing whether the Minister had a duty to consult with the applicants before approving the suggested name change.

Human Services Ministry’s appalled at vicious attack on Spanish migrant

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security condemns the brutal attack of the Spanish migrant, whose horrific info@guyanapostonline.com

ordeal was published in the March 1 edition of the Kaieteur Newspaper.

Support staff from the Ministry visited the

survivor, on Monday. At the time the victim was meeting with Investigators from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to provide a

detailed statement.

A full investigation is underway by the Police with support from the Ministry to ensure that the alleged perpetrator is brought to justice. The Ministry wishes to urge other possible survivors, who may have been subjected to this and/or similar abuse, to make immediate contact with the Ministry.

The bravery of the mother of three is noteworthy as she fought to survive. The action of the neighbour who sought the intervention of the passing Police Patrol is also commendable.

The Ministry wishes to encourage members of the public to be vigilant and report all incidences of Gender-based violence and Human Trafficking

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immediately to the relevant authorities.

In December 2020, the Ministry launched a 914 toll free number for reporting all incidences of gender-based violence inclusive of rape, domestic violence and child abuse.

Meanwhile, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, yesterday morning, spoke with senior ranks of the police force on the initial response by its ranks and has requested a full investigation be carried out.

Minister Persaud has also committed to providing continuous training and support to the Force to ensure its members are equipped with the necessary skills to respond adequately to these inhumane crimes in a humane, responsible and

timely manner.

The Ministry also joins with the Guyana Press Association, who has since issued a public statement condemning the publishing of sensitive information, to unequivocally state that the publishing of identifying information is morally, ethically and legally wrong; an act the Ministry will not condone.

Law enforcement agencies, media houses and support staff are reminded of their legal responsibility to ensure that the identity of survivors of social crimes remain protected. The Ministry intends to host training sessions with reporters and editors to encourage safe reporting of sensitive issues.

Guyana Post Thursday March 4, 2021

MV BARIMA CATCHES FIRE IN PORT KAITUMA

everything remains under control. M.V. Barima remains at Port Kaituma in Region One. With the vessel down, commuters looking to travel from the Hinterland to the Coastland with their Cargo will be severely

affected for some time.

The Works Ministry notes that the Management of T&HD and officials from the Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Home Affairs are currently working as a matter of urgency to verify the source of the fire and the extent of damage done to the vessel.

Additionally, T&HD is also currently engaging external engineers to assist in conducting an immediate investigation into this incident and to provide a full report on the cause of the fire to the Ministry of Public Works and T&HD. All attempts will be made to ensure that the service is back in operation at the soonest possible time.

This is not the first time, MV Barima had some engine problems. Earlier this year the vessel had to be repaired. Those works were done and the vessel set to sail in the early part

of February.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill has maintained in the past that MV Barima had gone without critical maintenance and repairs for almost four years.

In an effort to increase the efficiency of water transport to and from Region One, the government recently inked a $2.6 billion contract with Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Limited from India, for the construction of an ocean-going passenger and cargo vessel to replace the MV Kimbia.

That new ferry, which is expected to be built and shipped to Guyana within a year and a half, is being financed through a line of credit and an accompanying grant from the Government of India.

Yet another COVID-19 victim has succumbed.

This death brings to 199, the number of Guyanese to have died from the pandemic.

The latest fatality is a 52-year-old female from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) who died while receiving

care at our medical facility.

Seven people have died within the last seven days.

A statement from t Ministry of Health stated that 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 her family and to allow them to mourn their tragic loss in peace.

MV Barima

After being repaired some month ago, and ventured soon after into operation, MV Barima has yet another engine Issue. This one caused a fire this morning.

According to the Ministry of Public Works and the Transport

& Harbours Department (T&HD), it was just around 11:30hrs when a fire broke out in the engine room of the M.V. Barima.

Reports suggest that while the cargo was being offloaded, a gas pump in the engine

room exploded. M.V. Barima departed Port Georgetown on Saturday, February 27, 2021, at 14:15hrs and arrived at Port Kaituma the following day.

With the help of residents in the area, the fire was put and

DJ sentenced to community service

After breaking the COVID-19 Measure, Popular DJ, DJ Negus Mcfarlane aka “Seen Up” and two others were today slapped with 40 hours of community service at Durban Park.

McFarlane pleaded guilty to the charge of breaking the guidelines by hosting a party when info@guyanapostonline.com

they appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan McFarlane are expected to complete 40 hours of community service and failure to do so will result in a three-week jail sentence.

On the other hand, DJ Delon Jennis, Salassie Mcfarlane and Keith

Fletcher on February 27, 2021, at Lodge, Georgetown, attended a party, in breach of the COVID-19 measures.

The two reportedly attended the party but pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted $5,000 bail and was ordered to return to court on March 22nd.

Guyana records another COVID-19 death

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Guyana Post Thursday March 4, 2021

Venezuelan fighter jets overfly Guyana at Eteringbang

Just months after Guyanese Fishermen would have cried out for help as the Venezuelan Military entered the Guyanese water and kidnapped them, two Fighter Jets suspected from the Venezuela Military entered Guyana’s Airspace unauthorized.

Authorities in Guyana are now probing the presence of the two unauthorized jets flying over Eteringbang in the Region Seven area. The

flights were captured by the Miners in the area.

According to the authorities, the Guyana Defense Force is currently looking into the matter.

This comes as Guyana continues before the International Court of Justice insisting that the 1899 arbitrary award had settled the boundary between the two countries.

Venezuela had maintained that the award was null and void and refused to participate in proceedings.

Since the presence of oil in Guyana’s Marine Space, on May 26 through a presidential decree Venezuela claimed that 1.787 of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela which was revised on June 8, laid claims to all the Atlantic waters off the Essequibo coast of Guyana.

This degree not only affected the maritime space of Guyana but also of others.

Even with the matter

before the court, Venezuela’s Navy has in recent time invaded Guyana waters, while kidnapping several fishermen claiming that they were in their waters.

Venezuela’s aggression continues to grow. Many nations have shown their support for Guyana, including the US and Canada.

And in a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana informed that on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at approximately 13:20 hrs., two Venezuelan army Sukhoi SU 30 fighter jets, overflew the community of Eteringbang and the air strip at a very low altitude of 1500 feet. The fighter jets circled the location once before proceeding in an easterly direction.

The Government of Guyana condemns this latest act of aggression

by the Venezuelan armed forces as a violation of the sovereignty of Guyana over the air above its territory.

The Government wishes to remind that this latest hostility follows closely on the heels of: (i) a Decree recently issued by President Nicolas Maduro which purports to establish maritime territory for Venezuela which encompasses Guyana’s territorial waters, EEZ and continental shelf, as well as its land territory west of the Essequibo River; (ii) the illegal interception and detention of two Guyanese fishing vessels and their crew in Guyana’s waters; and (iii) the resolutions of the Special Commission for the Defence of the “Guayana Esequiba” and Territorial Sovereignty which recommended the convening a session of this Special Commission to the Essequibo with

the assistance of the Venezuelan armed forces.

The incursion of our territory of the two Venezuelan fighter jets is a clear indication that the government of Venezuela is prepared to use aggression and intimidation to accomplish what cannot be accomplished by legal means- the surrender by Guyana of its patrimony.

The Government of Guyana exhorts the Government of Venezuela, and its agents, to behave in a manner consistent with international law and good neighbourly relations.

The international community will be kept informed of all actions undertaken by Venezuela to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana and threaten the peace and security of the region.

Scotia Bank sells its local assets

Following the decision to close its operation in Guyana and the Caribbean, Scotiabank today announced the sale of its operation to First Citizen Bank Limited In a statement today, the bank said that it has reached an agreement for the sale of its banking operations in Guyana

to First Citizens Bank Limited (“First Citizens”) an agreement that is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

According to the bank, the transaction supports Scotiabank’s strategic decision to focus on operations across its footprint where it can

achieve greater scale and deliver the highest value for customers.

The bank noted that Scotiabank’s current operations in Guyana encompass four branches and approximately 180 employees.

Following closing, all employees will continue to support the business and until

regulatory approvals are obtained and the transaction closes, Scotiabank’s operations in Guyana will continue as usual as First Citizens and Scotiabank will work together to facilitate a smooth transition for the business.

In November 2018, Bank of Nova Scotia

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trading under the name of Scotia Bank announced that it was selling its branches in Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Sint Maarten and St Vincent and the Grenadines to Republic Bank Financial Holdings {RBFH).

This came under the heels of the fact that the fourth-quarter earnings were marginally below expectations. The Bank said that it planned to exit nine countries in the Caribbean as part of a shake-up of its operations.

Since then the company had a backlash from a wide cross section of the public, as Republic Bank at the moment holds 35.5% of the Banking system’s assets and 36.5% of deposits.

With Scotia’s assets and

deposits, it would have had a monopoly.

First Citizens is said to be one of the leading financial services groups in the Englishspeaking Caribbean.

With its Headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago, First Citizens offers a full range of retail, corporate and investment banking services as well as wealth management, trustee and brokerage services to clients through its operations in Barbados, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

The transaction supports First Citizens strategic growth across the region and leverages its strengths in innovation and excellence to the benefit of all stakeholders.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post Thursday March 4, 2021

Regional News

Japan donates medical equipment valued at $260 million to Jamaica

K I N G S T O N , Jamaica— The Japanese government has donated medical equipment and supplies valued at approximately $260 million to support the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The items, which include mobile X-ray units, X-ray protective panels, ultrasound scanners, bedside monitors and defibrillators, will benefit hospitals across the parishes of Kingston, St Andrew, Manchester, Clarendon, St Ann and St James.

The donation falls under Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme.

Speaking at a virtual handover ceremony held at the Kingston Public Hospital yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, expressed gratitude for the items.

Johnson Smith said the equipment and supplies will “significantly boost the Government’s efforts to provide quality healthcare to its citizens during and beyond COVID”.

She thanked the Government of Japan’s for its pledge to contribute US$130 million to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility.

“This will undoubtedly help in securing access to vaccines by developing countries like Jamaica, ensuring that no nation is left behind,” she said.

The Senator said that the pandemic has demonstrated the interconnectivity of the global community and that a path to normalcy and productivity can be forged through “strong partnerships, diplomacy and collective action”.

State Minister for Health and Wellness, Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, in her remarks, said that the healthcare teams “are more than delighted to receive this gift of medical equipment and supplies,

which they will use in carrying out their duty of care to the Jamaican population”.

She noted that Japan’s contribution is happening at a time when hospitals are facing a sharp increase in admissions as the number of COVID-19 patients and infections rise.

Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, Masaya Fujiwara, for his part, said that medical cooperation and contributions continue to be a top priority for Japan.

He said that in order to overcome the pandemic, “multilateral cooperation schemes

such as the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator are of critical importance”.

ACT aims to speed up the development, production and ensure equitable access to new COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

“As such, we will contribute US$130 million to the COVAX facility to support the provision of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries, including Jamaica,” he pointed out.

The Ambassador said that the COVAX facility will play an important role in enabling Jamaica to inoculate as many nationals as possible.

No Country Safe Unless All Are Protected From COVID-19

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley addressing the virtual opening of the GCF (Green Climate Fund) Transformational Climate Financing for the Caribbean Region event on Monday.

(PMO) Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has again underscored the need for all countries to have access to COVID-19 vaccines to protect their citizens.

While addressing the virtual opening of the GCF (Green Climate Fund) Transformational Climate Financing for the Caribbean Region event on Monday, Ms. Mottley said no country

is safe unless every country is protected.

The Prime Minister told her audience: “This pandemic…sees some of us less able to access the critical therapeutics and vaccines needed to protect our citizens, because of the size of our countries, and therefore the scope of our power.

We confront the failure of the market daily with respect to this pandemic.

“Regrettably, we seem not to be able to acknowledge that until every country is safe, no country is safe.

And that does not in any way diminish the efforts that each country must take to be safe,

but it cannot replace the collective multilateral action to ensure that the global community is a beneficiary of vaccines across the world. COVID does not detect geography or nationality.”

Ms. Mottley stated that the Roofs to Reefs Programme would be Barbados’ sustainable development model for at least the next decade.

She said the programme had already identified at least US$1 billion of integrated projects across the housing, energy, waste and water sectors.

“That would represent a truly transformative

approach to lasting resilience; [and] that would prepare us for our future in a way that our past has not done. In this programme, you will find not just adaptation measures, but those investments that are required to also allow us to meet our target, by 2030, of being fossil fuel free. This is our mitigation target,” she explained.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley stressed that collective multilateral action is necessary to ensure that the global community is a beneficiary of COVID-19 vaccines.

(PMO) The Prime Minister said the Caribbean was on the frontline of the climate fight, and its focus was not only on encouraging countries to increase their mitigation, but also on adaptation and building climate resilience.She proffered the view that if the global community did not act quickly to make up for delays in financing commitments under the Paris Agreement,

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with respect to climate, then climate refugees fleeing imminent threat of sea level rise and devastation from disaster would be every country’s responsibility.

“This is why Barbados and the Alliance for Small Island States have called for more financing dedicated to adaptation.

This is not meant to decrease the amount of finance dedicated to mitigation or to reduce the commitment of small island developing states to mitigation targets….

We call for a significant increase in overall climate finance.

“Keeping warming below 1.5 degrees will require tremendous investment, in both the developed and

developing world, to transition energy and transport sectors to renewable energy,” Ms. Mottley asserted.

The Prime Minister said developing countries welcomed the positive signs that the size of adaptation projects funded by the multilateral funds serving the Paris Agreement were increasing, whether the Adaptation Fund, the Green Climate Fund or Global Environment Facility.

She praised the Green Climate Fund for its commitment to allocate at least 50 per cent of its pledged funds to adaptation over the first replenishment period, up to December 2023.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post Thursday March 4, 2021

International News

MYANMAR SEES DEADLIEST DAY AS 38 PROTESTERS KILLED

At least 38 people were killed in Myanmar on Wednesday in what the UN described as the “bloodiest day” since the coup took place a month ago.

UN envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener said there was shocking footage coming

out of the country.

She also said it seemed likely security forces were shooting with live bullets.

Mass demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience have been taking place across Myanmar since the military seized control on 1 February.

Protesters have been calling for the release of elected government leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who were overthrown and detained in the coup, and an end to military rule.

The latest violence comes a day after Myanmar’s neighbours

urged the military to exercise restraint.

‘They just came out and started to shoot’ Ms Schraner Burgener said at least 50 people had now been killed “and many wounded” since the coup began.

She said one video clip showed police beating

an unarmed volunteer medical crew. Another showed a protester being shot and very likely killed on the street, she said.

“I asked some weapons experts and they could verify to me, it’s not clear but it seems that the police weapons like 9mm submachine guns, so live ammunition,” she said.

Reports from inside Myanmar spoke of security forces opening fire on large crowds in a number of cities, including Yangon, with little warning.

Two boys, aged 14 and 17, were among those who were killed, Save the Children said. A 19-year-old woman was also said to be among the dead.

At least six people were reportedly shot dead during a protest in Monywa in central Myanmar. At least 30 others were wounded in the unrest, a local journalist told Reuters.

A volunteer medic told AFP news agency in Myingyan that at least 10 people had been injured there.

“They fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds,” they said.

“They didn’t spray us with water cannon, [there was] no warning to disperse, they just fired their guns,” one protester in the city told Reuters.

In Mandalay, a student protester told the BBC that demonstrators were killed near her house.

“I think around 10am or 10.30, police and soldiers came to that area and then they started to shoot at civilians.

They didn’t give any warning to the civilians.

“They just came out and they started to shoot.

They used rubber bullets but they also used live bullets to kill civilians in a violent way.”

The military has not commented on the reported deaths.

As the world vies for vaccines, Cuba’s making its own

(CNN)Cuba may be on the verge of a coronavirus vaccine breakthrough and not a moment too soon, as deaths and cases spike on the communist-run island.

Starting in March, two of the island’s four homegrown vaccine candidates will begin their third and final trials, the Cuban government has announced.

While other developing countries compete with richer nations for a limited supply of doses, Cuba has gambled everything

on producing their own vaccines, as much an exercise in national pride as a response to a public health crisis.

Two of the vaccines are named Soberana -Spanish for sovereignty.

The remaining two are called Abdala, the name of a poem written by Cuban revolutionary icon Jose Marti, and Mambisa, referring to Cuban guerillas who fought a bloody war for freedom against the Spanish.

Cuban scientists will

start the final trials for their Soberana-02 and Abdala vaccines this month, as the island experiences a surge in new cases. For much of 2020, Cuba was able to keep the spread of the pandemic under control but a bungled reopening to international travelers in December led to a surge in cases.

February has been the deadliest month to date for the Caribbean nation with 108 deaths and 7642 new cases, according to the Cuban government’s

statistics.

Cuban scientists say they expect their vaccines to be a game changer -not just against the rising Covid numbers but also for the disastrous impacts of the pandemic on their economy.

“The main object of this clinical trial is to show the clinical efficacy of our vaccine candidate,” said Dagmar Garcia Rivera, a researcher with the government-run Finlay Institute for Vaccines.

“After that we could be in conditions to start massive vaccination in Cuba and some other countries in the world.”

With the third trial of Soberana-02, Cuban doctors say, starting in March they will vaccinate 44,000 trial participants in Cuba. Researchers told CNN they have already made more than 300,000 doses of that vaccine and will ramp up production with the expectation

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that trials will show Soberana-02 to be safe and effective.

Abroad, Iran has already begun widespread trials of Soberana-02 and Mexico is in talks with Cuba to begin trials soon.

Suriname and Ghana are reportedly interested in buying Cuban vaccines when the drugs are ready.

Rafael Hernandez, 73, took part in the vaccine’s second trial and said the side effects were mild.

“Before applying the first dose, the doctor told me they had not registered, among the hundreds of patients vaccinated, a single adverse reaction, beyond light pain, raised temperature, stiffness in the vaccinated arm, fever or mild discomfort,” Hernandez told CNN. Cuba’s most-tested vaccine candidate, Soberana 02 is a conjugate vaccine which carries part of the spike

protein from the virus, binding it to human cells.

Researchers will not know how effective the vaccine is until they complete the Phase 3 trials and they are currently studying whether vaccinating with Soberana 02 will require giving patients three doses of the vaccine.

“We need many vaccines to vaccinate 11 million Cubans. If we are estimating that Cubans will need one or two or three doses, we are estimating that Cuba will need 30 million doses,” said Dr. Tania Crombet Ramos, the director for the government-run Center for Molecular Immunology in Havana.

Crombet said she was confident that Cuba would end up with more than one approved vaccine which would give the island greater flexibility to fight the pandemic.

Tucville, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 592-623-9971

Guyana Post Thursday March 4, 2021

International News

South Africa, China seize fake coronavirus vaccines: Interpol

Security officials in China and South Africa seized thousands of counterfeit doses of the coronavirus vaccine, the global police agency Interpol revealed on Wednesday.

The international police force said in a statement that 400 vials, equivalent to about

2,400 doses, containing the fake vaccine were found at a warehouse in Germiston outside Johannesburg in South Africa, where officers also recovered fake masks and arrested three Chinese citizens and a Zambian national.

“Since COVID-19 reached the shores

counterparts from all Interpol member countries, is proving to be very effective as we have seen in the arrests for foreign nationals attempting to peddle fake vaccines to unsuspecting people within South Africa.”

‘Tip of the iceberg’ Interpol earlier this year issued an “Orange Notice” warning authorities worldwide to prepare for organised crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.

“Whilst we welcome this result, this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to COVID-19 vaccinerelated crime,” said Interpol SecretaryGeneral Juergen Stock.

of South Africa, the government has adopted an integrated multi-disciplinary law enforcement approach,” said Brigadier Vish Naidoo, South African national police spokesperson, according to the Interpol statement.

“This, together with our association with

Interpol said it was also receiving additional reports of fake vaccine distribution at nursing homes.

“No approved vaccines are currently available for sale online.

Any vaccine being advertised on websites or the dark web will not be legitimate, will not have been tested, and may be dangerous,” the statement said.

“Anyone who buys these drugs is putting themselves at risk and giving their money to organised criminals.”

Stock had warned in December in an interview with German weekly Wirtschafts Woche of a sharp rise in crime because of vaccine roll-outs, with thefts and warehouse break-ins and attacks on

vaccine shipmement.

In China, police successfully identified a network selling counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines in an investigation supported

by Interpol, which has 194 member countries, it said.

Police raided the manufacturing premises resulting in the arrest of some 80 suspects and seized more than 3,000 fake vaccines on the scene, it said.

“The Chinese government attaches great importance to vaccine security.

Chinese police are conducting a targeted campaign to prevent and crack down on crimes related to vaccines,” a spokesman for the Chinese ministry of public security said.

Covid-19: Backlash in Spain over princesses getting UAE vaccines

A revelation that two sisters of Spain’s King Felipe VI were vaccinated during a trip to Abu Dhabi last month has sparked a political backlash.

Media reports revealed

Princess Elena, 57, and Princess Cristina, 55, had got the jab whilst visiting their father.

The former King, Juan Carlos, left the country in 2020 amid mounting

scandals.

Both princesses, who do not yet qualify to get a vaccine under Spain’s roll-out, defended and explained their decision on Wednesday.

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“My sister and I went to visit my father and in order to be issued with a medical certificate which will allow us to continue to visit him regularly, we were offered the chance to

get vaccinated, which we accepted,” they said in a statement to El Mundo on Wednesday.

“Had it not been for these circumstances, we would have waited for our turn to get vaccinated to come around in Spain,” they added.

Juan Carlos has been living in self-exile in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since last August.

Although he denied wrongdoing regarding mounting corruption allegations, his departure heightened debate and scrutiny about the royal family.

‘Discrediting the monarchy’ Equality Minister Irene Montero was among the politicians who criticised the princesses after the revelation was first reported by online news website El Confidencial.

“The vaccination of the princesses is more news which contributes to discrediting the monarchy.

For the public, this constitutes preferential

treatment and privileges,” the minister told the public TVE network.

Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz described the matter as as “very unpleasant, very ugly”.

“We, the people who exercise some sort of representation, must lead by example,” she added.

A royal palace source declined to comment on the reports to Reuters on the basis that the sisters are not formally part of the institution but said the king, Queen Letizia and their daughters would get the vaccination when it was their turn.

Spain has only administered about 4m vaccines so far, with over-80s and essential workers currently being prioritised.

A similar scandal rocked the country in January, when some senior figures including the country’s top military chief resigned after they were implicated in “queue-jumping” allegations of their own.

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