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ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER

Tuesday Sept. 21, 2021

AUDITOR GENERAL SAYS COVID LIMITS HIS ABILITY TO AUDIT CASH GRANTS

ARGUMENT OVER LANDING RIGHTS AT VREED-EN-HOOP LEADS TO MURDER

TRUCK ACCIDENT KILLS ONE IN INTERIOR

Tuesday Sept. 21, 2021

AUDITOR GENERAL SAYS COVID LIMITS HIS ABILITY TO AUDIT CASH GRANTS

With several questions raised about the relief grants after being distributed by the

Government, Auditor General, Deodat Sharma today revealed that there has been some level of

difficulty in auditing those finances. He said that the difficulties were due to the COVID-19

Pandemic.

Speaking to reporters on the issue, in the face of some allegations of fraud leveled against the programme and the audit deadline, Mr. Sharma said that while the COVID-19 Cash is currently ongoing, COVID-19 has really played a role in being a difficult factor to contend with while his team was trying to audit the various documents. As such a deadline cannot be given for a particular report.

“One day we are there and the second day we have COVID-19 issues so some of the regions

have been locked down.

We can’t really go in as usual. So, that’s my take on it” Mr. Sharma noted.

Mr. Sharma insisted that with the problems posed, the Auditor General staff are doing what they can in whichever area or region they are in.

“We have been wherever possible.

Wherever I have my staff they have been checking on the payment,” Mr. Sharma further noted.

Sharma further explained the even with such a factor, they have been doing the work and trying their best to ensure that a report is done in the

shortest possible time.

This audit came as a part of a request from the Government, and the Opposition. It was requested formally to have a special audit of several programmes which are geared to first give relief to those affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

On the other hand, there was a request to audit the grants that were given out to those affected by floods.

Billions of dollars have already been given out but the Opposition is contending that the monies did not however fall into the right hands.

ARGUMENT OVER LANDING RIGHTS AT VREED-EN-HOOP LEADS TO MURDER

A fight over access to a koker has left one brother dead another injured by stab wounds about their

Dead in 36-year-old, Sigmol Gouveia, of ‘A’ Field Sophia Greater, Georgetown, and injured is his bother, 37-year-old Neville Gouveia.

According to a police report on the incident, it was noted that the incident occurred on Friday, just around 23:00 hours at the Vreed-enHoop Stelling, West Coast Demerara.

At the time of the bodies. The wounds incident, it was explained were allegedly inflicted that the boat had arrived by a man at a Vreed-en- with three unknown men. Two of the men Hoop dockyard

exited the vessel, leaving the other in the boat, who later ventured out to the river.

Sometime later, eyewitnesses in the area related that they heard a loud argument between the suspect and Signol who insisted that the area could not be used for passage, As such, the suspect was later told to contact the boat that would have dropped him off to come and uplift him from the location. That request was followed.

But while the suspect waited, another argument ensued leading to the suspect dealing Signol with a stab to his abdomen causing him to fall to the ground.

The victim’s brother, Neville, who was present, on seeing this, approached the suspect, however, he too received stab wounds to his right upper arm and chest.

The boat then returned shortly after with nearly a dozen persons on board.

They were all armed with pieces of wood and

Truck accident kills one in interior

Another trip down a steep hill in the interior has left one dead and several others injured after the driver lost control of the vehicle due to a defective steering arm.

The dead has been identified as 17-year-old Mark Wells, of Kumaka Junction Mabaruma, N.W.D, Region One. Those injured were driver, 27-year-old, John

Peters of Kumaka Stretch Mabaruma, 26-year-old Leroy Chu, unemployed of Kumaka Water Front Mabaruma, and 35-year-old Edwin King, unemployed of Kumaka Stretch Mabaruma.

Reports are that motor lorry GWW 609, driven

by Peters, was proceeding west along the Yarakita Access Road at a fast rate of speed. While descending a hill the steering arm which was defective (it had on a substitute part) came loose causing Peters to lose control of the vehicle.

The lorry ended up colliding into a mud wall (baranka) on the northern

side of the road, spun, and turned turtle. As a result of the collision, the three occupants in the tray were hurled into the air and onto the roadway.

It was explained that the Chu received lacerations to the right ankle, and abrasions to his left shoulder and about his body, King received abrasions about his body and Wells received lacerations to the left side of his head, left ankle, and abrasion to the back and shoulder.

Wells and King were picked up in an unconscious condition and Leroy Chu was picked up in a conscious condition by

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the Mabaruma Regional Hospital Ambulance and taken to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital where Mark Wells was pronounced dead.

Wells’s body is said to be lying in the Mabaruma Regional Hospital Mortuary awaiting post mortem examination.

King and Chu were admitted patients suffering from fractured right ribs and open fractures to the right ankle. Edwin King is listed as critical while Leroy Chu is listed as stable.

The Driver of the said vehicle is set to be charged soon.

cutlasses. They collected the suspect and they all headed across the river.

Both victims were picked up by the police and taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where Sigmol was pronounced dead on arrival, while his brother was admitted as a patient.

The suspect has since been arrested and is likely to be charged with murder and attempted murder cases.

PENSIONER CHARGED FOR PRETENDING TO BE REAL ESTATE AGENT

A pensioner pretending to be a real estate agent was today slapped with a charge of fraud after allegedly selling a parcel of land that was not her own.

The defendant, Loren Graham. appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly and denied the charge.

Graham was granted bail in the sum of $300,000

and was ordered to make her next court appearance on October 18.

It is alleged that Graham between September 1 and September 17, 2021, at Georgetown, conspired with others by falsely presenting herself to Leon Joseph, as a real estate agent.

As this real estate agent, Graham reportedly sold a

parcel of land located at Lot 924 Eccles, East Bank Demerara, knowing this to be false.

Sometime after the sale, a confrontation was held between the real owners and the individual to whom the property was sold. Subsequently, Graham was contacted and later charged for the offense.

Sophia double-murder accused remanded

Close to two weeks after Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Lance Corporal, Daniel Fraser, and his Barbados-based girlfriend, Sheniqua Hodge, were killed in a hail of bullets in the Sophia Area, a 23-yearold carpenter was today charged and remanded to prison.

The accused, Koabe Grant, a resident of Sophia, appeared before Magistrate, Roshell Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and

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was not required to plead to the capital offence of murder.

It is alleged that Grant on September 1, last, in ‘A’ Field, shot and killed Hodge and Fraser.

Grant was remanded to prison and is expected to return to court on September 30.

Reports are that both Fraser and Hodge were heading home on a motorcycle when the two were approached

by Grant, who opened fire on them killing them both.

Grant then made his escape. Subsequently, through an investigation, he was later arrested and charged for the double murder.

An autopsy report revealed that Hodge was shot four times, while Fraser was shot once to the chest.

Grant was known to the victims. He had previous grievances with Fraser, who, according to reports, would usually torment Grant over an old incident that occurred.

Tuesday Sept. 21, 2021

Azimut Yachts Drops Anchor in Guyana Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, extended a warm welcome to AzimutBenetti, the world’s largest manufacturer of luxury vessels when they arrived in Guyana.

The welcome began with a Big Splash to launch the sales division.

The occasion was held at the Pegasus Hotel on Saturday night with Dr. Peter Ramsaroop (CEO Go-Invest), Timothy Tucker (GGCI), and prominent business owners such as Robert Badal, Stanley Ming, Mahendra Jetoo, Rudy Ramalingum, and many others in attendance.

The Minister said the time was ripe for Guyana to experience and enjoy the type of luxury and recreation that an Azimut Yacht offers and what was once considered luxury would soon be a necessity as more of the projects in the country is developed.

Azimut, which has been in existence for more

than fifty years, holds the number one spot in the production of yachts for the past 20y years. It continues to expand its distribution and sales to more than 80 countries by partnering with local business persons.

The regional team in Guyana, Azimut Yachts Caribbean Limited, will be led by Terence Clarke and Amzard Karim.

They were joined by Mr. Federico Ferrante, President of Azimut Benetti Americas, and Ms. Caterina Valiani, Regional Sales Manager from the North American headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Mr. Clarke explained, “The yacht business is a way of life for me; it is my passion and not just a business venture so I will personally be involved in every way to make sure that we succeed.”

Mr. Ferrante showcased the company’s long history of quality and dominance in the yachting

business. He stated the reasons why the company was opening operations in Guyana.

“Azimut-Benetti is not afraid to take risks and push beyond existing barriers.

We pride ourselves in being leaders, the first to accomplish what others think is impossible.”

He then went on to introduce the various yacht collections produced by Azimut: The Verve Collection, The Atlantis Collection, The Flybridge Collection, The Magellano Collection, and The Grande Collection, all designed and built-in factories in Italy.

Rudy Ramalingum from the Maraiko Bay Megaproject extended best wishes to the Azimut-Benetti group, emphasizing that the two companies had much in common – quality, luxury, and lifestyle, all areas that were needed in Guyana.

“We look forward to providing every one

Regions Three, Four and Six account for the highest suicide rates in Guyana The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security recognizes the significance of this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day theme, “Creating Hope through Action.”

Guyana has been unable to shake its high suicide rate, with the most affected groups being youth and women. Physical and emotional abuses are among the leading causes of suicide while hanging or poisoning are the most frequent methods used.

Recent studies show the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental impact on mental health wellness among adolescents and adults.

Most worrisome in Guyana, there have been 147 suicides, with 120 being men. Nineteen of those were persons 5-19

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years while 109 were between 20 and 60 years.

Regions Three, Four, and Six accounted for the largest numbers of those deaths.

During the first half of 2021, 30 children attempted suicide with 25 being females.

Reports revealed that approximately 30% of children aged 15-19 years couldn’t share their problems with anyone.

This alarming trend signals the need for adults to recognize the preemptive signs, identify the triggers, and offer critical support.

This is done through listening in a non-judgmental or understanding way, creating a support network and being proactive in getting that young person

professional help if necessary, and developing a trustworthy relationship that invites confidence.

The call to action to stimulate hope is a pertinent reminder to everyone that suicide is preventable.

What is required is collectivity in awareness, accurate information dissemination, and the concern for each other to not dismiss any person when they express suicidal intent or exhibit signs of depression or other mental health issues.

Strengthening coping mechanisms also requires more open and frank dialogues among various groups including spouses, parents, and children, so early interventions could be made.

Tuesday Sept. 14, 2021

COVID-19 measures hit commercial banks

Banks in Guyana are set to fully impose COVID-19 Measures in which only vaccinated persons would be allowed to enter the banking facility

to make transactions come this Monday.

The new measures gazetted just over a week stated that all those people entering not only

Government but any Private or Public Building is requested to show a negative PCR Test in order for entry in the premises.

With such an announcement, the Guyana Bankers Association of Bankers noted that banks in keeping with the latest gazetted measures are not advised to follow such orders.

The Association then reminded customers of the new and by which those measures were to be kicked in this week.

However, it was

reported that several banking institutions would have complained at the time given in order to be in full compliance.

As such, Banking Institutions have complained about the time given to have themselves into full compliance. The Banks have indicated that some staff isn’t themselves vaccinated.

Those complaints were reportedly filtered to the Bank of Guyana and later to the Ministry of Health.

It is unclear, however, if an extension was made which would have given

banks some time to get themselves in order.

Some of the commercial financial institutions say they would have given the indication that comes Monday the full COVID-19 requirement

for entry will be imposed.

These new measures come at a time when the Government is facing a number of criticisms over the manner in which the vaccination policy is rolled out.

LIFE IS MORE THAN COVID

Adam’s note book

There is more to life than COVID-19. But from the conversations and the news, one would believe that the only thing happening in the world is the spread of C OVID-19. And for good reason. The death toll is increasing as are the number of cases of hospitalization.

And this is happening even as people are being vaccinated.

For anyone to say that they know what is happening is for that person to be fooling anyone who is listening.

All of a sudden, the authorities around the world are saying that the vaccines are almost useless against certain variants of COVID-19.

They have stopped short of saying that certain vaccines are now obsolescent.

But whatever the case, more and more Guyanese are seeking to be vaccinated and that is a good thing. It may not slow the spread of the virus but it would certainly keep many people out of hospital once Guyanese or foreigners do not import

the more infectious variants. And that is wishful thinking.

Sporting events are back. There is cricket, football, tennis, track and field, motor racing, cycling—just name it and the event is being held. Except for Guyana sports is a way of life.

In most countries, people take sports so seriously that their sending on certain goods is dictated by the sports personality behind the goods.

There was a time when young cricketers gravitated to certain autographed bats. Rohan Kanhai, Gary Sobers, and the like made money whenever their autographed bats were sold on the market.

Today, cricket bats are produced by so many manufacturers that it would not be unusual to see at least six bat makers on display during one inning.

These bat makers sponsor players. They pay them a commission each year to use the particular sports gear.

In Guyana, we do not make sporting goods.

We simply lack the technology. At the same time, we do not sponsor sportspeople. And it is not that there are not businesses that can afford to do so. It is just that our business community is bent on making and keeping money rather than investing in sports.

We sit back and we cheer the Jamaicans and the other Caribbean countries that have secured gold medals at international events.

Our gold medal came at the Pan American Games and at the Commonwealth Games.

Tiny Grenada has an Olympic gold as does Suriname and Trinidad.

We do have a bronze in boxing but that was so many years ago. Jamaica is the talking point. It is a powerhouse. It is churning out athletes like Virat Kohli or Joe Root makes runs in cricket.

One only needs to look at the money the Jamaican government and the business community invest in sports in that country.

Guyana has not been spending money on sports.

Football, one of the cheapest games to promote sees boys from ordinary families. They don’t get much and they don’t ask for much. The result is that almost all the football teams in the region beat us.

It is the same with cricket and other sports.

The local clubs do their best but they are hard-pressed to get many players on the international team.

Fortunately, there are some franchises that put money into the pockets of the players.

There is another thing about this country. We do not recognize those who make it to the top.

The state named a street after Shiv Chanderpaul, Demerara Cricket Club named a street after Lance Gibbs, and a

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part of the East Coast Demerara highway after Clive Lloyd. Lloyd did get a national award.

But it is not all bad news. There are young people who are making the best of whatever comes their way. I just found out that a group of young techies won some gold, silver and bronze medals at the recent electronic competition.

It would be interesting to know how much money the private sector spent on these young kids. Even more, it would be interesting to find out how much government spending went into the STEM programme.

And when one stops to consider that the Lotto Fund had a few billion dollars for sports.

Some clubs went to the government for money

and got precious little.

Often they got nothing.

Chelsea Edghill had to rely on her parents for almost all of her playing career. She went on to do well with precious little in Tokyo.

Alika Persaud who made us proud in the pool at Tokyo was just one of the few who had to make do with little.

This is the culture of our country. Make as much money as possible and spend as little as possible.

Advertisers look for the cheapest display and do the least number of advertisements. That is why the government is the largest advertiser in this country, something that you would not find in any other country.

Tuesday Sept. 7, 2021

PRESSURE MOUNTS ON GEA; US ACTIVIST WRITES PRESIDENT ALI CALLING FOR ACTION

Influential US Human Rights Activist, Dr. Joseph Beasley, of the Joe Beasley Foundation, has written to Head of State, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, over the controversy involving SBF International, Inc., an Afro Guyanese petroleum company, and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).

To this end, the US Activist in his September 6, 2021 letter said, “I pledge myself, the Joe Beasley Foundation, and the totality of my influences and resources to assisting in a prompt and equitable resolution of this matter.”

The involvement of the foundation, according to Beasley, comes as a result of recent reports, communications, and news releases that suggest that SBF International, Inc., is being subjected to discriminatory practices in the cancellation of its operating license without a fair hearing of the entirety of circumstances surrounding this matter, or the proper opportunity to cure any potential violations of regulatory compliance.

Dr. Beasley in his letter to President Ali said, “…There also appear to be inconsistencies in the standards applied to other companies either in their approval to operate or in the latitude granted for them to continue operating when minor violations are detected.”

“In view of the fact that SBF International, Inc., is a company with a demonstrated record of impressive growth,

substantial earnings, and profitability, and that its operations appear to benefit a broad spectrum of the Afro Guyanese community in particular and the entire Guyanese economy as a whole, it seems premature, unfortunate and somewhat odd that an order to cancel its license was issued hastily and peremptorily rather than an appropriate time of suspension accompanied by an opportunity to resolve any misunderstandings, minor misdeeds or errors in judgment.

The Foundation’s involvement follows appeals made by SBF International Inc., President, Mr. Dorwain Bess to several members of the US Government.

These included Congressmen Hakeem Jeffries and Hank Johnson; Georgia State Senator Michael Rhett, Alabama State Representative, Laura

Hall, South Carolina State Representatives, John King, and Annie McDaniel, and former State Representative Mrs. Dee DawkinsHaigler of Georgia.

Additionally, Bess has also written to the US Ambassador to Guyana, Ms. Sarah Ann-Lynch, and Guyana’s President, Dr. Ali calling for immediate intervention.

In his letter to the President, Bess drew reference to the fact that at the recently held Third Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM)—attended by both President Ali and US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah AnnLynch—“the two of you both addressed issues pertaining to licensing in Guyana.”

SBF International Inc since its establishment in 2016 has grown its annual revenues to $24,704,180 USD in 2019, prior to the license

Motorcycle bandits and woman rob men at Annandale

Five persons hanging out at an Ital shop in Annandale are now counting their losses after six armed bandits robbed them of their valuables.

Reports are that five persons were at the said Ital shop located at Annandale Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, Tuesday info@guyanapostonline.com

evening just about 10:20 hours when the incident occurred.

The victims were reportedly watching television while playing a game of cards. They were approached by the suspects, who held them at gunpoint and proceeded to relieve them of their valuables, while the

female remained on the motorcycle.

The suspects then got on their motorcycles and made good their escape on four motorcycles in the western direction.

The victims were identified as a 32-year-old male of Buxton; He has robbed of one Samsung cellphone valued at

$23,000 and one Eagle wallet valued at $2000 and containing one ID card, and $16,500; a 28-yearold male of Buxton, who was robbed of one black Samsung Galaxy 8 plus cellphone valued $70,000.

Additionally, a 27-yearold male of Buxton was also robbed of one iPhone 8plus valued at $70,000, while a 27-year-old male also of Buxton was robbed of one 13 pennyweight gold chain valued at $70,000.

The fifth victim, a 29-year-old male of Buxton was also robbed of one Samsung J3 Star cellphone and one 12 pennyweight gold chain valued at $70,000.

Checks were later made for the suspects but they were not seen or arrested, as the investigation continues

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cancellation in 2020.”

SBF International, Inc., has to date also contributed over $2 billion in taxes to the nation of Guyana.

According to Bess in his letter to President Ali, “At the time our license was cancelled, the company employed over 100 permanent and 250 temporary AfroGuyanese from the underserved community of Linden, Belladrum, Georgetown, Eccles, and other areas in the West Demerara District.”

He further contends that the sudden and improper cancellation of “our license” has caused severe and near irreparable harm to the company, its employees, and our community.

“The cancellation, in my view, is a continuing manifestation of the ongoing inequitable practices of the Guyana Energy Authority (GEA) under the leadership of its Director, Mr. Mahender

Sharma.”

The company has since filed a suit against the GEA and Mr. Sharma.

That matter is currently pending in the courts.

In his appeal to the President, Bess said, “this entire matter should never have gotten this far and should have been a meeting between SBF and their attorney with the GEA and their attorney to fix whatever grievance there might have been.”

Any other time, Bess affirms, “this would have been settled between the parties.”

He additionally used the occasion to remind that in a public missive published in the local dailies, the Chairman of the GEA, Mr. Jerome Khan, stated that other groups received Import Licenses without meeting the GEA requirements.

Gunmen target Demerara Harbour Bridge commuters, two arrested

Several persons early this morning while waiting for the Demerara Harbour Bridge to retract so that they could head to Georgetown were robbed of their valuables by armed gunmen on a motorcycle.

According to reports, early this morning, eight men reportedly armed with guns pounced on several commuters on the eastern side of the bridge waiting to cross.

Police responded with their anti-crime patrols in Division 4A and intercepted two of the suspects with one of the motorcycles.

Those two suspects have been identified as a 23-year-old and a 15-yearold, both males.

When the two were searched, police later discovered three cellphones, a pink handbag, a female makeup kit, a lip gloss, $8,100 cash, two lighters, two packets of cigarettes, a bunch of keys, and a black 110 motorcycle without a registration number.

The two were later taken into police custody.

Further searches for the other perpetrators are being conducted.

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