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Police again break up sugar workers’ protest
Members of the St. Rose’s Alumni A s s o c i a t i o n (Guyana) Inc. have spearheaded a project to provide hampers to vulnerable students of the school in light of the present COVID-19 pandemic.
With assistance from the headmistress and faculty, fifty (50) students were identified to benefit from the receipt of hampers that included food supplies, personal care items, and reading material.
The past students had, earlier this month, gathered to assemble and distribute hampers to families located in Central Georgetown and along the East Coast, East Bank, West Coast, and West Bank Demerara corridors.
President of the St Rose’s Alumni Association, Keon Smith, has expressed immense gratitude to the individuals and businesses who made this inaugural activity possible, including past students and friends.
He has acknowledged that without the kind donations of Universal Janitorial Services & Supplies, 401 Furniture Store, and Doerga Business Enterprise, the project would not have been possible.
Further, Smith has expressed hope that more persons would come on board this project in the future to bring relief to even more vulnerable families during this time of protracted lockdown.
Director of Social Services, Whentworth Tanner stated that efforts were being made to have all of the residents tested in phases.
Over the past weeks, six new patients, all female, have tested positive, taking the total cases at the Palms to 12, with one death.
Members of the St. Rose’s Alumni Association (Guyana) Inc. include Ronald Kissoon, Ruth Jeffers, Kemie Haniff, Densie Hodge, Raquel Thomas, Chevon Lim, Tracy Smith, Rensford Niles and Simone Gonsalves.
The Association was formed in January 2020. A t least 200 residents at the Palms Geriatric Home have so far been tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) amid reports that several of them have tested positive. That figure is about 50 per cent of the occupants at the Home.
Palms Geriatric Home
Members of the St Rose’s Alumni Association (Guyana) getting the hampers together for distribution
50% of residents of Palms tested for COVID-19
The picketing started on Wednesday, with workers demanding that the company promote adequate social distancing while ensuring that their hours of work remained outside of the 18:00h-06:00h curfew period.
In a statement on Friday, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) said the workers practised social distancing and wore masks while protesting for their demands to be considered. They voiced that this stance was in the interest of preserving their safety in the face of COVID-19.
However, the sugar workers were met with opposition from a swarm of Police ranks, with instructions to remove from the site with which they complied.
The Union detailed, “Certainly, their calls are not outlandish or unprincipled as some have sought to say. Today, as the workers continued their protests, in keeping with the relevant conditions, a contingent of Police Officers again turned up. In announcing their presence, the officers instructed the workers to immediately end their picketing and to disperse from the vicinity. When asked why they were being asked to end their picketing, the Police advised that the COVID-19 restrictions prevented such activities… Notwithstanding the explanation, the Police insisted and the workers being respectful heeded their call though most upset and disturbed.”
Workers of the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Friday continued protest action against the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for better workplace protocols against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and were yet again dispersed by Police.
GAWU went on to say that discussions with GuySuCo were required at this time to bring this matter to rest. But this has been lacking from the company’s end. The Union further added that the situation has escalated to a point where it was “most unfortunate” and moreover, the only intention was to secure proper health practices for workers to remain safe.
In a recent interview, the Director of Social Services confirmed that the additional patients who tested positive for the virus have been placed in isolation at the infirmary of the Palms. He added that several staffers of the facility had been placed in ‘home quarantine’.
Tanner said that the situation at the Palms was being closely monitored by the Public Health and Social Protection Ministries.
The Palms recorded its first case of COVID-19 in April. Meanwhile, at a national level, the Public Health Ministry has so far recorded a total of 150 confirmed cases and 11 deaths. St Rose’s Alumni members donate to vulnerable students
“We hold that sober-minded discussions could well see an appropriate arrangement being reached in the interest of all parties. However, it appears from the company’s point-of-view, such an approach is lacking and contributing to the sorry state of affairs. We, nevertheless, look forward to sensibleness being arrived at in view of the prevailing public health crisis. The workers’ call, we reiterate, has significant merit and is in keeping with policies that have been embraced in other sections of the Estate already,” GAWU said.
...protest will continue against “inflexible” GuySuCo – GAWU Workers picketing outside the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate on Friday
With no talks to resolve the issue, the workers’ representative body expressed that GuySuCo was being inflexible despite some level of compromise from workers. The Estate continues to uphold its position that the workers must operate in the curfew hours notwithstanding the difficulties they face.
“At this time, … GuySuCo remains inflexible though at the commencement of the outof-crop period, it had agreed that workers would not work during the curfew period.”
On Thursday, GAWU said these actions were seen as attempts “to trample on the rights of the workers”.
“While we are unsure of how the Police arrived at the scene, the workers were most upset that their peaceful activity was abruptly and forcibly terminated,” GAWU said in the missive.
Based on reports received, Police, acting on information, travelled to De Veldt, Berbice River to conduct a search of the farmer’s home, but he was not at home at the time. His sister, nevertheless, cooperated and handed over the gun to the lawmen.
As such, she was taken into custody as the Police continued to search for her sibling.
In addition, the ranks proceeded to another house at Bartica Village, Berbice River, where they conducted a search and found 20 kilograms of packaged ganja. The cannabis was found in 23 parcels. Also, 20 pounds of dried cannabis valued at $1.6 million and an unlicensed shotgun were discovered.
It went on to reiterate calls for better sense to prevail and for an amicable and workable arrangement to be arrived at. GAWU said it believed that a “sober and sincere consideration” of the workers’ views should be pursued and acknowledgement made of the harm they could face at this time. T he Police are on the hunt for a farmer after his sister handed over an unlicensed pistol to them during a raid at his home on Thursday.
Several identification documents of the occupant were found at the site. The Police are on the hunt for the suspect.
On Monday, 21-yearold Trelon Frank, of Lot 41 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for cultivating a prohibited plant.
It was r e p o r t e d that Police t r a v e l l e d to Gaettroy and De Veldt, comm u n i t i e s along the B e r b i c e R i v e r , where they found approximately three acres of cannabis plants. There were reported - ly 13,000 plants ranging from six inches to two feet in height.
A nursery with about 3000 seedlings, approximately 7 kilograms of dried ganja, and five camps were also discovered and destroyed. Frank was found in the fields and as such, he was arrested and charged. Sister arrested after handing over brother’s illegal gun to Police
The pistol that was handed over to Police The dried cannabis The shotgun retrieved by Police at Bartica Village during a raid The packaged ganja found at Bartica Village
14 SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM NEWS T he Canadian-owned Guyana Goldfields Inc has recorded net earnings to the tune of US$2.3 million for the first quarter of 2020, compared to a loss of the same value during the corresponding period in 2019, which was driven by higher margins from higher gold prices, partly offset by higher cost of sales per ounce due to the higher fixed cost absorption from lower mined volumes.
This was reflected in its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2020 that were filed on Thursday in Canada.
However, while the company reports a higher net earnings, its gold output at the Aurora mine in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in the first quarter of this year is 28,100 ounces – a reduction of some 23 per cent compared to the 36,600 ounces recorded in the first quarter of 2019.
The Guyana Goldfields, nevertheless, noted that from the 28,100 ounces produced, 24,200 ounces of gold were sold at a cash cost, before royalty, of US$1084 per ounce. Cost of sales was US$1376 per ounce and allin sustaining costs (AISC) were US$1352 per ounce.
The mining rates during the first three months of 2020 averaged 21,200 tonnes per day (tpd), representing a 62 per cent decrease in mining rates compared to 56,000 tpd recorded in the first quarter of 2019.
“This decrease was due to mine sequencing, pit constraints imposed by smaller benches and the suspension of waste stripping at Rory’s Knoll pit in February to safely allow ore producGuyana Goldfields earns US$2.3M in 1st quarter tion from the bottom of the pit,” the mining company explained.
It went on to add that the 2020 first-quarter mill performance of 6300 tpd, which is lower than the 7200 registered the previous year, was as a consequence of the lower throughput from mainly hard rock ore being milled during those first three months.
Guyana Goldfields further reported cash and cash equivalents of US$15.5 million as at March 31, 2020. This is US$6.6 million lower than the US$22.1 million reported at December 31, 2019.
“We generated a lower amount of cash from operations than in the first quarter of 2019 as a result of lower gold sales, an increase in metals inventory due to delays in gold sales as a result of air travel cargo delays resulting from COVID-19- related travel restrictions and a concerted effort to reduce payables,” the company stated.
Back in March, the Canadian mining company has announced a temporary suspension of all underground development due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, taking into consideration the funding gap and the ongoing circumstances related to the global health crisis, it was further announced earlier this month that the next phase of mine development, both underground and open pit, would not proceed as originally planned. This will result in a period of care and maintenance at sites once Rory’s Knoll Phase Four is completed, and satellite ore and low-grade stockpiles are depleted in the second quarter of 2020.
However, the company said it expected to be able to keep the mill operational up to mid-June, with production estimated to total approximately 45,000-50,000 ounces in the first half of 2020.
“This is higher than our previously-estimated production for the first half of the year of 35,000 to 45,000 ounces. Thereafter, the mine will go into a period of care and maintenance for one to two quarters.
“Planning for the transition to care and maintenance is well advanced, and as such, we have already started the phased reduction in site activity. The site is expected to be in full care and maintenance by the end of the second quarter and a fulltime security presence will be maintained…, along with adequate crews to maintain the site, including environmental monitoring and compliance. Infrastructure such as camp, water supply, power supply, and other systems will remain in operation at a reduced level,” it stated.
Meanwhile, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Guyana Goldfields said it instituted a number of safeguards in order to continue operating in a safe manner, including reducing the number of employees on site to accommodate single-room occupancy in the camp; social distancing practices; wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where social distancing is not feasible and on flights; temperature checks at the check-in for flights to the site and voluntary time-off for employees with symptoms associated with the virus; and a reduced number of passengers on flights in and out of the site.
It was noted that open pit mining and plant operations continue largely unaffected at this time, utilising the additional safeguards put in place to maintain employee health and safety.
Following the unlawful circulation of the video back in April, the suspect, who is a Lindener, has reportedly gone into hiding. Police have since been on the hunt for him as he is being sought for questioning in relation to the incident.
Regional Commander, Superintendent Hugh Winter on Friday noted that the matter is still under investigation and Police are yet to apprehend the suspect. Following the allegations, the minor and a parent visited Police. The Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Division has since launched a probe into the incident after the video which shows the teen involved in the sexual act, allegedly with the taxi driver, started circulating on social media. The Regional Welfare Department was also made aware of the incident. In the video which went viral, the two can be seen sitting in the back of a car. The minor is then videotaped performing the sexual act. The male can be heard telling the minor to look in the camera, which she refused to do.
Two months have passed since a Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) taxi driver released a sex tape with him and a minor but Police are yet to apprehend him.
As ranks continued the hunt for the taxi driver, yet another video later surfaced implicating him and another man with another female who was suspected to be a minor. Reports had indicated that the other video was leaked within days of the first. However, the Regional Commander indicated that it has since been proven that the female in the video is over the age of 18. He said the woman has since indicated that she did not wish to press any charges. Nevertheless, the investigation into the first incident is still ongoing. According to Police, ranks have searched various addresses for the suspect but they came up empty-handed. Police are urging anyone with information on the taxi driver to come forward. Police yet to nab taxi driver involved in sex tape with minor
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Allan Pangbourne thanked the employees for their hard work and dedication during this challenging time.
“The cooperation and diligence of employees in Guyana in adhering to the COVID-19 measures, have allowed us to continue operating as we prepare for the upcoming period of temporary care and maintenance … I thank the Guyanese Government for their support that allowed us to develop the Aurora Gold Mine and their continued cooperation that will lead to the first significant modern underground mine in Guyana. What we have been able to achieve at a remote site in Region Seven is commendable and the transition to underground mining will be a great opportunity for the Aurora mine and for Guyana,” Pangbourne added.
The Guyana Goldfields’ financial filing comes on the heels of the company entering into a Cdn$105 million deal with Canadian silver miner Silvercorp Metals Inc.
The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement that will see Silvercorp – with Chinabased silver mining operations – acquiring all of the issued and outstanding shares of Guyana Goldfields by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act. GTT donates $350,000 in sanitising items to NGOs
As Guyana continues to battle with the novel coronavirus, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), through its monthly Pinktober initiative, has donated several sanitising agents to several Non-Governmental Organisations across Guyana.
The items donated are for distribution to indigent persons within the respective communities of each organisation.
The donation amounted to some $350,000. The Periwinkle Cancer Club, Linden Cancer Foundation, Berbice Cancer Foundation, the Giving Hope Foundation, Women on the Move, and Debra Shipley-George Go Care Foundation are among the NGOs receiving donations this month.
This is the third monthly Pinktober initiative to be rolled out by the company.
The company, through its Pinktober initiative, is expected to make another donation in June – and in the months to come.
A representative of the Berbice Cancer Society receiving the donation
The prime suspect in the beating to death of a miner at Aranguy Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), was nabbed by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Guyana Times understands that the suspect is a 24-year-old labourer of Ogle Old Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD). He was wanted in connection with the murder of David James, of Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini).
According to information received, on May 26 at around 18:30h, James and a co-worker were imbibing at their worksite when an argument ensued.
During the quarrel, the other employee left but returned shortly after with a friend who attacked James, punching him several times to the face and body. This resulted in James falling to the ground in a motionless state. Ranks were summoned to the scene where James was found dead in a hammock.
Regional Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Linden Lord told Guyana Times that the two suspects will be heading to court soon. Suspect in Port Kaituma miner's murder nabbed
