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BRIDGE OPENINGS BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 8 – 23:30h – 01:00h and Thursday, June 9 – No closure.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 8 – 10:20h – 11:50h and Thursday, June 9 – 11:30h – 13:00h.
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Winds: East South-Easterly to Northerly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.
High Tide: 11:13h and 23:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.25 metres and 2.29 metres. Low Tide: 17:16h reaching a minimum height of 0.93 metre.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM Govt aims at providing 10,000 parttime jobs countrywide – VP Jagdeo
...initiative for over 1000 part-time jobs launched in Reg Five
imposed undue hardships on the citizens.
The situation was exacerbated when the pandemic hit and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) shut down the country, resulting in the loss of another 35,000 to 40,000 jobs. In light of this inherited situation, the VP explained to the crowd that the Government has put mechanisms in place to reduce the economic impacts on Guyanese.
An estimated 50,000 country was locked down for about one year.
In the period leading up to the March 2020 national elections, the now ruling PPP/C while on the campaign trail had promised to create 50,000 jobs during its five-year term. The party had promised that sugar workers would have gotten back their jobs.
Previously, Jagdeo had said that there is a lack of skilled labour and Government is putting things in place to address
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
As the demand for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s part-time job initiative grows, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has revealed that the Administration will target 10,000 persons who will benefit from these jobs countrywide.
Jagdeo visited Region Five on Tuesday, where he launched the part-time jobs initiative at the Mahaicony Technical Institute. The Vice President emphasised that the initiative is meant to provide people with extra income, while they seek to improve themselves.
Jagdeo announced that over 1000 persons would benefit from the programme in that region. But countrywide, the number of persons expected to benefit has risen from the 8000 quoted earlier this year, to 10,000.
According to the Vice President, these 10,000 persons will be expected to make full use of the programme while explaining that it is designed in a way to minimise the need for persons to travel far distances.
“This initiative is to give people an opportunity to get an income, while they are studying or looking at something else. And there’s going to be 10,000 Guyanese. In this room we probably have 200 people. So, imagine what 10,000 looks like. So, 10,000 of our people working through this programme.”
“So, I hope that all of you make full use of this programme. This is not free money. You have to work for 10 months. But we will ensure that you’re placed in an area that minimises you having to travel and all of that. So, when we designed the programme, we designed it in a manner where you can be placed in Government facilities close to you and even private facilities that perform a social function.”
Examples Jagdeo provided of this are day-care facilities. He also noted that from the time they are employed, these persons will become employees of the State. Persons in Region Five registered for the jobs and signed their contracts to
A section of the audience during Jagdeo’s outreach in Region 5
begin work during the Vice President’s visit.
Jagdeo also explained that pre-COVID, Guyana lost some 35,000 jobs under the previous Government, while heavy taxation and the unconscionable shutdown of the sugar industry jobs were lost from different sectors during the reign of the previous APNU/AFC Administration, the majority from the sugar industry. Additionally, between 35,000 to 40,000 persons were made jobless when the this. This is being done by offering training for persons. The former Head of State pointed out that while there is a labour shortage in Region Four, Region Five and Six have a shortage of skilled labour.
Views
Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
World Food Safety Day 2022’s theme “Safer food, better health” makes clear the link between good food and good health. As the world grows ever more aware that food insecurity is rising, the safety of what we consume is under threat as well, as food products recalls and food-borne diseases span the globe. Food safety is an integral part of food security.
On Tuesday, as we celebrated the fourth World Food Safety Day, Guyana is on a mission to transform the agriculturefood system. The country has significantly advanced its food security and nutrition agenda, and its efforts on the food health and safety front are also evident, with the passing of the Food Safety Act and establishment of the Guyana Food Safety Authority (GFSA) to implement the Act. In July 2021, GFSA staff and National Plant Protection Officers, who function as inspectors under the Authority, underwent training at the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).
“Safe food is essential to human health and well-being and is one of the most critical guarantors for good health. The benefits of safe food include improved nutrition and reduced absenteeism in schools and in the workplace. Foodborne diseases affect 1 in 10 people worldwide each year. There are over 200 of these diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers,” the World Health Organisation (WHO) pointed out.
That figure of 1 in 10 persons translates to more than 700 million persons, although the latest available estimate from 2015 reads 600 million and 420,000 of them die as a result, but these statistics, alarming as they are, mask a deeper truth – at some point in our lives, most of us will experience a food-borne disease and millions of us will die from them. Children under the age of five are at particularly high risk, with some 125,000 dying from foodborne diseases every year. Contaminated food also causes long-term health problems, further increasing the disease burden. US$110 billion is lost each year in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries.
This highlights the importance of making sure the food we eat is not contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, toxins, and chemicals. Food can become contaminated at any point during production, distribution, and preparation. Everyone along the production chain, from producer to consumer, has a role to play to ensure the food we eat does not cause diseases.
Unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, the United Nations has warned. It disproportionally affects vulnerable and marginalised people, especially women and children, populations affected by conflict, and migrants.
In its efforts to mainstream food safety in the public agenda, and reduce the burden of food-borne diseases globally, the WHO has called for a set of specific actions in multiple sectors to make food safer:
Policymakers need to support policy measures to strengthen national food safety systems and ensure they comply with food safety standards, as well as engage in multi-sectoral collaboration at the local, national, regional, and global levels.
Food businesses must comply with international food standards and engage employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders to grow and develop a food safety culture.
At the same time, educational institutions and workplaces need to promote safe food handling and support food safety. And consumers need to practise safe food handling at home and keep informed and promote food safety.
And with the adoption of the updated WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety 10 days ago, another milestone in the work to promote health, keep the world safe, and protect the vulnerable, the international community is sure to make even more progress on achieving safer food and better health for all.
This Caleb Benjamin photo shows an aerial view of Aruwai Resort in Bartica. This is one of the entries in the Tourism Ministry's "Snap and Share" competition in observance of Guyana’s 56th Independence Anniversary
M&CC responds to PM Phillips
Dear Editor,
The Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown note the recent statements attributed to Honourable Prime Minister Brigadier (retd) Mark Phillips, which were reported on June 6, 2022.
First, the Council has expressed no confidence in City Engineer Colvern Venture, following repeated challenges and failures.
This decision of the Council has been forwarded to the Local Government Commission; unfortunately, over six months later, there can be no pronouncement. The Honourable Prime Minister could use his good office, given his interest in affairs of the city, to have this matter addressed. The LGC cannot be derelict in its duty to act on the decisions of the Council to bring relief to the citizens of Georgetown.
Secondly, it must be noted that the Council has repeatedly complained about the taxes owed by state agencies, which account for a significant debt to the city. These resources are vital to ensure consistent service is given to the citizens of Georgetown -- a city which continues to be pressured owing to outdated laws, and is grappling with a changing landscape as a result of the new oil and gas economy.
Thirdly, the Honourable Prime Minister, in his warnings, must indicate to Government agencies, such as the Ministry of Public Works and the Guyana Revenue Authority, that illegal drainage works in the city would only compromise our delicate drainage infrastructure if done without consultation with the municipality. The Council has noted several illegal construction activities in the city, most recently on Camp Street in front of GRA, which are being done without even the courtesy of consultation with the engineers of the Municipality. We can only hope that these works do not negatively affect surrounding drains.
The Council also encourages the Honourable Prime Minister to warn his colleagues that His Excellency’s “One Guyana” initiative can only be realised if all stakeholders are involved in the process.
The Mayor and Councillors continue to advocate for meaningful engagement and partnerships for the benefit of the citizens of Georgetown. The Council frowns on attempts to score cheap political points and engaging in one-upmanship as we work together for a better future for all Guyanese.
M&CC
The development accelerates
Dear Editor,
The PPP/C, in its Manifesto in 2020, made a commitment to provide 50,000 jobs for Guyanese by 2025, and has since embarked on many mega and small business initiatives which would not only ensure that this bears fruit, but would launch the country on an unparalleled development course. Many thousands more jobs would be created when many of these mega projects come fully on stream; the groundwork is already laid.
This is in stark contrast to what the Coalition did from 2015 to 2025, when thousands of Guyanese, some 35,000, were thrown under the bus, and had to endure severe deprivations, including hunger, while those in the Coalition enjoyed not only humongous salary increases, but buttered this with massive corruption, rape of the Treasury, and the selling out of our oil patrimony. We must not lose sight of this ever.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Guyana is once again developing at an alarming and unprecedented rate, and the recent announcement by Vice President Dr Jagdeo is just another of the visionary initiatives which will bring immediate relief to 10,000 unemployed persons across the country. Thousands are already employed. The Vice President made it clear that these are not temporary jobs but part-time ones which would go on indefinitely.
This initiative alone would cost the Government nearly $5 billion annually, but this Government has never flinched when it comes to improving the lives of Guyanese. It never attaches a cost to this determination. Let those who criticise this Government calculate the multiplier effect this one project would have on the economy. The spending would not only further improve the lives of Guyanese, but would create additional jobs. Many such economic projects are already affected, and dividends are seen.
But apart from the economic benefits, this project would improve the quality of Government’s service delivery being offered across the country. These jobs would play a significant role in this regard. Therefore, it is not only about creating employment, but it is about improving the lives of all Guyanese in terms of service delivery. Many times, people complain about the poor quality of service delivery at some of our Government agencies, and this initiative indeed would go a long way in bringing immediate relief.
Despite these benefits, the Opposition Leader attempted to malign this initiative when he questioned the qualification of those who would be employed. Mr. Norton should try to be a responsible Opposition Leader, but he has so far displayed ignorance of his role, and is bent on sowing mischief and discord. Dr Jagdeo gave him a fitting reply when he told Berbicians that, “The qualification is that they are Guyanese, they do not have any other qualifications to get the jobs.” Is this Norton’s patriotism?
It boggles the mind that the Coalition destroyed thousands of jobs and is still embarking on a mission to willfully obstruct the employment of Guyanese. The PNC and the AFC were the architects in destroying Guyana’s economy. The Coalition is adept at taking away bread and butter from the people. Guyanese, beware of the Coalition, it’s an ill wind that brings no good.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022
5 News
Miner, girlfriend allegedly set on fire while trying to make peace
Sheldon Harry and Gracey
By LaWanda McaLLister
A22-year-old miner and his 30-yearold Venezuelan girlfriend are both critical at the Georgetown Public Hospital after they were both set on fire by a friend during a row at Puruni Landing, Mazaruni River Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Sunday.
Reports are that the suspect is on the run.
Those injured are Sheldon Harry of Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), and his girlfriend Gracey (only name given).
When contacted, the injured man’s sister Sheneel Richards explained that she was informed that the couple was set on fire by a man who is known to the family.
The woman said at the time of the incident, her brother was at his camp at Puruni Landing when an argument broke out between two friends.
She said in the height of the argument, her brother’s friend threatened that he was going to harm the woman with whom he was arguing. So, in a bid to escape the man’s threat, the woman left her mining camp and went over to her brother’s camp where she stayed the entire day.
While there, the suspect went over to Harry’s camp and continued to threaten the woman. Harry reportedly attempted to calm him down but instead, he left the camp and returned with a cutlass, and advanced toward the woman.
The sister explained that her brother’s girlfriend, Gracey, who is also a friend of the other woman, intervened but this angered the suspect. “He chucked Gracey out of the way.”
Richards said after seeing this, her brother became angry and an argument ensued between him and the suspect.
“The suspect left the camp with a plan in he mind. When he come back, he come back with a bucket of gasoline, and a stick that was soaked in gasoline with fire on it. My brother knowing that he and this boy were friends all the time, he didn’t expect that he would do him anything.”
“He kept trying to calm the boy [the suspect] down all the time and the boy keep running up to my brother and was trying to throw the gasoline on him. It so happened that Gracey hold my brother hand, pull he, and they start running,” the sister explained.
The now injured man and woman attempted to run but the suspect gave chase. It was during this time that he dowsed them with the gasoline and set them alight.
“My brother tried running to the water to put out the fire, but he fall, and my sister-in-law was burned bad too because she was trying to out the fire on him… she pulled he closer to the water and she started throwing sand on him.”
After realising what he had done, Richards said the suspect turned around and started throwing sand on her brother to help quench the fire. However, after seeing the severity of his friend’s burns, he buckled from the scene.
“My brother said he remembered watching up and seeing him and his girlfriend over he throwing sand on him. My brother managed to get up and he and his girl tried to go on the boat to get to the landing that was far away… he couldn’t start the boat because he was in too much pain... thank God for another boat that saved them,” she explained.
Harry and his girlfriend managed to make it to a pharmacy at the landing, where they were later transported to the hospital in the community and then medevacked to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they are both in a critical state.
“Gracey was burned severely but not as bad as he. They were both in the burn unit. She was burned on top, her two hands, her chest, her neck, and her side. He was burned all over his body. He received second and third-degree burns at 80% of his body.”
“They had to put him in a coma because the pain was too much for him. His lung, kidneys, and everything started failing because the pain was too much for him. He came out, but he is recovering slowly,” she said.
The family is hoping that justice prevails for the couple, and for the suspect to be caught so that he can feel the full brunt of the law.
The suspect with the gasoline bottle minutes before setting the couple on fire Harry was severely burnt
Part-time jobs
Dear Editor,
The initiative by the Government to provide jobs for the unemployed in different communities is indeed commendable. Forty thousand dollars for ten days’ work, in addition to any other income earned for the remaining days, compounded with the earnings of other family members would greatly assist to cushion the increase in the cost of living and defray other expenses.
I want to suggest, however, with the increase in crimes experienced in all communities, that the Government should consider the employment of the unemployed as security guards. That alone would provide thousands of jobs, in keeping with the Government’s objective.
Such employment, however, should be in keeping with the relevant laws with respect to an hour of work, overtime, NIS, and leave entitlements. The suggestion of forty thousand dollars for ten days of work is already above the minimum wage, but once they exceed eight hours per day, overtime should be paid. Their leave at the end of the year should be calculated on the basis of every 160 hours, or twenty days worked, one day leave.
Guards should also be provided with some form of visible identification, a cell phone with numbers of prominent citizens, community policing groups, and the nearest Police station; and placed at strategic locations, such as ingress and egress within the community. I want to suggest two shifts, viz 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. with the graveyard shift being alternated every other week.
The guards should be given detailed instructions on performance requirements, such as noting and reporting any suspicious activities, especially by strangers.
Responsibility for payment of wages, adherence to the respective laws, and N.I.S. deductions should be the responsibility of the N.D.C, or someone specially appointed by the Government to ensure this. The business community and other responsible citizens within can also be asked to assist in monitoring the performance of the guards, since the presence of the guards would enhance the security of the community. This, in addition to other jobs, such as clearing canals and garbage within the community, cannot be construed as handouts or racially-driven, since it would be payment for services rendered.
Yours sincerely, D Singh
Correction
Guyana Times, in its Tuesday, June 7, 2022 edition, under the headline “GNBS, FAO collaborate to measure prevalence of food insecurity”, inadvertently stated that the Bureau of Statistics is a part of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS). The Bureau of Statistics, with which the FAO is collaborating, is part of the Finance Ministry. Guyana Times sincerely apologises for any inconvenience this may have caused.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM President Ali to attend Summit of the Americas this week
– corruption, security, trade & democracy among topics on agenda
President Dr Irfaan Ali has confirmed that he will be leading a delegation to Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA), to attend the ninth Summit of the Americas, which is slated for this week, the first time the summit will be held in the US since 1994.
In a statement on Tuesday from the Office of the President, it was explained that President Ali will be accompanied by First Lady Arya Ali, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd, Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud and Ambassador George Talbot.
The event is being held under the theme “Building a Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Future”. Through the summit, leaders from the United States, North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean are expected to explore economic relationships and common goals for the Western Hemisphere.
Discussions are expected to cover topics such as democracy, clean energy, digital transformation, climate change, migration, recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, building resil-
President Dr Irfaan Ali
ience, and boosting economic growth. A number of initiatives are also expected to be launched in some of these areas.
“Over the years, the summits have focused on critical cooperation in the Americas. This has allowed countries to work together to promote democracy and human rights, increase economic competitiveness, promote development, improve access to clean energy and communication technology, strengthen regional security, and counter illicit trafficking,” the Office of the President explained.
“In the eighth summit, leaders had committed to fighting the corruption that undermines democratic governance when they met in Lima, Peru, in 2018. The United States is hosting for the first time since the summit began in Miami in 1994 with President Bill Clinton. A packed schedule of events is carded for the week, including plenary and roundtable discussions.”
Several regional leaders had previously threatened to boycott the summit on the basis of whether Cuban and Venezuelan leaders are excluded. Among the leaders who have threatened boycotts if Cuba and Venezuela are excluded are Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Bolivian President Luis Arce and Antigua, and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
Besides Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, mere hours after he left Guyana following the successful conclusion of the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo last month, also confirmed that he would be attending the summit.
“I will be attending the summit and I expect that if not all, a majority of my Caricom colleagues will be there and we have serious and interesting matters to engage the US on and we look forward to that,” Rowley told Trinidadian media.
Venezuela has been embroiled in deep economic and political turmoil over the past few years, following an election that the United States and other members of the international community have said
The US is hosting the summit for the first time since 1994
was not credible.
The country has been beset by protests, hyperinflation, and large sections of the international community backing Juan Guaido as the interim President of the country, even while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro remained in power.
All of this has come even as Guyana pursues its case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where it is seeking a final and binding judgement that the 1899 Arbitral Award which established the location of the land boundary between the then-British Guiana and Venezuela remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana and not Venezuela, as is being claimed by the Spanish-speaking country. Guyana moved to the World Court in 2018, after exhausting all means of negotiation with Venezuela.
Meanwhile, the US has had an embargo in place against Cuba, a long-time ally of Guyana, since 1962. Relations between the US and Cuba had thawed under the Barack Obama Administration, before being tightened up again under his successor.
As of Tuesday, Cuban President Miguel DíazCanel and Mexican President Obrador have already confirmed their nonattendance at the gathering. Venezuela and Nicaragua have also not been invited. It is expected that 23 Heads of Government will attend the gathering.
