Man found dead days P

8NEWS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Man found dead 1 day after receiving death threats

Dead: Timmol Harris

A21-year-old man was on Tuesday found floating in a canal at the Moroshi backdam with a wound to his neck one day after receiving death threats.

Dead is Timmol Harris.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Harris’ brother, Lee Harris, said that his brother’s body was found by farmers, who would usually use the canal

to go to their farms. Lee Harris said his brother was last seen by his older sister, who told the family that he told her that he was going to a birthday party.

“The person from the birthday party contact me and they tell me that he was there at the birthday party and he leave there at about 7 o’clock (19:00h) the night… when he was leaving he tell the woman that he got something to tell she but the way she deh busy she didn’t get time to talk to he,” he said.

He said no one knows where his brother went and what transpired after he left the party.

However, on Tuesday at about 07:00h, his lifeless body was found in the canal.

“Somebody lash he and then chop he and then dump he body in the canal…”, he explained.

According to the older Harris, for the past year, his brother has been receiving threats from a man, who has since allegedly confessed to killing him. He said last November, his brother had an altercation with the suspect over a woman, and in the pro-

cess, his brother was cut to the face.

Since then, the suspect along with another man has been threatening to kill him. Lee said only one day before his brother went missing, he told his sister that he fearful since the man threatened to kill him again.

This time, the men told Timmol Harris that they would “mark his face again”.

A total of nine persons have been arrested and are in Police custody assisting with investigations. However, the dead man’s brother told this publication that one man has confessed. However, this publication was unable to independently verify this.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Timmol Harris’ body revealed that he died as a result of a chop wound to his upper neck.

Lee Harris said his family is shaken by his brother’s death since he would have been celebrating his 22nd birthday this Thursday. He said his brother had hopes of spending time with his family this Christmas, since they had all planned to go back to their childhood home for the holidays. (G9)

Land, land everywhere…

…but folks still squatting on it

After his piece on the Success Squatting saga yesterday, your Eyewitness was reminded by a friend that this land distribution problem is older than he’d thought. He was informed that Cain and Abel were the children of Adam and Eve, and (if you believe the story) they had inherited the entire Earth. Now, that’s a lot of real estate, isn’t it? Yet, one explanation for why Cain murdered Abel was a dispute over land!! Which would prove that one can never have enough of that commodity!!

Anyhow the debate over the lands at Success took a new turn when, of all people, Leader of the Opposition (LOO), Joseph Harmon, decided to intervene. Like the proverbial bad penny, he showed up at the now flooded fields and told the holding out squatters who remained with water around their ankles, “There is enough land in this country for everybody to get a piece”!!

The thing to note, of course, is that he was Granger’s second-in-command for FIVE YEARS, and while trumpeting that they came in to face a backlog of 60,000 house lot applications - they did absolutely nothing about that backlog. They just demolished the new squatting settlements that had sprung up like Jumbie Umbrellas between 2015 and 2020. Like the one behind Cummings Lodge, which they uprooted in 2017!

Can they ever match the PPP’s opening up of Diamond, Eccles, Mon Repos, La Parfait Harmonie, Tuschen, Charity New Housing Scheme, Reliance and Henrietta Housing Schemes, Glasgow, Hope, Waterloo, Foulis, Amelia’s Ward, and so many others?

Harmon gratuitously told the PPP Administration that they must “negotiate” with the squatters. Did he and his government “negotiate” with the folks at Cummings Lodge? After all, on housing, they promised in their 2015 manifesto to “Renew the Dream” by facilitating house ownership in addition to house lots. And with the latter, they will insist on basic infrastructure like water, electricity, drainage and roads, before giving out.

Well, your Eyewitness would like Harmon to say how many house lots the PNC gave out in the five years they were in control of the treasury! And let’s not even talk about that fund to give loans to low-income applicants! Or the $8M homes that are still unoccupied! Or the retirement villages for diaspora retirees! Or the starter homes for single parents! Or the National Volunteer Corps to help the needy build homes!

What happened to the 2016 promise of their Chairman of the CH&PA, Hamilton Green, to pump $50B into housing? After the Lands and Surveys only used $21M for meals!!

…but you must have a plan

During their last turn at the wheel, the PPP conducted the largest distribution of house lots in the history of not only of Guyana, but the entire Caribbean. The Housing Schemes mentioned above just offer a flavour of what was achieved under the tenure of Jagdeo and his then Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali. And you can bet your bottom dollar that they’ll make a reality of their promise to distribute another 50,000 lots in the next five years. And you know why? They have a plan!

The problem with the PNC - in all their incarnations, starting with Burnham - is that they believe that announcing all sorts of objectives is “visionary”. Like his 1972 announcement that he would “House, Feed and Clothe” the nation by 1976. By then the nation had become homeless, hungry and naked!! All of us can have visions - especially after smoking that Jamaican Gold!!

The trick is to be practical and work according to a plan.

Just watch and learn, Harmon!!

…but some hands to work it

If the squatters are really serious about improving their lot, they should sign up for employment at Enmore Estate when it reopens, which is soon.

They’ll need cane cutters, weeders and manure spreaders.

AFC leader wanted by ERC for racially-insensitive comments

Leader of the Alliance ly insensitive remarks that stances, the party requested cians and political parties. For Change (AFC), were made “on one or more that the Commission launch The ERC added that it Khemraj Ramjattan occasions” an investigation of this com- was fully cognisant of the has been labelled as a per- The ERC noted that a plaint and take such actions devastating impact these son of interest by the Ethnic number of persons have al- that it considers necessary incidents “which incite race Relations Commission ready responded to these and appropriate against hate and violence, have on (ERC), as it relates to racial- publications and as such the Ramjattan. the further widening of dily insensitive remarks that body is encouraging other The PPP/C had also vision among the ethnic were made by him. violators to follow suit. highlighted such incendi- groups and the need for in-

The Commission on This is not the first ary statements by coalition vestigations to be completed Saturday published his time Ramjattan has been members during the pro- swiftly, seeks the public’s inname and photo among a list caught displaying such tracted electoral process. dulgence for understanding. of persons who would have conduct. In June, People’s Back in March, the par- It assures of its continual efdisplayed similar conduct. Progressive Party/Civic ty had signalled its inten- forts to work assiduously to They are required to contact (PPP/C) had lodged a com- tion to file a complaint with have these matters resolved the ERC before a stipulated plaint with the Ethnic the ERC against caretak- within the shortest possible period, and failure or refusal Relations Commission ERC’s Person of Interest, Khemraj Ramjattan er Prime Minister Moses time”. to do so will result in the im- against Ramjattan, who was alleged that there was a po- out that his choice of words Nagamootoo over his use of Under Article 212D position of legal consequenc- also the APNU/AFC’s Prime litical advertisement pub- may constitute an offence provocative language which of the Constitution of the es. Ministerial Candidate. It lished in Guyana that states under the Racial Hostility can be viewed as intending Co-operative Republic of

Apart from the AFC lead- would have surrounded ra- Afro-Guyanese “can’t run Act, Chapter 23:01, Laws to “incite racial strife and Guyana, the ERC has 24 er and former Minister of cially incendiary remarks oil money, you have to have of Guyana, and are not pro- animosity among our peo- functions – one of which is a Public Security, a total of he made during a television East Indians doing that.” tected by Article 146 of the ple”. mandate to investigate com55 persons were made pub- programme broadcast in Nandlall complained to Constitution of Guyana Amid the prolonged five- plaints from citizens across lic. Their names were list- Trinidad and Tobago. the ERC that these words which guarantees freedom of month elections stalemate the country where acts of ed from social media handle, The complaint was were intended to and are expression and free speech, earlier this year, there were alleged ethnic discrimiFacebook, with the infor- filed by PPP/C Executive, capable of inciting “racial excepting, inter alia, “ex- tense derogatory remarks nation have been commitmation under the name in Anil Nandlall, who said hostilities” amongst the pressions, in whatever form, along racial lines. The ERC ted. Also, the Commission which their profile appears. that during the “Morning people of Guyana, particu- capable of exciting hostility had indicated in July that it is mandated to enforce the

When contacted, Public Edition” programme that larly between Indo and Afro against any person or class had been receiving a “pleth- Racial Hostility Act and the Relations Officer Shiv was broadcast on CCN TV6 Guyanese. of persons.” ora” of racially insensitive Representation of the People Nandalall said the viola- in the twin-island republic Nandlall had pointed In light of these circum- and inciting complaints, (Amendment) Act. (G12) tions amounted to racial- earlier that day, Ramjattan mainly targeted at politi-

President Ali hails Janet Jagan as “greatest unifying force”

President Irfaan in our society.” imposing herself, create thing new to learn when she Ali hailed former Janet Rosenberg Jagan that confidence in the people interacted with people. President of Guyana, was married to former that they would lift her up “She felt that young womthe late Janet Jagan as a President and Founder of as their leader. There must en must not be in the shadunifying force for the coun- the PPP, Dr Cheddi Jagan. have been something great, ows. They must be empowtry during her stride to She served as President dynamic, visionary that they ered to have a voice and that bring about equity and har- from December 1997 to saw in her, although she is how the WPO was birthed. mony. August 1999. Some of the was not from the same cul- She never believed for a sec-

During the 100th birth programmes she piloted un- tural makeup at that time.” ond that women were second anniversary of the late der the Ministry of Human Meanwhile, Human class. She believed way back Head of State, organised by Services and Social security Services Minister, Dr then that women should’ve the Women’s Progressive are continued today, includ- Vindhya Persaud noted that had a voice. She empowOrganisation (WPO) at ing affordable housing. Jagan did not only engage ered grassroot women,” the Freedom House, Robb “She saw affordable people at a superficial level, Minister shared. Street, on Friday, Ali said that “…more than anyone else, comrade Janet was cross-section was faced with President Irfaan Ali housing as a mean of bridging that inequality and more importantly as a means of Late former President of Guyana, Janet Jagan but ensured that they were part of the nation-building process. Through her drive Meanwhile, President of the WPO, Indra Chandrapal recognised the work of the the greatest unifying force societal and economic ills, bringing families and com- great potential in order to for women empowerment, former President in providwe had nationally. She not he lauded the work of Jagan munities together and if you accept her. the WPO was formed – an ing support to the Mirror only sought to bring the var- to create opportunities and go to some of these housing “She had to impose her- organisation which remains Newspaper via her editoriious ethnic groups together, an environment of equity, to schemes that she created self in a society and in a cul- steadfast. Persaud said al and creative skills during she brought genders togethalleviate these issues. since then, you will see the ture that was different than Jagan was an avid teacher the times of “oppression”. er. She worked among chil“The social sector had diversity of those who con- the society and culture that and there was always some- (G12) dren, she worked among the the greatest potential of tinue to live in those com- she came from. Still, while vulnerable. She did much in breaking down inequality munities and that continues the social services and the and that was the prime fo- to be the trademark of the social sector.” cus of her and the PPP at PPP housing programme,”

Jagan, he added, bethat time and still now. How the President highlighted. lieved strongly that the so- we can bridge the gap of in- Ali shared that these cial sector had the greatest equality, how we can ensure important initiatives were potential of bringing peothat the difference in our so- successful under the leadple together. To ensure this ciety are not layered in such ership of Jagan, who was type of harmony, she would an extent that the gap be- also tasked with creating a have used the potential of tween the haves and have space for herself in Guyana arts and culture to execute nots will pose special condi- – having being viewed as an this mandate. tions that will create hard- American initially. As such,

At a time when a large ships for the poorer people Guyanese must have seen

African-and IndianGuyanese must recognise the dilemma of the other

Before I return to Mr Vincent Alexander’s letter to address his substantive concerns on our ethnic problems, I wish to compliment him for eschewing polemics to engage in a dialogue in search of solutions to those problems.

I see Hegel’s model of tragedy as applicable to the condition of our major ethnic groups: “Tragedy is the conflict of two substantive positions, each of which is justified, yet each of which is wrong to the extent that it fails to either recognise the validity of the other position, or to grant it its moment of truth.”

I am hoping that our leaders would recognise the validity of the substantive positions from all “sides” in our Guyanese tragedy, and grant each its moment of truth in a spirit of reconciliation.

It is from that perspective we had proposed the Ethnic Security Dilemmas, in the late 1980s, as the structural factors that conditioned the political behaviours of our various ethnic groups and their leaders in Ravi Dev the post-WWII era, when the question of who would succeed the British came to the fore.

African-Guyanese had long expressed concerns about rising Indian-Guyanese numbers on their political hopes. They articulated this as a major structural threat of being swamped and subordinated by a group they initially saw as “backward”. It was because of this African Ethnic Security Dilemma (AESD) that even the progressive Hubert Critchlow opposed expanding the franchise in the late 1940s. And it is because of the AESD that African-Guyanese, in the main, went along with Burnham’s rigging from 1968 onwards and with the PNC’s attempt last March.

The Indian Ethnic Security Dilemma (IESD), based on their “kith and kin” African-Guyanese domination of the security forces, in the words of Desmond Hoyte, was manifested during the 1960s’ ethnic riots. Jagan fought doggedly, but ultimately futilely, to have those forces balanced as a precondition for independence. Burnham ignored the ICJ’s 1965 report, which mandated that 75% of all new recruits be Indian-Guyanese until parity was reached, and disbanded the ethnically balanced Special Services Unit (SSU). He instead increased the armed forces by 600% with mainly African-Guyanese, and by the 1980s, Indian-Guyanese were being attacked with such impunity that Mr Eusi Kwayana said it “had the flavour of genocide”.

I do not believe that Vincent really disagrees with my formulation and effects of the ESDs. The first factor he identifies as the “real” cause of our conflict: “our ethnic differences, our historical cultural differences, including our belief systems, value”, serves merely to provide an ideological basis for acting politically within the structurally constituted and constitutive ESDs. Political action always presupposes some political ideology: ethnic differences in and of themselves do not cause conflict, only when they are politicised. Individuals always act from some ideological standpoint within fixed structures, even though sometimes unaware of those structures.

In their lived experiences, beliefs of members of groups will sediment into narratives which articulate “ideologies” that both explain and offer normative guidance for action. For instance, the African-Guyanese narrative of prior arrival, greater suffering, earlier westernisation, etc justifies a greater legitimacy to the national patrimony - including governing Guyana, and the willingness to act towards that end. They now reject the universal norm of equality that undergirds majoritarian democracy as a mechanism for settling political differences, even when all groups in Guyana are minorities.

The Indian-Guyanese narrative, on the other hand, proposing that they saved the sugar industry - and hence Guyana as a viable entity - since a peasant economy could not generate the funds necessary to maintain the hydraulics, avidly accept the majoritarianmediated norm of political equality. They resent the existential fear created by their powerlessness in a society with its coercive arms dominated by their political opponents and manifested by episodic ethnic violence.

The second cause Vincent identifies: “our ethnic relations… built on discriminatory economic policies and oppressive relations between and among the ethnic groups…”, are merely the effects - whether real or perceived - of the rule by the “other”. Conflict arises when the aspirations of the various parties cannot be realised to an extent they believe is just, but where the “deprivation” - especially economic - is unfortunately relative.

We have insisted that Affirmative Action programmes be initiated and monitored by Ethnic Impact Statements to address AfricanGuyanese economic equity. There is, also, not so incidentally, the meta-ideology of racism in Guyana, which colours the ideologies of all groups, and which must be addressed.

I repeat that we have a very narrow window of opportunity before we are overrun by carpetbaggers. Let us insist that all groups be treated equitably.

NEWS 11 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM 38 new COVID-19 cases recorded

As of Saturday, the total number of cases from the novel coronavirus is 3710 in Guyana, after there were 38 new detections. As persons have recovered, only 1019 cases are currently active.

The daily dashboard showed the number of deaths remaining at 109. Two persons were removed from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which now has 14 patients.

The Egou Supermarket

that the son of a former Deputy Police Commissioner was released on station bail pending an investigation into the robbery of the Egou Chinese Supermarket at Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The man was the security guard on duty at the supermarket at the time of the robbery on Tuesday last and was taken into custody.

Public Relations and Press Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Royston Andries-Junor confirmed that the security guard was released on bail but could not confirm the sum.

On Tuesday at about 19:30h, four bandits, three of whom were armed with guns, invaded the supermarket. Police said the suspects managed to escape with $1.4 million, a Samsung S8 cellphone, a quantity of phone cards, and a Digital Video

There are 119 patients in institutional isolation, 843 in home isolation and 43 in institutional quarantine.

Another 38 persons recovered, indicating the total recoveries to 2625.

A regional breakdown showed that six new cases were detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), three in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 25 in Region Four (DemeraraRecorder (DVR). However, when Guyana Times visited the scene, the businessman said his records reflected $1.8 million.

The proprietor, along with five employees, who are Chinese nationals, were in the supermarket when one of the suspects entered and purchased an item. He then exited and called the others.

One of the gunmen approached a lone security guard and relieved him of his 12-gauge single-barrel shotgun, which had five live rounds of ammunition, and immediately closed the shutters.

They then ripped out the DVR, causing the cameras to automatically shut down.

During the robbery, an employee was lashed to the head and the owner’s wife was gun-butted to her face, while another suspect shot the businessman to the left leg. They then made their escape. Mahaica) and four in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

There were no increases within Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) remaining at 61, 25, 55, 343, 272 and respectively.

Two more persons would have died as a result of the life-threatening virus on Friday, which raised the death toll to 109. The fatalities were a 48-year-old male from Region One and a 71-year-old female from Region Four. They both died while receiving care at a specialised medical facility.

It has been announced that 12 CARPHA Member States have signed agreements with Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance - namely Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos to access vaccines when it becomes available. CARPHA is assisting seven of these member states with the down payment. Guyana is among a list of six countries, including Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Lucia, as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines that automatically qualify to access the Vaccine Alliance.

The down payment stands at approximately 15 per cent of the value of vaccines that countries intend to procure in the future. As part of the agreement, the Pan American Health Organisation will receive funds from CARPHA for transfer to GAVI. When the vaccines are available, Member States will purchase them through the PAHO Revolving Fund.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony would have led an inspection at the Infectious Diseases Hospital

at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, on Saturday as they work to get the facility completely functional. Without the intensive care facility, mild patients at the hospital would have to be transferred should their condition worsen.

He said, “We are trying to bring this facility into operation so we started by having mild patients here and if those mild patients decompensate, then we have to take them back to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The idea now is to make sure that we can have all levels here. With the installation of the ventilators, setting up of the ICU, we would be required to provide all levels of care that is required for COVID.”

All Guyanese were reminded to observe the protocols, which are in effect until October 31, 2020. This order emphasises the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home; the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others; and practice of good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 2311166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 immediately or visit www.

Supermarket robbery

Security guard released on station bail

Police have confirmed

health.gov.gy. (G12)