Issuu

Keeping you updated on current events... ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPERS

CXC TO REVIEW PAPERS, RESOLVE UNGRADE D ISSUES

FORMER CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER APPOINTED AS EDUCATION SPECIALIST Pg3

NCERD GETS NEW DIRECTOR Pg5

ESCAPED PRISONER RECAPTURED Pg3

Severe health

conditions possible after COVID-19 recovery Pg5

Police officer stabbed after trying to stop argument Pg5

COVID cases not slowing down

WEEKEND REVIEW AND SPECIAL EDITION 1

Pg10

Severe health conditions possible after COVID-19 recovery

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony is cautioning the nation against adopting a cavalier approach to COVID-19. He said that while the severity of the illness varies, some people suffer severe long-term effects weeks and months after the illness should have subsided. The Minister said he is concerned that people may be shirking the COVID-19 protocols because they see many

people become ill with the milder forms of the disease and many who are asymptomatic, recover well. However, some ‘recovered’ patients have also been experiencing symptoms weeks and months after the illness is supposed to have worn off. These range from severe fatigue to heart failure. The latest one, maybe about a week ago, that emerged is that they are seeing cases where persons

who had COVID-19, three months after, now have myocarditis which means that the muscle of the heart is being infected or there is some inflammation there and they are attributing that to the virus. They are also seeing that with many of the other organs in the body,” Dr. Anthony explained. Other health complications postinfection include blood clots and blood vessel problems while there is

a significant impact on mental health, particularly affecting mood. Surviving COVID-19 can also make a person more likely to later develop posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Minister Anthony explained that conditions like these are now emerging and have prompted global research by scientists to determine the actual long-term effects of COVID-19. It was noted that there is a

system already in place to monitor these possibilities. In the wake of these findings, Dr. Anthony is urging the public to safeguard themselves from infection. Meanwhile, the Minister spoke about the successful use of convalescent plasma to aid patients’ recovery. This treatment entails transfusing plasma from the blood of recovered patients into critically-ill patients. The blood of

recovered patients often develop high levels of antibodies which are natural defences against the disease. “We have been encouraging people who have recovered to come forward, make the donation at the Blood Bank [National Blood Transfusion Service] so that we can get the convalescent plasma and use it on patients who are sicker,” Minister Anthony said. According to the Health Minister, as of Friday, September 25, there were 2,709 cases of COVID-19. Some 1,881 of these persons have recovered, while 74 persons have died. Minister Anthony again reiterated calls for the public to observe the COVID-19 emergency measures including the correct and consistent use of masks, practising social distancing, and practising good hand hygiene

C X C T O R E V I E W PA P E R S , RESOLVE UNGRADED ISSUES The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has agreed to look into and resolve issues surrounding widespread concerns of the results released for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE). Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, made a social media post on Friday saying that following a meeting with CXC, they agreed to: “Review the papers/work of schools pursuant to a request by the Ministry of Education and “Resolve the ‘ungraded’ issue by grading

the papers that were already sent to them or the Local Registrar.” The Minister said that the request to CXC would be made shortly and will be supported by stats validating the concerns. Registrar of the CXC,

Dr. Wayne Wesley, during a virtual press conference on Friday said that while a general re-grading of the results will not take place, Education Ministries and students can submit requests for queries or a review by October 23.

After that, the official CAPE and CSEC results will be released on November 6. Wesley also noted that it was impossible for some of the discrepancies being reported to occur given the rigorous system in place by the Examination Council. “All our data that we reviewed and have ensured that our processes and systems are in place has not revealed what is being said and I am asking…provide us with the information so that we can address them and where local registrars and ministries have done so we have addressed them.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic examinations had

been temporarily postponed and were changed to have students be graded using Paper One and their School Based Assessments (SBAs). Wesley clarified that there was no change with the weighting when compared to previous years but noted that Paper Two was not written this year which usually accounts for 40% of the grade. However, all the SBAs were marked this year instead of random samples and grades were either improved or adjusted. Queen’s College, Guyana’s top secondary school, had earlier announced its intention to file an injunction at the

Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) seeking to block the official declaration of the results if CXC does not review the grades. The authorities at the school also said that they would petition Guyana’s Education Ministry to remove Guyana from participating in future CSEC exams

Former Chief Education Officer appointed as Education Specialist

Former Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, has been appointed Education Specialist in the Office of the Minister of Education. Sam was described in a press release by the Ministry as an educator, administrator and leader in the education fraternity with over twenty-five years of service. His

leadership abilities have effectively organized, directed and enhanced education systems, institutions, policy structures and programs in various institutions. Sam holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Sociology, Anthropology and Education from Swarthmore College,

Pennsylvania; a Master’s Degree in International Education / Concentration in Latin America and Caribbean Studies from New York University; and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate of the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. Sam began his career in education as a High

School Teacher in 1991 at the Walton High School, Bronx New York, USA and then became an Elementary School Teacher at the Our Lady of Grace Elementary School from 1999 to 2002. He was also a Graduate Tutor at the New York University Metropolitan Centre for Education. In 2007 he took up office in Guyana as a Technical Advisor to the Minister of Education until 2010 and from 2011 to September 2016, he served as the Chief Education Officer for the Ministry of Education. He has also served as Chairman of the Guyana School of Agriculture, Commissioner on the Teaching Service Commission, a member

The 23-year-old prisoner who escaped from the Lusignan Prison on September 23 has been recaptured.

Leroy Graham broke out from a burnt section of the Prison where he was being held and escaped by jumping a fence.

Police officers acted on information they received and proceeded to the location in Buxton where the fugitive was found

hiding in a shack. He was arrested around 7:15 p.m. and taken to the Vigilance Police Station before being handed over

on the Caribbean Examinations Council’s Final Awards Committee, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Cyril Potter College of Education, member of the CARICOM Taskforce on Teacher Education and Training and a member of the CARICOM Task Force on the Establishment of Teaching Councils. Sam is currently a lecturer at the University of Guyana for the Masters in Education and Bachelors in Education programs. He has authored several papers and made numerous presentations covering issues such as the revision of the national curriculum, re-integrating teenage mothers into

to the Prison Service. Graham had been charged for armed robbery and was remanded to the prison on August 20.

Escaped prisoner recaptured 3

the education system, improving primary education in Guyana, reforming teacher education and training in Guyana, the experiences of boys in schools in Guyana and improving the quality of education delivery. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, also commented on Sam’s appointment, “Olato Sam has much to contribute. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. He is very talented, focused and passionate about taking the sector forward. “Guyana will be richer for his addition to the education team and I am very happy to have him back within the Ministry.”

By Sir Ronald Sanders

Letters Caribbean wouldn’t tolerate external interference on Republics

(The writer is Antigua and B a r b u d a ’ s Ambassador to the U.S. and the OAS. He is also a senior fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and at Massey College in the University of Toronto. The view expressed are entirely his own) Of all the fanciful reasons imputed to the decision of the government to make Barbados a Republic, shedding its monarchical status with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State, the most surprising has come from the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British House of Commons, Tom Tugendhat. The Foreign Affairs Committee, comprised of parliamentarians from all political parties in the House, is a serious body. It has produced important and influential reports in the past. Therefore, when its Chairman makes a statement, it would be imprudent just to dismiss it. The Times’ newspaper quoted him as saying on September 23, eight days after the Barbados G o v e r n m e n t ’s decision was declared: “China has been using infrastructure investment and debt

diplomacy as a means of control for a while and it’s coming closer to home for us. “British partners have long faced challenges from rivals seeking to undermine our alliance. Today we’re seeing it in the Caribbean. Some islands seem to be close to swapping a symbolic Queen in Windsor for a real and demanding emperor in Beijing.” As head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Tugendhat should have been better informed. The Barbados government was no more influenced by China to change its status to a Republic, than it was under pressure by the British government to continue to share Queen Elizabeth as the Head of the two separate realms. It is unfortunate that some in the international community regard small states as inexpert, seeing them as ready objects of manipulation by big powers through either coercion or enticements. Thus, the presence of China in the Caribbean, where it has made investments that have aided economic development, is characterised as “a means of control”, as Mr. Tugendhat puts it. Discounted altogether is that,

in many Caribbean countries, China has given much needed loans and grants when others have been significant by their absence, or where, by their presence, they institute unhelpful policies of ‘black listing’ countries without consultation, or blocking much needed loans from international financial institutions on criteria that takes no account of the vulnerability of small states. Do loans translate into coercive influence over small Caribbean states? The answer is unreservedly no. Loans must be repaid, including Chinese ones whose main attraction is their longer repayment periods and lower interest rates. If their rivals met their terms, competition would win out. In any event, amid the COVID-19 crisis, China has shown no desire to forgive debt or to defer interest payments to give developing countries more breathing space. However, unlike the members of the Paris Club of official creditors (mostly G7 countries), China has deferred principal payments on loans. If anything, it is other powerful states that provide space for China in the Caribbean by not offering money on competitive terms

and by refusing to support issues that are vitally important to Caribbean States. Among those issues are curbing Climate Change, promoting debt forgiveness in the epoch of COVID-19, and removing the skewed criteria of per capita income that prohibits many Caribbean countries from access to concessionary loans. Whether large and powerful nations accept it or not, governments of small states are not vassals; in making foreign policy and domestic decisions, they make them in the context of what is in their best interest. That choice may result in upsetting one or other of powerful rival states, but it would be wrong for them to believe that Caribbean governments are incapable of making reasoned decisions in their country’s interests. On other comments made about the Barbados’ wish to proceed to Republican status, should it do so it will not cease to be a member of the Commonwealth of Nations which stopped being “British” in 1949 on the independence of India and Pakistan and their becoming Republics. At that time, it was accepted that the British Crown would

be the “Head of the Commonwealth” and, as such, “the symbol of the voluntary association” of its members. Of the 54 member states of the Commonwealth, 31 are Republics. There also appears to be a perception that, in swearing allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II in Barbados and other Caribbean countries, fealty is being sworn to the Queen of the United Kingdom. This is not so. The Queen is head of state of each of her realms separately. So, in each country when the oath of allegiance is made, it is to the sovereign as head of that state only. Another point worth making is that if, in becoming a Republic, the choice is made for a non-Executive President (as was recommended by a Constitutional Commission headed by Sir Henry Forde in 1998), no change in the system of government will occur in Barbados or any other county that follows that pattern. The decision of the Barbados government, which has been in contemplation for 17 years, resides in one overarching consideration. It is this: the people of Barbados have a right to decide that their Head of State should be a symbol of their nation – someone

who is from, and of the country, who lives within it, who shares its challenges and its benefits and who encompasses their common identity. That decision has not one jot to do with external influences. It is simply a national conclusion whose time has come, logically, emotionally, and intellectually. WillotherCaribbean monarchical states do the same? Highly likely they will, for the same important reason that motivates Barbados. But because their constitutions, unlike Barbados’, requires them to hold a referendum in which the majority of the electorate vote in favour (and they have to obtain a two-thirds majority vote in the elected House), the political parties – in government and opposition – have to agree to proceed. More importantly, they will have to jointly explain the implications to the people, or political rivalry and distrust of politicians will defer the change. Unless they do so, “God Save the Queen/King” may still be sung alongside the national anthems of remaining Caribbean realms for another decade.

NCERD GETS NEW DIRECTOR

Quenita WalrondLewis has been appointed Director of the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD). She will take up the post on October 1. A press release from the Ministry of Education stated that Ms Walrond-

Lewis is an Education Consultant and Project Manager by profession and has worked with the Ministry of Education to produce positive change and development at Nursery, Primary and Secondary levels. It noted that in various

previous education leadership capacities, she has worked to build collaborative working relationships with education stakeholders nationally and regionally. “She has also built critical linkages with other governmental and non-governmental Early Childhood Development (ECD) stakeholders in Guyana, as well as the regional CARICOM ECD working group. “She also liaises with key stakeholders within the Ministry of Education both centrally and regionally to inform decisions about the execution of Education initiatives nationwide.” Lewis holds a Hons. BSc, Psychology and a Masters of Arts in Child Study and Education from

the University of Toronto. She has successfully worked with learners from Pre-Kindergarten to University levels. She was previously an educator in both special education and general education environments; and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto (Mississauga Campus). She has also worked as a Parent Educator, instilling and sharing best practices in Early Childhood Education and serving as a positive link between families, the community, and the school system. Lewis returned to Guyana in 2012 and began working at NCERD to reignite the then dormant, Nursery Unit of the Curriculum Division. She has developed and

co-created classroombased assessment, monitoring and evaluation tools, and teaching resources to be used at the Nursery, Primary, and Secondary level; and has authored publications relating to Early Childhood Education in Guyana, the country’s first Nursery Diagnostic Assessment, and edited the revised Roraima Reader Series. She also co-authored the Nursery Sector Action Plan for the Education Strategic Plan 20142018, and co-created an awareness campaign for the citizenry about the importance of nursery education, and the fundamental role parent engagement plays in this process. Lewis described her

return to NCERD in the capacity of Director as “…both an honour and privilege” because she recognizes the incontestable significance the institution holds for the propulsion of education development in Guyana. Jennifer Cumberbatch, the previous Director, occupied the post for eight years and will be moving to the position of a Quality Assurance Consultant. Lewis said she is grateful for the mentorship and collegial support she has enjoyed from her predecessor and is looking forward to the continuation of the strong partnerships she has enjoyed with the officers of NCERD, the Ministry of Education and Departments of Education and the frontline educators across Guyana.

Police officer stabbed after trying to stop argument A 20-year-old Police Constable was stabbed in his back and neck after trying to part a fight between two persons in Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara. The Constable, Marcos Richmond, was walking home along Quamina Street, Beterverwagting around 19:40 hrs. when he noticed two men in an altercation.

He approached the men to attempt to end the conflict; one of them then became annoyed and told the Constable that the altercation was none of his concern. Richmond left the men and continued on his way home. But he was attacked from behind by one of them who was armed with a knife. The assailant stabbed Richmond twice, one

in his neck and one in his back. Richmond was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation by a family member and admitted in a serious but stable condition. The suspected attacker was later arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigation.

Nine with 407 and 347 respectively. The total number of recorded cases is now at 2,709. The death toll has risen to 74. The last

recorded death was a 71-year-old woman from Region Two who died at around 10:00 a.m. on Friday. As of September 25, 13,250 persons

have been tested for the virus and 1,490 have recovered. The number of active cases remaining in Guyana is now 1,145.

COVID cases not slowing down

The Ministry of Heath recorded 130 new COVID-19 cases on Friday September 25. Two cases were from Region One, four

from Region Two, 11 from Region Three, 96 from Region Four, one from Region Five, one from Region Six, seven from Region Seven, seven from

Region Nine, and one from Region Ten. Region Four still has the highest number of recorded cases at 1,224 followed by Regions One and

Email or text your letters to us we would be happy to published them ExxonMobil Oil Rig

adameharris@yahoo.com lendellnurse6995@gmail.com 6

HOROSCOPE

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Today is the Fall Equinox, which means the Sun is opposite your sign. For the next four weeks, your focus will be on partnerships and close friendships. This is your best chance of the year to learn more about yourself through your intimate oneto-one encounters with others.

The Sun is in your sign for the next four weeks giving you a chance to recharge your batteries for the rest of the year. It will attract important people and favourable circumstances to you. It will also encourage you to express yourself and tell it like it is! Enjoy!

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

For the next four weeks, you will want to manage your life efficiently. You will work hard for yourself and others. You will strive to make every action count because you want to get the most bang for your buck. (Why not improve your health as well?)

Your birthday is approaching, which means your personal year is coming to an end. Use the next four weeks to think about what you want for your new year ahead. Define some goals because they help to clarify future decision-making. They give you a sense of purpose and help to keep you on track.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

The next four weeks are fabulous for you because the Sun is in your fellow Air Sign! Plus, it will travel through the most fun part of your chart! Accept invitations to party. Enjoy sports, social time and fun activities with kids. Yippee!

Your popularity is strong in the next four weeks. Everyone wants you on their team Enjoy schmoozing with others because if you socialize extensively, it will benefit you. (Also examine your friends because they are a reflection of who you are.)

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Your attention now shifts to home, family and your private life in the next four weeks. Many of you will be involved with a parent more than usual. Grab every opportunity to relax and cocoon at home among familiar surroundings. “Alone, at last.”

For the next four weeks, the Sun is at the top of your chart, which is the only time all year this happens. When this occurs, it (symbolically) shines a spotlight on you that is flattering! Bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs are impressed! Expect to be asked to take on increased responsibilities.

The next four weeks are fast-paced and busy! Short trips, errands, appointments, plus increased reading, writing and studying will accelerate the tempo of your days. This is a good time to express your opinions and enlighten others about what matters to you. “Now hear this…”

You want to do something different in the next four weeks. You want to get outta Dodge for a change of scenery! You want stimulation and adventure! At the very least, learn something new. Sign up for a course. Talk to someone who knows big words.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You will be more passionate and intense in the next four weeks in part because you will deal with financial issues and something to do with shared property. You might also deal with shared responsibilities. Meanwhile, your sex drive is hot!

Finances and money issues are your focus for the next four weeks. Think about our earnings and assets, and also your possessions. For example, do you own your stuff or does it own you? Obviously, what you own should make your life easier. Does it?

Editorial

The finger pointing and the truth The past week was consumed with Budget 2020 and with the ensuing debate. The comments ranged from a plagiarised effort to something that is designed to improve the welfare of the people. I did notice some effort to provide information designed to cloud the budget in a humanitarian cloak. As I noted last week, there were supposed giveaways although no date has been fixed. And if the $25,000 giveaway does come true then I suppose the claimants would have to provide proof of address. Immediately squatters would be ruled out. They may provide the address of some relative with a home but the government would be shrewd enough not to pay money twice to the same household. If the home is an apartment building that is going to be interesting. Some people have divided their houses

into rooms. Every family renting a room would be considered a household. It would be interesting to see how the government addresses this situation. What is there to stop me from placing my daughter and her child in one room, my son and his children in another and have them collect the money? That apart, I listened to Bharrat Jagdeo and his contention that the Opposition benches have people who have been sanctioned by the United States. If that was intended to be news then it failed. I remember the PPP government benches having people who were sanctioned by the United States. I remember Home Affairs Minister, the late Ronald Gajraj, having his visa revoked. He was sitting in Parliament when this happened. As fate would have it, another Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, had his visa revoked even as he was serving as a

Parliamentarian. A n o t h e r parliamentarian who sat in the National Assembly even though he was sanctioned was Dharamkumar Seeraj. There may be others but I simply point out these facts. Parliament was already dissolved when the now President Irfaan Ali was denied a visa to Canada. Jagdeo did not take these things into consideration. Of course, he was clever to note that for the first time there were people who were sanctioned over the elections. The United States embassy has not released the names of anyone so unless the affected person makes an announcement only the people selling airline tickets would be aware. There was another bit of interesting news. During the consideration of the estimates, the government members began asking questions of their

colleagues. I remember being in the briefing room of the US State Department. That is the place where the government spokesperson would face the press and answer any question on matters that made the headlines that day. There was always a reporter from the Voice of America. However, the reporter from Voice of America could not dare ask a question at that forum or at any press conference featuring a United States government official. One reporter did and was banned. As a reporter from a Third World country I simply could not understand the muzzling of one’s own reporters. It makes sense today. One cannot appear to serve lollipops to one’s leaders. So there were government members questioning themselves about the budget. What questions would you expect them to ask?

There was Kapil Mohabir whom the PPP appointed a consultant at the Climate Change Project Unit at a salary of $3 million per month. He was replaced by Dr Marlon Bristol who was paid $1.2 million per month. Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon said that Minister Gail Teixeira started out to show that Dr Bristol was being paid a lot. The information on Mohabir stopper her in her tracks. She then said that she did not name anyone and that Harmon did not have the right to name anyone. Things become even more bizarre. Robeson Benn gets up and questions whether the Coalition administration even added any megawatts to the national power system. Of course, he was challenged but then something strange happened. For all the years I have been covering the National Assembly, when a

member seeks to rise on a point of order, the speaker would take his seat. Under this new Speaker of the National Assembly, this would no longer be the case if you are sitting on the Opposition benches. He ruled that the person on the floor must yield if the person raising the point of order is to make his point. David Patterson, the Minister whom Robeson Benn declared was the Minister responsible for electricity at the time of the Coalition administration, never got the chance to answer Robeson Benn in the House. For the records the answer to Benn’s query is easily available. There were new power plants at Bartica, Canefield and Anna Regina. Canefield got a 5.5 megawatt power plant; Anna Regina got a 5.4 megawatt station and Bartica –a 3.3 megawatt station.

issue

Review

President says govt. will not tolerate racial hate on social media

President Irfaan Ali said on Friday that the government will begin enforcing penalties on those who spread racial hate through social media. “The use of social media for the promotion of racial hate for political purpose is wholly unacceptable to me as your President and as a person, and my government will not tolerate it.” Ali said he is committed to governing the people regardless of political affiliation or ethnic origin. “It deeply grieves me, therefore, when I see almost every day on social

media, the degree of race baiting, racial hate and racial hostility which pervades the social media platforms.” Ali added that he was determined to do everything in his power to end this behavior which is dividing the country and our people. He also said that he has spoken with the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, and has directed him to ensure that the full force of our laws is applied to those who pursue this criminal behaviour. The President wanted to remind those persons guilty of this abuse of social

media that freedom of expression does not extend to hate speeches or other expressions, in whatever form, capable of exciting hostility or ill-will against any person or class of persons. He added, “Such conduct, publications and utterances constitute grievous criminal offences under the Racial Hostilities, Cybercrime and other similar penal legislation and the State will not hesitate to resort to these provisions in our laws in appropriate circumstances.”

Letters

Nailing the lies being peddled By Sir Ronald Sanders

Dear Editor, Governmental infrastructure “decayed” over the past five years due to incompetence, nepotism – Nandlall Headlines like these are upsetting! How can one be so barefaced to make these wild and baseless utterances? From the time this illegal and dead regime came to office every day is something negative about the coalition government. They have not outlined a plan to the citizens how they intend or will be rolling out the promises. Days into office Guyanese were inundated with “treasury empty”, but yet the following were done: $600M given to GuySuCo to pay employment costs and other administrative costs. In excess of $20b was approved for constitutional agencies at the first sitting of the 12th Parliament. Therefore, the big question to ask is, if the treasury is empty, where the above sums came from? At least not from the PPP.

Commenting on the above statement by Mr. Nandlall. Everyone who has eyes to see is aware of what the Coalition did over the last five years. One should not fall prey to this. When we took office in 2015, the Moruca main bridge was made from lumber and was in a bad state. The people are now enjoying a solid concrete bridge made possible by the coalition. Residents in East Berbice, Region Six suffered for years under the PPP when they pleaded by way of protestations and other actions to have their roads done. They failed those people. It was the coalition that spent in excess of $1b to construct the road, install lights, and construct bridges and culverts. Region Four, Sophia area. Residents protested and requested for their roads to be done. They too were denied. The then Minister of MoPWs, Mr. Robeson Benn insulted residents and with an outburst to them, “Let PNC fix it”. Well, indeed the roads were fixed

with the inclusion of culverts, bridges, and installation of lights by the Coalition. Mocha, EBD was given a solid structural concrete bridge. Lights were installed for the very first time on the main access road. Lights installed for the first time on the #19 Road, Region Six. I don’t know whether the illegal regime visited Region 10, Kwakwani and Ituni, and Region Nine lately. Well my reminder to them is that they failed to maintain those corridors. It was the Coalition that invested heavily with the use of local funds to ensure reasonable mobility to those areas. Rather than taking 15hrs to Region Nine, you can now do so in 12hrs. Traveling to Kwakwani is now less than two hours from Linden and I can say the same for Ituni. Prior to the coalition coming to office, Guyanese were experiencing major electrical woes. Much was spent to maintain the gen-sets at GPL. Region Two

got a new power plant in Anna Regina. A sum of $800M was spent to ensure the supply of reliable and efficient electricity to residents of Anna Regina to Charity. Another major sum was spent to construct a new power plant in Bartica, Region Seven. Let’s asked the big Attorney General, prior to August 2, 2020, were Guyanese in these areas or regions complaining? My simple answer to this is No! Because the Coalition fixed it! Stellings were constructed. When last did this illegal regime visit Bartica? The coalition inherited a delapidated structure from the PPPC post in May 2015. Today, the Management of TnHD along with residents of Bartica are happy for what the Coalition did

and the change of the aesthetics. The other started by the coalition is the Leguan Stelling currently being reconstructed. The waterfront development at Supenaam. Has the illegal regime visited that area? There are comforts the traveling public can now enjoy. The installation of solar grids on public buildings, schools and health centers just to name a few. I like many Guyanese could attest to the many achievements under the Coalition government over the last five years. When you see such headlines like the one above by Anil, one must ask questions, whether, or if these people are for real and on which planet are they surviving? They have no issues or complaints to make since they inherited a roadmap from the Coalition. Rather than building on

what they found, it’s all about seeking to destroy, undo and spread propaganda, which they are noted for. I can only identify and attribute these irresponsible utterances by Anil to the PPPC, since what I have outlined above are just a few of the achievements by the Coalition. I wish to remind and also to encourage Mr. Nandlall and colleagues to take time to do a proper assessment of their ministries before opening their mouths. My advice to them is to stop peddling misinformation to our people. Guyanese are smart and with the improvement of technology, they cannot and should not be made fools. It is time we call them out! They are the ones who are incompetent and confused. Annette Ferguson, MP

Six-month-old among child abuse cases—says Director

Director Ann Greene,

Ann Greene, Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), said during her speech on Wednesday September 23, that for the period of January to August, 2020, the CPA has responded to 529 cases of child sexual abuse. The Director said that there was a drop in reports of child abuse between March and July 2020 but this was attributed to

school being out. While children are going to school there is more opportunity for persons to spot signs of abuse. She also said that sexual abuse is a hidden crime with victims being threatened, and coerced not to tell. Studies suggest that only about 12 to 30 percent of child sexual cases are reported so the number of cases in Guyana may actually be even higher.

The Director believes that due to the nature of abuse many of the victims are either not aware of what is done to them or do not have a voice to speak about it. She spoke of a report of “a six-month-old baby girl who had to be admitted to hospital with signs of sexual penetration.” Region Nine was reported as having the highest rate of abuse with 4.6 per 1000 children; followed by Region One with 3.8 and then Region Seven with 2.7. Director Greene also noted the issue of persons turning a blind eye to cases of child sexual abuse, with some parents having knowledge of the abuse or are being abused themselves. There are provisions in the Sexual Offences Act to have parents

who are knowingly complicit in acts of sexual abuse of their children, charged as accessories to the crime. The Director also called for changes to the investigative process of child abuse cases. There have been steps made with Child Advocacy Centres to make it easier for the victims to tell their stories and to provide after care and court support services. The Director expressed her concerns about the 72 hours that are allocated to hold perpetrators. She said she understands that that time is provided to bring charges and more time could be requested from the

Court to hold the alleged perpetrators. But this is hardly ever done in child sexual abuse cases. The alleged

in the Police Force, which would be staffed with specially trained police officers, social services officers -including

perpetrators are let out of custody after 72 hours and walk away from the cases and in some cases even leave the country. Because of these difficulties and the situations that they create, there are still over 800 cases that remain at the investigation level. The Director also made an appeal for a Special Victims Unit

child protection officers- and public health officers. They would facilitate speedy investigations to bring sexual perpetrators of children to justice and work at preventing child abuse She closed with a plea for the public to report any instances of child abuse to the hotline number 2270979.

Students across the Caribbean dissatisfied with CXC results One day after the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) released the results for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, there have been calls from several CARICOM

states for a review of the results. Teachers, parents and students have voiced their concerns about the accuracy of the results on social media. Several petitions have been created by students calling for reviews of the results. Business students in Guyana

created a petition, not only calling for a review, but also demanding a “Remarking and reevaluating of CSEC Grades” or reevaluating of the marks. Their petition has a target of 200 signatures. CXC responded to

questions surrounding the results of the July 2020 Examinations by posting a statement on their social media directing candidates to their website for more information on the Query and Review process for the exams. Students would have to pay to have their grades reviewed

but would be refunded the cost if it results in an increase in their overall grade. The deadline for submission of Queries and Review requests is Friday, October 23, 2020. Guyana’s top high school, Queens College, is hoping for some action to be

taken to address the issues of the results. The school’s ParentTeacher Association (PTA) hosted a media conference this morning to raise the concerns of its students and teachers. The President of the QC PTA said the school will not be accepting the results.

PRESIDENT ATTENDS FUNERAL OF HARESH SINGH

President Irfaan Ali

resident Irfaan Ali attended the funeral service of Haresh Singh, which was held today, September 23 at Persaud’s Funeral Home, New Amsterdam. The President expressed his condolences to the relatives gathered to say their final goodbyes and called

on all Guyanese to place their focus on healing and unifying the country. The President assured that the Government would remain committed to fostering national unity “through policies and programmes, through social efforts and the merging of cultures” and the creation of a single Guyanese identity. “In memory of these young men, our focus has to be on healing, on bringing our country together, and on unifying our efforts to ensure we do not have a repeat of these incidents… we have to do these

things, in addition to ensuring justice is served for these young men.” Haresh Singh, 17, was killed at Number 3 Village, West Coast Berbice during protests that were started in response to the murders of Joel and Isaiah Henry just days before. President Ali also joined the families of the Henry boys to pay his respects at Sandy’s Funeral Home on September 13. President Ali also said he would ensure that those affected and injured during the unrest would receive the necessary assistance from the

government. “In addition to visiting the families and attending the funerals of Isaiah, Joel and now Haresh, I have had the chance to talk with many of the persons who were injured and cannot fend for themselves because of those injuries. At some point also, we have to have the healing process there. I want all of these persons who were affected to know that we are going to connect with them, to find ways we can help as a Government.” The government has requested assistance in the investigations of these murders from the British

President Irfaan Ali with family members

Government and the Regional Security Service (RSS). In an interview with the Caribbean Times News, yesterday, President Ali assured that justice for the murdered teens will be served. The President gave an update on the process of acquiring aid from the British government and

RSS saying, “I am happy to report to you that we are making great progress. From CARICOM itself, we are hoping that we can have a team very shortly; we are finalising the Terms of Reference, and we signed an MOU. On the British side, we have received a very positive response.”

Guyana gets new Director of Sport

Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.

Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., has revealed that an individual has been identified to fill the position of Director of Sport. The position has

been vacant since the former Director of Sport, Chris Jones, was removed in August. The appointment of the new Director is still awaiting approval from Cabinet.

Ramson Jr. also stated that he would like the appointment of the Director to follow the appointment of the Board of the National Sports

Commission(NSC). A list of potential Board members has been prepared for consideration by the Cabinet but there have been criticisms by

several members on the listed individuals and the direction the NSC should take. Speaking about the delay in the appointment process, Minister Ramson said

that the Ministry has done a lot of things in the time since the swearing-in last August and had been taking care of other pressing matters.

Govt to spend $95M on vehicles

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has put aside $95 million in the 2020 budget to buy new vehicles for the President, Prime Minister, Vice President and other top officials of the government. Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, said that the vehicles returned to the government were in poor condition. “When former Ministers submitted their vehicles we found cracked windshields, the seats were damaged and stained and ripped up – we don’t know who did that – and when some of the Ministers got into the vehicle

and drove down the road they discovered different size tires on the vehicle and radios damaged… so this money is to do some repairs and purchase new vehicles.” Former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, asked Teixeira to provide more details related to the spending of these

funds to purchase the vehicles. Teixeira said the vehicles would be used to serve top government officials including the President, but could not give more details about their procurement. “I’m not aware of the type or the cost. Because of the urgency to get the

budget and get the money we had to rush and put in allocation because there was a problem and we had to attend to the safety and security of the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister so this allocation is here for that purpose because we had five weeks to bring the budget.” The allocated

funds are supposed to be spent between October and December 2020. The three-month period for procurement and purchase of vehicles was also o concern to Patterson. Patterson also pointed out that the details of the vehicle purchase should be made available in order to go out to

public tender. Teixeira said that in 2021 the government will make all details related to the purchase available. She assured that a procurement process would occur before the allocation was put to a vote and passed with a majority from the government side.

Email or text your letters to us we would be happy to published them adameharris@yahoo.com lendellnurse6995@gmail.com 13

POLICE HUNT LUSIGNAN PRISON ESCAPEE A manhunt has been launched for Lusignan Prison escapee, Leroy Graham, 23, who fled the East Coast

Demerara facility early this morning. Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels said Graham was

remanded on an armed robbery charge on August 20, 2020. Graham’s last known address is

Middle Walk, Buxton. Anyone with information that could lead to Graham’s recapture is urged to

contact the Lusignan Prison Operations Room on 220 4173 or the nearest police station.

FORMER EDUCATION MINISTER WORRIED ABOUT GUYANA LOSING THE GAINS OF THE PAST FIVE YEARS

Dr. Nicolette Henry

Former Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry, is supportive of the pupils who wrote the National Grade Six Assessment Examinations. “They would have written this examination during the worst pandemic

of our time, a major public health crisis. It would be more than appropriate to say congratulations to also the parents, the administrators in the education sector, and all of the stakeholders who may have been responsible for the results.

“I would have recognized from taking a look at what is there so far, that we are really making progress in terms of reducing the inequities and disparities primarily from two perspectives. “I have seen that the public schools are holding their own again, given the fact that over a decade or so ago we saw that.” Ms Henry said that during the past decade the private schools were the top performers. This was changed over the past two years and continues this year. “It is indicative of

the fact that if we are to commit ourselves to have the right policies I place then our pupils who are disadvantaged, who are marginalized, who attend public schools can have that full and equal opportunity as their counterparts that are in the private school system.” She said that good performances were not only recorded in Georgetown. This has been a drive-by the Coalition to narrow the divide between hinterland schools and those along with coastal Guyana. “It is my hope that moving forward that

the gains we have made in education will continue, and that we will see our students given the kind of support and tools so that they can continue in that trajectory Ms. Henry was involved in the debate on Budget 2020. She said that an examination of what is being presented has raised questions about the seriousness in relation to the pursuit of education. “The more I look at what the education sector is offering to the of this country in 2020 I cannot help but ask ourselves if we are going to make

PPP must respect constitution —says Roysdale Forde SC

The APNU+AFC Coalition calls on the PPP to respect the Constitution of Guyana. We demand that the PPP does not trifle with the Constitution and fulfil their obligation under the law. Article 219 (3) of the Constitution provides that where at any time Parliament has been dissolved before any provision or any

sufficient provision for the carrying on of the Government of Guyana, the Minister responsible for Finance may authorize the withdrawal of such sums from the Consolidated Fund which may be necessary for the purpose of meeting expenditure on the public services until the expiry of a period of three months

commencing with the date on which the National Assembly first meets after that dissolution. However, a statement of the expenditure so authorized SHALL, as soon as practicable, be laid before the National Assembly by the Minister responsible for Finance or any other Minister designated by the President and, when the statement

has been approved by the Assembly, that expenditure SHALL be included, under the appropriate heads in the next Appropriation Bill. To date, no minister has laid before the National Assembly any statement in accordance with and as is REQUIRED by Article 219 (3) of the Constitution. The National

retrograde steps in education. “Obviously the policies and programmes have not been properly thought out. There is an absence of critical programmes so those gaps are going to result in further inequities and of course, given the whole COVID-19 epidemic, there are so many things that are happening.” Many of the pupils and students have not been accounted for in the new school year, largely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the pupils are not in school.

Roysdale Forde SC

Assembly cannot therefore be expected lawfully to approve any such expenditure. To proceed otherwise would be a breach of the Constitution.

We call on the Government to lay before the National Assembly a statement as required by Article 219 (3) of the Constitution.

Guyana’s COVID cases are on par with global trends—Health Minister

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony has said that while the number of cases is going up people should recognize that a number of cases listed have actually recovered. “Our recovery rate is close to 80 per cent and that is in keeping with international norms. We also have a number of active cases. Currently we have 500+ active cases. This accounts for just under 20 per

cent of the cases that we currently have. “And the mortality rate is (just over two percent). When we look at what has happened with the pandemic. Globally, the number we have is approximately the same with the global trends.” But Guyana’s figures are high when compared with some countries with larger populations. Dr Anthony insists that the recovery rate is

remarkable. He said that his government has set up a team that meets every week to undertake an epidemiological assessment of the pandemic. He said that the ensuing analysis would determine the direction in which the government should go. “Many of the orders that we have issues are based on the guidance from the technical team of epidemiologists that we have been working with. “We will continue to be guided by their recommendations and once those recommendations come to me I would then forward them to, or discuss them with the government.”

At issue is whether there should be a total lockdown in the face of the spiraling cases. There is the accusation that the government is sacrificing protection against COVID for the economy. “We have to find a balance between lives and livelihood. Lives mean that we must protect the Guyanese because we don’t want anybody to get infected, hospitalised or in an ICU. “We have to work on continuing to protect the lives of people. We can do so with the preventative measures that we have been talking about,” Dr Anthony said. He said that the focus should be on personal safety. People must work and they have to do so in a

safe environment. “It’s not enough for Government alone to be involved. We have to embrace a whole society approach where every single person in our society must take on this responsibility to fight against the transmission of COVID-19 in Guyana.” And while there is talk about prevention the situation at the Lusignan Prisons is frightening. As of yesterday, 140 prisoners tested positive for COVID-19. This started from an initial two. “Some of those persons have been isolated at Lusignan itself because we have set up some isolation facilities there. Others

have been taken off the Lusignan Prison and are in a secure location where they are receiving medical assistance. “We have doctors who are working 24 hours at that facility along with other medical personnel.” Dr Anthony said that his Ministry has been working with the Ministry of Home Affairs to institute measures at the other prisons. He said that the conditions at the other prisons are known. They are overcrowded so any infected going there could cause a spread. The plan is to have sanitation stations at these institutions and to have the prisoners wear masks.

GTT restores landline services to customers in Region Three ahead of schedule Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) restored landline services to customers in Region Three on Sunday, completing underwater repairs ahead of schedule. For some time now the telephone company has been like he dog chasing its tail. It has been forced to constantly replace vandalized cable. On Sunday evening, the company announced the full restoration of telecommunication

services to the area, days earlier than anticipated. On September 8, 2020 suspected sabotage to a fiber-optic cable belonging to GTT impacted over 25,000 customers in West Demerara. Within 24 hours, mobile and internet services were restored but landline service remained impacted. “We have since been able to restore landline services to all communities and are thankful to

GTT Technician

our technicians for ensuring that this restoration was done ahead of schedule,” said PR Manager at GTT, Jasmin Harris. Harris explained that to fully restore service to Region

Three, approvals from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) was necessary. Divers had to map the points of the damage to begin splicing and repairs.

“GTT apologizes to its customers for the major service disruption and calls on communities across Guyana to work together to prevent future acts of sabotage,” Harris

stated. “We all have a responsibility to be vigilant, to prevent service disruptions that negatively impact a range of customers – including children reliant on telecommunications for their learning,” Harris stressed. “It’s unfortunate the state in which we retrieved our cable – let’s avoid these unnecessary disruptions and bring the perpetrators to justice,” she added.

50 LLB graduates signal intention to become prosecutors Nandlall, has said that 50 law graduates from the University of Guyana (UG) have indicated their interest in being trained to serve as prosecutors. Attorney General, Anil Nandlall Nandlall Attorney General made this and Minister of Legal disclosure during his Affairs, Mohabir Anil address at the Budget

2020 debates on Friday. The graduates, all holders of Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees, will have to undertake a one-year accredited prosecutorial training programme at UG. This will soon be implemented through Support from the Criminal Justice System (SCJS) programme

This programme is funded by the Inter-American Bank (IDB), aimed at strengthening G u y a n a ’ s prosecutorial services. Graduates who are selected will be hired as prosecutors in the Magistrates’ courts in collaboration with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Guyana Police Force.

The AG said one of the goals of the initiative is to address the overcrowding of local prisons. Guyana’s prison population significantly surpasses the world’s average with a rate of 264 per 100,000 and an occupancy level of 137.5 per cent. Nandlall attributed this to an over reliance

on custodial sentences and the overuse of pretrial detention in the criminal justice system. The AG first spoke of the initiative at the commissioning of the Court Superintendent Office at the Brickdam Police Station earlier this month.

and $100,000 for his wrongful arrest on August 21, 2020. Jones claims that on August 20, 2020 at or about 18:30hrs during a power outage, the police who were armed, cordoned off his premises and demanded entry. They failed to provide a search warrant which led him to deny them access. He made an application to the High

Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature and was granted an interim conservatory order to prevent the defendants from entering his premises. The police trespassed on his premises by jumping the fence and wrongfully seized his property. The police also wrongfully restrained, arrested and detained him. Jones is also seeking to be awarded for exemplary damages since ‘the execution of the search, entry and arrest were violent, aggressive, arbitrary, unconstitutional and devised to invoke, and did invoke fear into him and his family.’ Additionally, Jones has asked for interest on all damages awarded, costs and any other orders the court sees fit.

Police were sent to Jones’ home after an audit document was released by Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy. The document stated that “a physical inspection of the assets purchased revealed that items valuing $4.084M were still not put into use, since these items were stored in a room at the residence of the beneficiary Mr. Christopher Jones.” Jones said that the correct procedures were followed to obtain the items and there was nothing irregular about the transaction. The items were procured under the Ministry of Social Protection’s Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme.

Chris Jones files lawsuit against seizure of items, arrest

Christopher Jones

Opposition Parliamentarian Christopher Jones has filed a lawsuit against the State for unlawfully searching his home and seizing barbershop equipment which was being kept there. He claims the actions of the Police were a violation of his constitutional rights and is asking the High Court to grant an order for items to be

returned. The lawsuit was filed on August 31, 2020 on behalf of Jones by his attorneys, Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels and Kezia Williams against the Acting Commissioner of Police Nigel Hoppie, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, Inspector Rodwell Sarrabo, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chibanauth

Singh; Corporal Singh and the Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Jones is seeking payment of damages in excess of $100,000 for the seizure of 16 barber chairs and two air conditioning units valued at $4.8 million; damages in excess of $100,000 for trespass to his home at 609 Conciliation Drive, Tucville, Georgetown

AROUND THE CARIBBEAN & SOUTH AMERICA

EXAM ROW - CXC Unmoved By Flood Of Criticisms About Alleged Flawed Test Results

The Gleaner News

Dr Wayne Wesley, Registrar of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Dr Wayne Wesley, yesterday defended the exam body’s grading system amid howls of

protestations across the region about discrepancies in the 2020 results published this week. Hundreds of students have decried what they

deemed ‘unacceptable’ results in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). Journalists from across the Caribbean yesterday quizzed Wesley during a digital press conference, arguing that students have anonymously shared screen grabs of what they deemed ridiculous results. However, as reporters sought answers as to why so many students were unhappy with their grades, Wesley said he could not provide details on individual results which were private. On the question of which Caribbean territories had lodged formal complaints to have their results reviewed by the exam body, Wesley said he was confident that the various ministries of education

would make public their requests for review. The CXC registrar said he could not provide information on how many students had requested reviews. He indicated that students should complain to their respective schools and ministries before dialogue can be had with CXC. “Because of the process, we wouldn’t have that data right now. The process requires them to go to their schools and requisite ministries, but we have not received them as yet,” he said, pointing out that official requests for specific reviews to be done have not been received by CXC. He emphasised that the results already issued by CXC are preliminary, and said persons still have time to launch formal complaints. “We have indicated to individuals that where there are concerns, they need to

raise it with us. Once the issues are raised I will make the necessary attempts to address the issues.” “Certainly, our approach is always one of listening and understanding the concerns and to treat with those. We have not disregarded anyone who would have approached us with a concern,” he added. Responding to claims that some persons may have received poor grades, for example a grade 6, even though they achieved straight A profiles in the different subject areas, Wesley said, “I would love to see that information because there were no such grades awarded. That is not possible.” Wesley insisted that internal checks were conducted and no such grade was given. He rejected claims that there were anomalies on the part of CXC.

“I can clearly say there is nothing in our database that has a straight A profile with those kinds of grades. I cannot respond when students’ information is personal.” Attempts yesterday to contact Minister of Education Fayval Williams for comment on the way forward to address the concerns of disgruntled Jamaican students were unsuccessful. The ministry had issued a release early yesterday, saying it had written to the chairman of the CXC, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, requesting that a thorough investigation be done into several anomalies that have been brought to the attention of the ministry. The ministry demanded to know as well why exam results were sent directly to students before being sent to schools and the ministry.

The project’s funding will provide 228 computing devices to be made available to disadvantaged students across the UWI’s five campuses, and 70 students will be granted internet service for one semester. The project will also cover the procurement of equipment to enhance UWI TV’s production and broadcast capabilities to better meet the remote learning needs of all students. Course

instructors and other university personnel will also have access to training for instructional television.

Jason.cross@gleanerjm.com

UWI Students To Benefit From Grant To Support Remote Learning (CMC): The Barbadosbased Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved a grant of US$200,000 to assist students across the region who lack access to technological devices and internet to support remote learning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant for The University of the West Indies (UWI), was approved by the board on Thursday to assist with purchasing information and communication

technologies and other remote learning solutions for students, and to expand the university’s capacity to deliver remote education. Division chief of the social sector division at the CDB, Deidre Clarendon, emphasised how the move to online learning has especially affected students from vulnerable groups. “While it’s been necessary to protect the wider population, evidence has shown that the sudden shift away from face-to-

face lectures to remote learning has proven difficult, particularly for the most vulnerable, such as women, rural learners, students with disabilities and those from lower socio-economic circumstances,” she said. She continued: “Inequitable education delivery negatively impacts both the individuals and the wider society , which is why CDB is supporting this project. It offers the UWI an opportunity to work

collaboratively across campuses to address the challenges faced by the most disadvantaged students, as it expands remote teaching and learning during the COVID-19 restrictions.” The project named ‘Addressing Inequities in Online Teaching and Learning at the University of the West Indies’ will tackle the problem on multiple fronts, guided by data collected from student surveys conducted by the university.

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @ GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us @onlinefeedback@ gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.

AROUND THE CARIBBEAN & SOUTH AMERICA

The Rum Versus Chaser Debate

Milton Wisdom pours ginger ale to rock glasses Dominican Republicbased Cane Spirits Specialist Pavol Kazimir once said, “Best ideas come while sipping rum.” With that in mind, since rum lovers have resorted to assuming their new roles as home bartenders, the question swirling in their minds is, which of the two hit the glass in a mix first? The rum or the chaser? This seems to have an

easy answer: the rum, of course! But is it? Many have never given any real thought to that mixing motion and instead rely solely on tradition and belief systems. Rum first, anything else after. They call drinking time happy hour for a reason. But what is the real reason for this rum rubric? According to professional mixologist, Milton Wisdom, it all depends

on the mix, how well you know your flavours, what you have to use and what you’re trying to achieve. “Certain spirits aren’t paired with chasers. They’re ideally consumed neat or on the rock. And those that become a duo are executed based on the marrying of flavours. When I was learning how to mix, we were taught to add

the cheapest ingredients first, so that way if you miss, or didn’t remember to add something, you can easily toss out. So that’s recommended,” he shared. Growing up, Wisdom highlighted, what we know of corner bars is that they throw the spirit first. “It does sound weird pouring the chaser first,” the experienced mixologist remarked, but it is not wrong to do, especially if you’re a rookie. Some persons might like their spirit floating on top, which would explain why they would pour the chaser first and the spirits after, he pointed out. “If you’re going to do a Johnnie Walker and ginger ale, for instance, and you want the Johnnie to be consumed in a lighter amount, then you can go ahead and pour the ginger ale first and add the Johnnie Walker after.”

But for others who prefer the robust or smooth flavour profiles of the rum, or may not necessarily be a fan of the chaser, the reverse of rum first will definitely work for you. Wisdom explained that he isn’t really fond of cranberry juice, it’s too sour for his palate, so if he is mixing a vodka cranberry mix, he would opt to start out with the spirit and end with the chaser, which provides a softer note without being overbearing and overpowering for him while he drinks. If you do have a home bar, absolutely nothing is set in stone. And with the advancement of technology, all these mixing recipes are very specific with portions and instructions. Note, however, that you can let your spirit imagination run wild, experiment and get innovative. Anything that you’re

mixing, whether simple or complex by nature, Wisdom recommends that you taste the raw ingredients you have at home and see what you like, before putting them together. You will be more cognisant of your master mix. “Sometimes you pour too much chaser or too little spirit. So I have one rule; always taste before, during and after. When I am mixing, if I am uncertain of what the end result will be, once I put everything in that shaking or mixing glass, I taste it. Once I shake or stir it, I taste it. And once I pour it out over fresh ice, I taste it. It shows the consistency or difference when other elements come into play.” He also recommends that you have fun mixing, and not because you’re home, please drink responsibly. Which do you prefer to pour first, rum or chaser? krysta.anderson@ gleanerjm.com

Rowley: Don’t use race to push personal or political agenda The Gleaner News Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley is calling on influence makers in Trinidad and Tobago to stop attempting to use race to advance their personal or political agenda. Rowley made the call while speaking during a PNM meeting in Barataria on Thursday night. “You see this issue of race, it is the one issue that can derail us and ensure that we do not realize our fullest potential. Tonight I want to caution the influence makers in Trinidad and Tobago to stop trying to use race to advance

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley

their personal or political agenda,” he said. Commenting on the government’s decision not to support, the selection process of Deodat Dulalchan, the Prime Minister reiterated

that there was no race in the matter. The Prime Minister slammed the Opposition MPs who walked out of parliament, saying that they were attempting to create racial strife in

T&T by playing the race case. “The singular statement that came out from the UNC today came out of the mouth of somebody called Anita Haynes is that we

the PNM government contrive last night to remove the Indian nominee and didn’t do anything about the African nominee, so Dulalchan was blocked but Phillip was not,” the Prime Minister said. Rowley also weighed in on the gun finds at a mosque in Central Trinidad on Thursday. He said Government received flack when it searched mosques earlier this year. However, Rowley noted that illegal firearms are now being found at places of worship. “Today one of the very mosques that we had to raid at Carnival time on credible information that

the security services had, we have found within that place of worship lethal weapons. I want to ask you tonight, given what we found today in a place of worship what do you say to and think of those persons who at Carnival time carried a conversation in this country that the government of Trinidad and Tobago was antiMuslim and was in fact desecrating Muslim places of worship. What are they saying to us now?” he asked. He assured that the Muslim community that government is not anti-Muslim.