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PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE DISAPPOINTED AT GOVERNMENT’S TARDINESS OVER APPOINTING THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT COMMISSION

ELECTIONS CONSULTATION SHOULD BE ON REFORM OF GECOM AND ELECTORAL SYSTEM, SAYS GHRA

Monday Nov. 22, 2021

VETERAN AVIATOR MALCOLM CHAN-A-SUE PASSES ON

TAXI DRIVER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF AFFIANCE SECURITY GUARD

MondayNov. 22, 2021

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE DISAPPOINTED AT GOVERNMENT’S TARDINESS OVER APPOINTING THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT COMMISSION Months after plans were put in place to have several meetings for the shortlisting for Members for the Public Procurement Commission(PPC), the commission is yet to be formed; even with the awarding of several major contracts under the PPP/C Government.

The PPC which is set to deal with queries of contracts is set up by the Public Accounts Committee(PAC), which includes members of the Opposition and the Members of the Government.

Member of Parliament (MP), Jermaine Figueira, and Chairman of the PAC, and PAC Member representing the Government, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, were expected to meet on a regular basis since July to shortlist the

name for the commission.

However, months have gone by. Opposition members are expressing disappointment knowing that the excuse has only been business when notice of a meeting was given.

As the months unfold and frustration continues to grow, the issue was raised this morning at the statutory PAC meeting.

The decision was taken to meet sometime during the week to shortlist the names and hopefully by year-end have that commission in operation.

Speaking after the Jermaine Figueira, and Chairman of the PAC, meeting, Ganesh A. Member Teixeira was level of the PAC, with any Mahipaul, a PAC member, established on July 7, movement that can point said that Government 2021, to deal with this in a direction that they are seems not to want such specific matter. That was treating this matter with a commission, judging at the tenth meeting of the the absolute urgency it from how it would have PAC. requires,” Mahipaul said. been dragging its feet on a “They met on July 10, Chairman Figueira very important issue. that was their first meeting. said there is a need for “The sub-committee We are in the 23rd meeting the commission to be set that was established by of the PAC and they have since a lot of contracts Member Figueira and not provided us at the have been awarded no

Veteran Aviator Malcolm Chan-a-Sue passes on The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is saddened by the passing of veteran aviator Captain Malcolm Chan-a-Sue. He was a Guyanese aircraft pilot.

On October 30, 2021, Captain Chan-a-Sue and his wife were involved in an accident at High and Barrack Streets, Kingston. They were both hospitalized with Captain Chan-a-Sue being admitted in a critical condition.

Captain Chan-a-Sue was the holder of a Private Pilot’s License, Commercial Pilot’s License, and the Airline Transport Pilot’s License with several type ratings for various aircraft including the singleengine and multi-engine land and sea type aircraft.

Captain Malcolm Chan-a-Sue.

He was qualified to operate the Britton Norman 2 Islander, Grumman G21A, Dakota C47, DHC 6 Twin Otter, DHC 4A Caribou, HF748, and the Boeing 737 aircraft.

Captain Chan-aSue worked with the former Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) and was one of the founder members of the Art Williams and Harry

Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School (AWHWAES).

The People’s National Congress noted that Captain Chan-A-Sue, who was also a recipient of the National Award, the Medal of Service (MS), also received the Arrow of Achievement (AA) in 2015 for his long, dedicated service and outstanding service in the field of aviation.

oversight.

“Multibillion-dollar contracts have been given out by cabinet and the role of the PPC is to play a pivotal role with respect to contracts being distributed.

“A grieved contractor can go and make their concerns known. So, the perception out there is corruption is afoot with regards to a lot of these multi-billiondollar contracts that the Government has been awarding.

“The onus is upon us to act and we believe actions to get this PPC would be the most important thing,” Figueira noted.

Chairman Figueira said that he remains disappointed that the issues which are national should be addressed.

“This is a national issue.

A lot of the Guyanese have been articulating

their disappointment that this commission has not yet been operationalized.

We are hoping that we could bring some finality before the year concludes,” Figueira added.

He also noted that if the commission does not become operational soon then when it is formed the commission will have a backlog of files to deal with.

“Many complaints had been made known to us, as members of the opposition. Prominent contractors in Guyana are disappointed that this commission has not been established.

Some two dozen persons have been shortlisted for the committee and have been vetted by the Guyana Police Force but so far no one has been chosen for the commission.

Taxi driver charged with murder of Affiance security guard

One week after, Indira Lall, a Security Guard from Affiance, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was dropped home by a Taxi Driver in an unconscious manner and later claimed she was not feeling well, the driver was today charged for the murder.

The accused, 62-yearold Kirk Beaton appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Charity Magistrate’s Court where he was not required to plead to the charge.

It is alleged that Beaton on November 15, 2021, strangled, 52-year-old, Indira Lall.

Beaton has been remanded to prison until December 12, 2021, and the matter transferred to the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Reports are Beaton,

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Indira Lall,

who would normally drop the woman home after work, due to the fact that woman works very late, brought her home to her daughter and said that she was unwell and needed to go the hospital.

On examining the woman, the daughter related that her mother was unconscious and froth was coming out of her mouth.

She tried waking up her mother but there was no response. She then asked

the taxi driver to take them to the hospital but he reportedly refused, saying that his car light was not working.

As such, the daughter made alternative arrangements to take her mother to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Beaton was later arrested and a post mortem examination found that the woman died as a result of manual strangulation

MondayNov. 22, 2021

ELECTIONS CONSULTATION SHOULD BE ON REFORM OF GECOM AND ELECTORAL SYSTEM, SAYS GHRA

The proposed consultation to amend the Representation of the Peoples Act (RoPA) is calculated to further, rather than reduce, political tensions in Guyana by keeping attention focused on the post-election fiasco of 2020 and to sustain political polarization.

To this extent it

constitutes a piece of monumental hypocrisy, says the Guyana Human Rights Association.

Priority action on electoral reform should be the implementation of single-seat constituencies and the reform of GECOM. These reforms were unanimously approved both by the Constitutional Reform

Commission and in Parliament by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Electoral Reform in 2000, the body added.

However, subsequent efforts over the next decade by civic and religious bodies, the diplomatic community, and the business sector to implement the reforms were successfully frustrated by the combined resistance of the leadership of the PPP and the PNC. Revival of the quest to implement those reforms, not the distraction of amending RoPA, should be the current focus of civic action. Both PPP Governments between 2000 – 2015 and the APNU between 2015

– 2020 had ample opportunity to address these reforms but chose not to do so, preferring to monopolize GECOM to keep MPs accountable to the party leader rather than to the people who elected them.

Pressure for implementation in 2004, for example, provides a glimpse of the contortions both parties constantly adopted to wriggle out of the Constitutionallymandated commitment to electoral reform.

At the time, PPP General Secretary, Donald Ramotar, proposed a Motion that Parliament to establish a Special Select Committee that focused expressly on the number of seats to be contested in

geographic constituencies in the 2006 elections.

To this day the younger generation, even those interested in electoral matters, have no idea that a new electoral system was unanimously approved in Parliament, implemented in interim form in terms of the current Geographic Constituencies for the 2001 election, with only the details of single-seat constituencies left to be worked out.

Rather than civil society misleading citizens by encouraging the so-called RoPA ‘consultation’, the GHRA is proposing a consultation to address the substance of electoral reform, namely, the electoral system and the institution for delivering

it — GECOM. Without such a framework for the consultation, bizarre episodes such as the recent public announcements by partisan Commissioners of their favoured candidates seeking the post of CEO of GECOM will continue to distract from the substantive issues.

Ample documentation exists to enable the current generation to understand why our indefensible electoral system has survived. It has nothing to do with RoPA technicalities but everything to do with a persistent, mutual leadership cover-up to resist real changes, the GHRA said.

Coalition MP criticizes Govt’s seven per cent pay hike

In an attempt to justify the seven percent salary increase to public servants announced on November 18, 2021, and to try and throw water on the backlash coming from all across the country, Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, made a public statement claiming that the PPP never promised a 50% increase to public servants.

But that blatant lie only made things worse for

the PPP, says Coalition Member of Parliament, Juretha Fernandes, Shadow Minister of Finance.

During the 2020 General and Regional Elections, the PPP went on to lure public servants by putting up posters throughout the country stating 50% salaries increase to public servants.

Not once did any member of the PPP come forward and disown the posters and state it to be

false. They embraced it as being true and correct.

And as such no one can seriously attempt to further insult the intelligence of Guyanese by telling them that there was no such promise.

The PPP’s announcement of a seven percent increase in salaries for public servants is nothing short of a spit in the faces of the hardworking public servants of this country. After giving no increase in 2020, this

7% is actually 3.5% for 2020 and 3.5% for 2021 to match the climbing inflation rate of 5.6% in June 2021.

And to add insult to injury, the retroactive payout is taxable. But none of this should come as a surprise to Guyanese, because from day one in office the PPP has been directing monies to the private sector through one way or the next because that’s the party’s primary focus.

It was back in 2016, when the then opposition leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, stood up during the budget debates and demanded that the government give a 50% increase to public servants. There was no oil money then. The real

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GDP growth for 2015 was 3%. And for 2016 the GDP was 3.3%.

The APNU+AFC coalition in 2016 went at length to make sure that even without oil money public servants were rewarded handsomely while minimizing the income inequality among workers.

Now today, with oil pumping and with real oil GDP in 2020 is 43.5%, and the half-year report stating that real oil GDP grew by 14.5%, and with the inflation rate at over 14% in the price of food items according to the half-year report, the PPP brings a mere 7% to offer to the hard-working public servants of this country.

This is a betrayal to the

highest level.

The truth is that after bailing out taxpayers’ dollars – directly and indirectly – to the private sector, the PPP is now left with crumbs for the public servants. And the trickledown economics that they follow has never and will never work.

As such economic growth will not be felt by public servants and the working class of this country unless there is a direct transfer to them and not a system that depends on profit-motivated individuals to share their wealth. And one sure way of direct transfer is to give public servants substantial salaries increases. And clearly, that is not the path of the PPP.

MondayNov. 22, 2021

GOVERNMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON MINIMUM WAGE IS A VIOLATION OF DOMESTIC LAW AND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION–SAY RAMON GASKIN, YOG MAHADEO AND JONATHAN YEARWOOD Budget process so that and accountability

Ramon Gaskin

Yog Mahadeo

Jonathan Yearwood

Article 13 notes the announcement by senior Minister in the Ministry of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, of a seven percent salary increase for public servants and government pensioners for 2021.

Once again, we witness the spectacle of the imposition of wage increase by unilateral action, as has happened every year since 1999!

This is a clear breach

of the Constitution, the Trade Union Recognition Act, the Agreement for collective bargaining between the Government and the workers’ unions, and ILO Conventions.

Tellingly, the imposition also violates Article 13 of the Constitution which was elevated to a fundamental right under Article 149 C. To make matters worse, the Minister of the

Public Service insults the intelligence of the nation with the fatuous excuse for non-consultation with the Union that the government was “pressed for time”. As a lawyer by profession, the Minister ought to be aware of section 23 of the Trade Union Recognition Act which imposes on employers a duty to bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with [the trade unions] for

the purpose of collective bargaining.”

It seems that no one in this Government understands that collective bargaining extends beyond wages and salaries. It includes other terms and conditions of work as well.

Our Group submits that collective bargaining for the year 2021 should have commenced and coincided with the 2021

it could be included in the 2021 Appropriations Act. And even if belated negotiations had taken place as part of the midyear review, the two sides could have considered the fact that the growth in Guyana’s economy outstripped that of any other country in the world.

Further, increases in the cost of living of basic items have been running at anywhere between 10% and 30%; and that consumer prices at the end of the first half of 2021 grew by 5.6 percent.

Accordingly, the seven per cent does not represent any real increase for public sector employees or their standard of living.

In addressing the issue of representation, we note the poor quality of representation of our public sector workers by incompetent and even absentee leadership. Our Group’s call for democracy

Gail Teixeira, were at the scene.

The Prime Minister said, “We have been able to save the DPP part of the building.”

He added, “The investigation will help us to determine whether it is coincidental (with the Brickdam Police Station

fire) or if there is some other motive or reason behind this fire.

“We need to allow the fire service and the police and law enforcement agencies to do their work…”

Minister Benn said that the fire has placed the operations of the OPR and DPP in disarray.

The minister said he believes that Guyana is experiencing a “trial by fire.”

“It appears that a subliminal message is being put around the areas starting from some firetechnic minded person in the United States and

maybe, perhaps much more than likely that the incidents we see and the timings at which they occur are related to those more than subliminal messages about Georgetown burning if the PPP does not do whatever.”

“We will stand firm here; we will make sure that the work of our government and the development of our country proceeds,” he stated.

Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie said that despite the loss of documents in the OPR, the force has always had a backup in place.

“We always have contingency systems in place but of course, any fire initially would affect us going forward.

extends not only to the Government of the day but also to the Opposition and to the trade unions.

We cannot help but note with surprise that the political Opposition is now rejecting the imposition of wage increases in the public sector when it did the same while it was in Government between 2015 and 2020.

Finally, we remind the Government that it is beyond time for it to review the minimum wage in the private and the public sector, particularly with respect to our nurses, teachers, the Police, and the Army who are in the frontline protecting our people and our territory.

This Government, like its predecessor, appears utterly oblivious to the question of the minimum wage in the private sector which stands at $44,500 which is a complete disgrace in an oil economy.

“Together as a team, we will put systems in place to ensure that it does not hamper our progress in addressing the issues at hand…Most, if not all the cases, have connections to several divisions also because we have decentralised Office of Professional Responsibility, that is in every region throughout our country,” he stated.

Chief Fire Officer, Kalamadeen Edoo, said the fire service received the call about the fire at 13:50hrs.

Fire tenders from the Central, Campbellville, Alberttown, and West Ruimveldt fire stations responded. The building which was under fire housed OPR, the Office of the DPP, Police Headquarters Barracks, and the construction secti

DPP office saved but OPR section destroyed by fire

Police Compound, Eve Leary

Major losses were avoided on Saturday after quick response from the Guyana Fire Service resulted in the fire at the Guyana Police Force’s Office for Professional Responsibility (OPR) being brought under control.

The work of the fire

service saved the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) which is housed in the same building in Eve Leary.

Prime Minister (Ret’d) Brigadier Mark Phillips; Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance,

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Friday Nov. 19, 2021

MONEY FROM THE MIDDLE-EAST MIGHT BE A MIRAGE

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company(GTT) is giving Guyanese $30 million to smile for the holiday through the “Together we celebrate” promotion.

With millions of dollars to give away in prices, cash, and other items, GTT this morning launched the multimilliondollar promotion aimed at giving back to its

customers for the holiday season, despite another rough year dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The promotion started today and will end in January. During that period customers topping up $1000, those paying their bills in full, or those signing up for fiber will qualify.

“Eligibility applies to all of our customers paying a

bill in full and on time in stores and the MMG and MyGTT apps; customers topping up their mobiles with $1000 or more; customers signing up for GTT Fibre or purchasing reduced handsets and SIM from GTT.” According to the COO for Home & Fixed Unit at GTT, Eshwar Thakurdin, said during the launch this morning.

Thakurdin also noted that those being eligible will enjoy weekly and monthly draws that will likely see them walking away with a variety of prices.

“GTT is giving you much more this Christmas including free accessories with your purchase of selected phones, and free Gigabytes of data; plus, one-month free Fibre and free installation on new signups and so much more.

“So stay tuned to our social media pages for updates on what is in store for this season,” Thakurdin further noted.

Guyanese over the past two years of the COVID-19 Pandemic has faced many challenges due to the downside of the economy There were restrictions and measures

GCAA shocked by Col. Hutson’s passing The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has expressed shock and sadness at the news of the passing of Lt. Col. (ret’d) Charles Compton Courtney Hutson. Col. Hutson was a Guyanese Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

As an aircraft engineer, Col. Hutson was responsible for the effective maintenance of a fleet of aircraft at the Guyana Airways Corporation. He was later transferred to the Guyana Defence Force Lt. Col. (ret’d) Charles Compton Courtney Hutson. Col. Hutson (GDF) with the rank of Major, where he attained support of the late Mr. professional training certification in helicopter Richard Campbell and in the field of aircraft maintenance, becoming Mr. Peter D’Anarde, maintenance engineering the first Guyanese to birthed the Caribbean to Guyanese and students hold a dual aircraft Aviation Maintenance globally.

(Helicopter and Fixed Services, Guyana’s first Regional Director of wing) maintenance Approved Maintenance the International Civil engineering license.

Aviation Organisation Organisation (AMO).

He was type rated on Following closely (ICAO) South American the majority of fixed- behind its establishment Regional Office (SAM wing and helicopter was the Art Williams Office), Mr. Fabio aircraft.

Rabbani, and Harry Wendt Rahnemay After retiring from A e r o n a u t i c a l expressed “deep the GDF, Col. Hutson Engineering for the School, sympathy later joined the private an Approved Training passing of Col. Hutson, sector, and with the Organisation, offering Pioneer of Guyana Civil

Aviation”.

Mr. Rabbani said the “ICAO South American Office is honoured to have Col. Hutson as part of our aviation pioneers’ hall”.

In 2019, ICAO through its SAM Office, inducted Lt. Col Hutson, into its Hall of Tribute to South American Av i a t i o n Pioneers, located within the SAM Regional Office in San Isidro, Peru.

The Minister of Public Works, the Chairman and Board of Directors, the DirectorGeneral, Management and Staff of the GCAA extends sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the late Lt. Col. Charles Compton Courtney Hutson.

Guyana has truly lost a stalwart in aviation

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aimed at protecting citizens from the deadly disease.

It is against this backdrop, that GTT who knows how Guyanese feel about Christmas, is offering a reason to smile through the holiday with the promotion and giveaways.

“Christmas is a special time of year, and with GTT this is no exception.

In fact, despite 2021 having been one of the most challenging years in recent memory, Christmas gives us the reason for celebration, and reason to hope for a brighter tomorrow, together.

“That being said, it is our tradition to show our appreciation for our fellow man, including all of you here, and especially our valued customers, by coming together to share

gifts of our own.

“This year, GTT will share a package of very tangible gifts of millions of dollars in cash and prizes with our valued customers; current and future, giving us all, together, the opportunity to celebrate. “It is for very good reason, that I emphasize the word “together” as a major aspect of this Christmas celebration.

“Christmas with GTT is worth celebrating, not only because of our gifts and what they symbolize, but also because we do it together,” COO, Business Solutions, Orson Ferguson expressed He said that this is because it’s tradition and it is one that GTT and its customers continue to celebrate today.

SMALL MINERS CALL ON PRESIDENT IRFAAN ALI FOR HELP

can count on. We pay ROYALTY AND TAXES upfront on ALL GOLD and Diamonds produced, unlike other businesses who only pay taxes on profits declared (if any).

Even with our hard work and paying taxes we still do not enjoy the benefits, since we have to be tax compliant before we can enjoy any perks but we never give up. This is our livelihood; we have to survive since families depend on it.

So, it hurts to see there is no: A. Security.

Police and Mining Officers are not visiting and patrolling Mining locations.

Illegal shops, drugs, guns, and trafficking in persons are prevalent. The illegal/ non-gazetted shops are operating with the knowledge/ consent of the Mines Officer (GGMC).

B. Terrible Roads.

Major Mining roads, and bridges are not being repaired and maintained.

C. Covid Pandemic.

Illegal shops and landings with no COVID restrictions, masks, etc. are putting Miners’ lives at risk.

D. Malaria Outbreak.

With the continuous rainfall and flooding, there is a serious outbreak of Malaria in the Mining camps. Treated mosquito nets, along with other Malaria treatments are not being given to Miners.

Health staff/ personnel are not visiting Mining camps in the backdam.

As soon as the farmers cry, help is available.

As soon as the loggers

cry even though they are the ones damaging what little is left of the mining roads… they are demanding that the contractors work overtime to get their logging roads fixed.

We as Miners? Our cries hardly ever get heard.

To reach the worksite, one has to travel over roads that are in deplorable conditions, at times risking one’s life to get to one’s work destination.

The Government has attempted to “repair” some of these roads over the years. They have paid millions of dollars to “Contractors”, whose contract repair works last for a few months.

The roads return to the deplorable state and the same contractor is given another contract to fix the same roads.

How long will this continue?

Come on Dr. Irfaan Ali, president, of all the people of Guyana, something must be done for us, small miners.

Frustrated Small Miners.

until they are vaccinated or had a PRC test done, the Unions together filed the matter against the Government.

They contended that the actions were unconstitutional on many levels.

As such, the Union moved to the court along with their Attorneys Darren Wade and Dane Elliott-Hamilton to seek clarification and declaration on several fronts.

One such front includes a declaration by the court that the health emergency made by the former President David Granger and continues under the current President, Irfaan Ali, and later published in the official gazette falls out of the jurisdiction of the President under Section 21 of the Public Health Ordinance.

The Unions want the court, also, to declare that even with the fact that given a Central Board of Health meeting, the President and the Minister

of Health, simply ignored any recommendation by the Board as required by law.

The Unions are also arguing that the President in his capacity has acted unconstitutionally by the delegation of the President’s powers and as such infringes on the Constitution.

The result is that the emergency measures issued are deemed to be invalid.

The Unions are asking that the court deem it invalid and of no effect since the Central Board of Health has no authority to delegate its powers to a third party.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall is set as a respondent on behalf of the Guyana Government.

Dr. Irfaan Ali, president, of all the people of Guyana,

All across Guyana, the heavy rainfall has affected everyone in some kind of way. At the same time, we are dealing with the COVID pandemic over which we have no control.

As a miner, and I speak for all miners, just like the farmers and others, we are working people and we are affected.

We are already facing serious challenges in this industry, like poor infrastructure but we are still going out there every

day because we have a task at hand, a duty to complete, bills to pay, and mouths to feed, because our families are depending on us.

Meetings are being called with farmers, loggers, etc. I can’t remember the last time a meeting was called with Miners to hear our cries.

It’s Oil, Oil, and more Oil. The Mining Industry over the past 25 and more years has been carrying this country, built foundations,

developed hinterland locations, found jobs for Guyanese especially the ones who don’t have the PRIVILEGE of formal education and also people from around the world.

It was also the largest earner of foreign exchange.

Over 200,000 Guyanese are dependent on this Mining Industry. The Mining Industry is one of the most stable industries that the Government and Guyanese people

Trades unions move to court to challenge vaccination policy

The Guyana Trades Union Congress, the Guyana Public Service Union, and the Guyana Teachers Union have joined forces and have filed a civil proceeding against the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

Chief Justice, Roxane George, is set to hear oral arguments in the New Year.

When the matter was called this morning before Chief Justice George, the dates were handed out for exchange of submissions.

The judge has also set January 20, 2022, for oral arguments.

It was back in August following protest actions by workers against the vaccination policy that prevented workers from entering their workplaces

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Foreign pilots jailed for illegal landing

two, David Caicedo Villa, a 32-year-old pilot of Villavicencio, Colombia, and Gustavo Adolfo Riascos Gomez, a 48-year-old pilot/

Two foreign pilots, who were arrested after they landed at the Mahdia airstrip, were slapped with four more charges. They have also been jailed.

The two, David Caicedo Villa, a 32-yearold pilot of Villavicencio, Colombia, and Gustavo Adolfo Riascos Gomez,

a 48-year-old pilot/ businessman of Tachira San Cristobal, Venezuela, were charged and remanded to prison last week for unauthorized entry into Guyana and illegal possession of two grams of cannabis.

The two appeared before Chief Magistrate,

Ann McLennan were slapped with the charges of interfering with an aircraft, operating a civil aircraft without a certificate and insurance, operating an aircraft in a reckless manner, and operating without a licence.

The duo pleaded guilty

to the charges which alleged that on November 4, 2021, at Mahdia Airstrip, they interfered with an aircraft, operated a civil aircraft without a certificate and insurance, and also operated the said aircraft in a reckless manner.

The men were

sentenced to two years imprisonment for operating the aircraft without a certificate.

For the latter charges, the men were fined a total of $11M or served in default, three years’ imprisonment.

On November 4, last, Police received reports of the airstrip landing incident. A party of policemen was dispatched to the area.

The plane was found in front of the Trans Guyana’s hanger, and the men were standing at the head of the aircraft talking to the security guard and ramp attendant.

When confronted by the police, one of the men explained that they were lost and had come from Venezuela and were “going to look for gold”.

Investigators said that a subsequent search of the men and the plane found

nothing illegal.

However, the aircraft contained three 15-gallon drums two of which contained fuel– suspected to be smuggled – one hammock with netting, one bag containing clothing, and personal effects.

Also found was a black bag with identification cards documents, one Garmin GPS, one Iridium Phone, one Icom radio set, one spot trace device, one earpiece, one lighter, one torchlight, one Motorola phone, one Samsung phone, one wallet, one knife, two wristwatches, two phone chargers, two grams of suspected cannabis, and some bamboo wrap.

Finance Minister Ashni Singh hosts follow-up agriculture investment meeting

Government continues to push and implement strategies for Guyana’s non-oil sector to be expanded. On Monday, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh

hosted another follow-up meeting with Chandra Pratap Singh, Business Development Director; and Emil Moukarzel, Chief Operating Officer of Elite Agro LLC of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Accompanying the Finance Minister at the meeting were Ministers of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Tourism Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Paul

Cheong, and other private sector representatives including David Fernandes, Head of a consortium dealing with the expansion of corn and soya-bean production in Guyana, and Sachin Singh who heads another private

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sector consortium dealing with the expansion of the seafood sector, were also present.

The meeting was a follow-up to earlier meetings held between President Irfaan Ali and officials of Elite Agro LLC (one of the UAE’s leading agriculture companies having largescale integrated farming operations and currently engaged in growing, sourcing, importing, and marketing of agricultural products).

During the meeting, Minister Singh explained to the officials of Elite Agro LLC that traditionally agriculture has been an extremely important anchor in Guyana’s economy.

It is still an important anchor in the non-oil economy.

He added that with Guyana looking to

expand the agricultural sector currently, two big streams of opportunities are available to Elite Agro LLC either to be a direct investor or to facilitate trade in agricultural commodities to other export destinations.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that with the emergence of oil and gas, it is expected that the oil and gas sector will complement the non-oil sector and the Government will invest in infrastructure to support the development and expansion of the agricultural sector.

The private sector representatives provided extensive and detailed presentations to Elite Agro LLC on agriculture (including corn and soya bean) and seafood along with the available opportunities for inv

Tuesday Nov. 16, 2021

LINDEN’S BLUE LAKE DEEMED A TOURIST DESTINATION

Despite the concerns over the safety of the Blue Lake in Linden, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, and the Guyana Tourism Authority, has joined the Region 10 Regional administration, Region 10 Tourism Committee, and the Linden Town Council with another official launch making Kara Kara Blue Lake a tourist destination.

As Guyana continues to celebrate Tourism Month 2021, Blue Lake in Region 10 has been

now been listed as a tourism destination.

According to the Minister of Tourism, Oneidge WalrondAllicock, giving the area the title is “no brainer” as the lake was cleared for ‘leisure activates’ only.

“Getting into that kayak is a bit of adventure. People love the little adrenaline and the sites are so beautiful.

It’s pristine out here; this is a no-brainer for a tourist attraction. You could come here to the beautiful white sand, the

safe water, swimming, adventure kayaking, jet skiing. There is so much to do here in just one spot,” Minister, Waldron noted.

At the time, the Minister was making several stops around Region 10, where she met several stalk holders in the tourism industry in the region, where concerns and plans for development were shared.

The minister named the Kara Kara Blue Lake a tourist destination

as Guyana celebrates Tourism Month 2021.

Kara Kara Blue Lake is an old mining area, where over many decades’ chemicals were used in the area. After the mining stopped the manmade lake was formed.

As such over the years, there were several concerns raised overacidity in the water and the risk it poses to the health of those venturing off into the waters.

This pushed the authorities in the area to halt swimming in the waters but that decision was later reversed.

According to the Minister, this is because of independent studies done on the water that showed that the water is safe for leisure activities.

“We have had an independent study done of the water, as well as a study conducted by GWI, Guyana Water Authority. They have certified that the lake is safe for recreational activates. So, we would not have been reckless enough to say that it is safe when it’s not. We do have studies to back it up.”

The Minister also emphasized that the next step is to develop the area by having a proposal from the people of Region Ten to develop the area with resorts etc.

“Already, we have given the support the tourism committee in terms of developing, and also to Mr (Deon) Anderson, a Chemical Engineer by profession and the proprietor of Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours) as a stakeholder in this particular venture.

“I could see with the proposals, and encourage the tourism committee that if they can come together with proposals to put up and beautiful resorts.

To have sporting activities done here in this beautiful lake, all of these things we can help partner and help to sell these destinations for people, who are coming from outside of Guyana with monies to invest in tourism.

“They really want to partner and when we present this as a project I believe it would not be in terms of selling for it

to be a major resort tourist destination,” Minister Walrond also disclosed.

The town of Linden has been known as the mining town for over 100 years. Since then several areas in the town show the history of that mining.

The Blue Lake area was once a flat piece of land but just but over time heavy excavation for bauxite eventually formed mining pits.

The pits filled water from springs beneath the earth’s surface and surrounding hills.

However, as people started to use the area for swimming and other activities, several times heavy metals and other toxins were found.

In the end, according to officials, they were tested and it was shown that the water was not safe for consumption but for recreation.

The area is set to be developed with various resorts and added security. The dumpsite nearby is to be removed soon.

MORE THAN 50 PER CENT ADULT POPULATION FULLY VACCINATED —DR. ANTHONY Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, on Monday, announced that Guyana has surpassed a major milestone in its vaccination campaign. It has fully inoculated more than half of the adult population.

During the COVID-19 update, Dr. Anthony said 51 percent of the adult population has been fully vaccinated against the deadly virus.

“So, this is not the entire Guyanese population.

Of the adult population, we have achieved the 51 percent.”

He said while the milestone can be applauded, some regions are still lagging in their

vaccination. He said 51 percent overall was reached because of the high vaccination rate in Region Four.

“So we are 43.2 percent in Region One; Region Two, 41.6 percent, for Region Three, 48.9 percent; Region Four, 58.5 percent; Region Five, 51.9 percent; Region Six 49.8 percent; Region Seven, 46.9 percent; Region Eight, 34.8 percent; Region Nine at 53.4 percent, and Region Ten at 22.3 percent.

“These are persons 18 years and over who would have received both doses of the vaccines.”

As of Monday, the Ministry of Health

recorded 391,521 adults, 18 years and older taking the first dose of a COVID vaccine, representing 76.3 percent of that population.

A total of 261,811 adults, or 51 percent of that population have already returned for the second dose of the vaccine.

For persons 12 to 17 years, 28,345 or 38.9 percent were vaccinated with the first dose, while 19,536 or 26.8 percent received the second shot.

Meanwhile, despite vaccination numbers progressively increasing, persons are still flouting the COVID-19 guidelines, Dr. Frank Anthony adding to the number Just over the past 24 cases, raising the currently of positive cases, Dr. hours, the Ministry of active cases to 2,412.

Anthony stated.

Health detected 55 new Of that number, 50

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persons are currently hospitalised, Minister Anthony noted.

“Thirty-two persons are now at the Ocean View Hospital with 15 of them in the ICU. The others are indifferent regional hospitals: four at Suddie Hospital, three at West Demerara, two at the Region Five facility, one at Skeldon, one at Bartica, two at Mahdia and we have four persons in the Wismar Hospital.”

Region Three is still topping the chart with 1,014 active cases.

Minister Anthony is urging the population to come forward and be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dr. Frank Denbow gifts DCC substantial financial donation

More than five decades after his family moved to Church and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown, Queenstown, and he soon gravitated to the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), renowned health professional, Dr. Frank Denbow, returned to

Queenstown to pay homage to where his early infatuation with the sport of cricket began.

On Wednesday evening, Dr. Denbow, who was not a member of the club, until that moment handed over a cheque for $2 million to

aid in the club’s upkeep.

In return, he was made an Honorary Life Member at the ‘Home of the Legends’.

The former Queen’s College student reflected on watching West Indies play Australia at the iconic Georgetown

Cricket Club, Bourda, in 1965 and highlighted that prior to such, his imagery of cricket came through reading books.

Dr. Denbow said DCC has a rich history of talent and it was important to help the club maintain its facilities to keep

November 11, last, at of #11 Village West Coast Berbice brutally murdered Evans.

The five were not required to enter a plea to the charge and were remanded to prison until December.

Bheem Evans was allegedly beaten with a cutlass, rope, and chain, placed in a rice bag and dragged 300 feet to his death by several men over an accusation of stealing a silver chain, gold chain and eight silver rings

from one of his alleged attackers’ home.

Reports are that the incident occurred just after about 20;00 hours. It was explained by the victim’s son, Tishan Persaud, that he was on his way home on a street in Block “D” Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, when he was attacked by two suspects, armed with a cutlass, rope, and chain, He said that he was told that his father went into one of the suspect’s home and stole his silver chain, gold chain and eight silver rings.

The suspects subsequently started to deal with Tishan Persaud several lashes about his head, face and back.

Subsequently, the suspects then went on to find Evans and dealt him lashes about his face and body asking him for the supposed stolen articles.

Evans denied the allegations and the suspects then wrapped him in a one-ton rice sack and dragged him about 300 feet into another street

churning out that talent.

DCC President, Roger Harper, charged the young members at the small gathering to look at what the club means to someone who was not even a member.

He urged them to take great care of the historic institution and to play a more significant role in its enhancement.

Harper, who attended

DCC has produced famous West Indies Test players, such as the Christiani brothers, Robert and Cyril, Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs, Roy Fredericks, Roger Harper, Travis Dowlin, and the first West Indies cricket captain to win a test match, Marius Fernandes.

Shivnarine Chaderpaul also began his cricketing

Queen’s College with Dr. Denbow said that the monies will be spent on upgrades and they will be accounted for.

Established in 1912,

career at the club.

In 2011, DCC was voted the Club-of-theYear by the Guyana Cricket Board.

in the said village and threw him on the grass parapet and told his son to take him home.

Being injured as well, the son went to the police at Fort Wellington Police Station and reported the matter. Evans was picked up by police in an

unconscious condition and taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

The body is presently lying at Fort Wellington Hospital Mortuary.

Five remanded for Bheem Evans’s murder

Following the beating of 54-year-old Berbician, Bheem Evans, last Friday five men were today charged and remanded to prison for his murder.

They made their first court appearance in the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate, Peter Hugh.

Those charged are 22-year-old unemployed Youth, Brian Evans, called Black Boy of #11 Village West Coast Berbice; 27yearold also unemployed

info@guyanapostonline.com

Ryan Dhanraj of Block D Waterloo, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice; 18-year-old labourer James David of # 12 Village, West Coast Berbice; 22-yearold, unemployed Youth, Samuel Vanbrook, called Chucky of Waterloo, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, and Leeward Chung called Boysie, 22, and unemployed of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice.

According to the police, all five of the men on

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Guyana Post Saturday January 30, 2021

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