US$1B cocaine bust

NEWS13 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM GA-FDD warns against repackaging medications

are distributed in accordance with the Food and Drug Regulation of 1971.

The Department has sought over the years to address the compliance of pro-

Department has advised all importers/distributors, pharmacies and patent shops that all pharmaceuticals should be properly sealed in bottles/tubes and plastic cups displayed in cabinets for sale. This poor storage, the GA-FDD said, results in medicines being exposed to unsuitable storage conditions which may lead to deterioration, disintegration and ultimately loss of potency and incorrect expiration dates.

Proprietors were advised to ensure that all pharmaceuticals are not repackaged in Ziploc bags or envelopes prior to customer’s purchase and collection via prescription; neither should they be kept in storage conditions of between 28 and 32 degrees celsius.

Failure to comply, the GA-FDD said, will result in enforcement actions by the department. According to the Food and Drug Act of 1971 Regulation 21(d): An inspector may at a reasonable time - seize and detain for so long as may be necessary for the purpose of any examination, investigation, trial or inquiry, any article by means of or in relation to which he reasonably believes any provision of this Act has been contravened.

Likewise, the GA-FDD has also urged customers to inquire about the storage conditions and presentation of dispensed medicines.

Director of GA-FDD Dr Marlan Cole

Some of the repackaged medications

The Government Analyst-Food and prietors and pharmacists in packages and must carry a Drug Department relation to the trade, sup- patient information leaflet/ (GA-FDD) seeks to ensure ply and sale of unregis- package insert translated that all drugs and pharma- tered, improperly labelled in English. ceuticals distributed and (foreign language), improp- The department said used in both the private erly packaged and expired that it continues to oband public healthcare sys- drugs and pharmaceuticals. serve instances where medtems are safe, efficacious, The Government ications are repackaged in of the requisite quality and Analyst Food and Drug Ziploc bags, envelopes and

14NEWS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Probe launched into human-smuggling racket

The Home Affairs detained by Police after it part of a suspected hu- Trafficking in Persons departures; in 2016, 722 Ministry along with was discovered that they man smuggling racket and ring. As a result, in- arrivals with 451 departhe Guyana Police had entered the country il- Trafficking in Persons ring. vestigation proved that tures; in 2017, 3515 arForce (GPF) have set up a legally via Suriname. Police During the investiga- the females from the rivals and 291 deparjoint initiative to investigate also related that they were tion, five persons were ar- Dominican Republic tures and in 2018, 1237 the suspected human traf- en route to neighbouring rested and are currently in and Cuba all overstayed arrivals with only 85 deficking involving Haitians. Brazil at the time of inter- custody assisting with in- their time in Guyana,” partures.

On Sunday at about ception. vestigations. The minors are the Public Security While the former 21:30h ranks of the GPF ar- Following their ar- currently in protective care Ministry said on Friday. Government has long rested 26 Haitians, who re- rest, the foreign nationals pending the outcome of the According to the contended that the importedly entered Guyana il- were taken to the Criminal investigation. ministry, the females dispatcher. They were also migrants may be leavlegally. They were arrested Investigation Department Meanwhile, 24 for- were interviewed and lat- interviewed and released on ing Guyana illegally for in two separate Police oper- (CID), where they are being eign females were detained er released on bail, and bail. They too are required Brazil and Suriname and for ations – in a minibus along interrogated and face possi- by Police during a recent are required to return to to report to CID. French Guiana, there was the Mabura Trail, Region 10 ble prosecution and deporta- raid at popular nightspot the Criminal Investigation Back in 2019, for- no concrete move by them to (Upper Demerara-Berbice) tion. Baroombar International. Department (CID). mer Citizenship Minister, monitor the situation or atand in a city hotel. The Public Security Eight Dominicans, one Three suspects in the Winston Felix had revealed tempt to put a stop to the il-

Those arrested are 10 Ministry has since said that Cuban and 15 Venezuelans alleged TIP ring were de- that between January legal movement of people. males, nine females and an investigation has been were detained by Police. tained by the police for ques- to July 2019, some 7000 These numbers of unacseven children (two boys launched, and the Haitians “An investigation was tioning. Those include a bar- Haitian nationals who en- counted Haitians had raised and five girls). They were are being investigated as launched into the alleged tender, security guard and a tered Guyana were account- major concerns, especially ed for. While the issue of for- for the then Parliamentary eign nationals overstaying Opposition, the People’s their time in the country is Progressive Party/Civic – not a new one, the numbers which had alleged that there have significantly increased might be a people-smugsince 2015. gling racket. In 2013, 188 Haitians ar- Felix had also statrived in Guyana with 99 de- ed that those unaccountpartures and in 2014, 227 ed Haitians might be leavarrived, and 113 departed. ing through the “backtrack” But in 2015, there were (unauthorised ports) to go to 770 arrivals and only 136 other counties.

Diwali in Guyana Guyana a shining example of religious tolerance – Indian High Commissioner

Indian High cance: wearing new clothes rance to knowledge with is a priceless treasure,” Dr ty, arrogance, injustice, ille- the Lord of Medicine or Commissioner to is a symbol of healthy souls the very lighting of the diya Srinivasa said. gality, inequity, intolerance Ayurveda, who is another Guyana, Dr KJ in healthy bodies; the dis- – which brings light to the Diwali though originat- and restriction to one’s fun- incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Srinivasa has lauded tribution of sweets signifies dark. The festival is the ed in the East, has become damental freedoms, entitle- took birth on this day from Guyanese for their display the importance of serving time for good over evil and amalgamated into the wid- ment, choices and expres- the Samudra Manthan epof oneness and religious tol- and sharing, and exchang- brings about introspection er diverse cultural tapes- sions. isode, a cosmic battle beerance. ing greeting cards denotes and contemplation. try of the West, particular- Very unique to this cel- tween gods and demons who

He was at the time the goodwill of each other. Charity serves as one ly the Caribbean and North ebration is the preparation were fighting for Amrit or speaking with Guyana Keeping homes illuminat- of the main highlights of America, where most of the for the lighting of the earth- holy nectar from ocean waTimes, on the significance of en lamps, the “diya”, a ves- ter that makes one immorDiwali – which is being ob- sel that is primarily made tal. served today. of clay and uniquely shaped “On the first day of

“It (Diwali celebrations and baked into firmness. Dhanteras, people go and in Guyana) is very unique - Traditionally this has been buy gold because they say the religious tolerance, the the centre of the celebra- it is very lucky if you buy oneness that Guyana has tion, and still is, though lo- gold on that day. It also among the six communities. cal producers have suffered commemorates the birthAll the other religions, each a decline in demand due to day of Dhanvantri which is one participates in the other the rush for the technolog- the Indian god of health,” he function. So, I take Guyana ically modified semi-electric said. as an example of secularism, lamps which do not real- The second days is Narak of tolerance, it is a shining ly create the ambience and Chaturdasi or Choti Diwali. beacon of such brotherhood. evoke the emotions relative The day is associated with I would always tell this to to those created by the sight the defeat of pride, evil and my friends back home and and interaction with the arrogance. Narkasur – a deabroad that if you come to “real clay diyas”. mon – was vanquished and Guyana you feel that here. The High Commissioner women freed from captivity It doesn’t matter if you are explained that Diwali is by Bhagwan Krishna. Muslim, Christian, Hindu - India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr KJ Srinivasa, speaking with Guyana Times senior journalist usually a five-day celebra- The third day is the each one is so intricate. The Vahnu Manikchand tion in Indian which starts main event – Lakshmi puja people love to be together,” with Dhanteras – that is and the day all the diyas are the Indian diplomat said. ed inside and out is a prac- the festival and the High Indians have come to settle two days before Lakshmi lit.

Diwali is celebrated tice meant to illuminate the Commissioner made a re- during the colonial inden- puja or the main Diwali cel- “In Indian mythology, throughout the world to path for Goddess Lakshmi quest of all Guyanese, in tureship regime. ebration. Dhanteras is ob- the celebration of Diwali ward off the darkness and when she visits. the time of COVID-19, to The word “Diwali” or served on triodasi, the dark originates on the day that welcome the light into our “Diwali also signifies the open their hearts and pock- “Deepavali” etymological- half of the Hindu month Lord Rama returns from lives. Celebrating the tri- starting of a new year and ets and help those who they ly in their construct trans- of Kartik. A single diya or Lanka after defeating umph of good over evil and many people actually close can help. late to mean “a row of light”. Yamdeep is lit to petition Ravana,” Srinivasa said. spanning five days each au- their account books and “I am happy to be Literally, an illumina- the Lord for longevity and Goverdhan puja and tumn, Diwali is considered start new account books on in Guyana to celebrate tion that dispels darkness. good health. bhai dooj is observed on the by some to be the start of this day and they all wor- Diwali…Guyana has al- Metaphorically, darkness Another legendary sto- fourth and fifth day respecthe New Year in the Hindu ship goddess Lakshmi, god- ways stayed true to the rich connotes ignorance, hostili- ry says that Dhanvantari, tively. calendar. dess Kali as the case may be cultural link, the tradition-

In Guyana, the festi- for health, wealth, prosperi- al links and what I feel perval of lights was brought ty,” the High Commissioner sonally when I [go] to functo Guyana in the 1800s by said. tions, especially mandirs, the first indentured peo- He noted that in Hindu is that the celebrations I ple from India. The celebra- mythology, Diwali also sig- hear those songs dating tions hold special signifi- nifies the path from igno- back to the 19th century it

16NEWS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GMSA, diaspora group collaborate to support small businesses

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the United Guyana Diaspora Global Network (UGDGN) on November 6, 2020, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaboratively assist small and micro enterprises (SMEs) in the agriculture and agro-processing sector.

UGDGN is a non-profit organisation in the USA that brings Guyanese organisations and individuals together from around the world under one umbrella to work together in the best interest of development in Guyana.

Through the MoU, the diaspora group will work with the GMSA to provide support to SMEs in the areas of financing, market expansion, capacity building and knowledge transfer. The MoU came off the heels of the GMSA-Inter American Development (IDB) agri-

GMSA President Shyam Nokta

culture webinar held in September 2020.

Present at the webinar was President of the UGDGN, Wayne Forde and member Dr Kofi Dalrymple. They spoke on the Diaspora’s involvement in agriculture. The GMSA welcomed the involvement of UGDGN especially since it is adjunct to the Government of Guyana’s

UGDGN President Wayne Forde

recent commitment to engage the Guyanese Diaspora to assist in the development of Guyana.

Government recently committed that it would re-establish the Diaspora and Remigration Unit, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry and International Co-operation, to allow for a structured engagement with the Diaspora aimed at strengthening relations and dialogue and to foster national development.

According to Forde, “The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Guyanese Diaspora Global Newark Corp and the Guyana Manufacturer Services Association affirms a commitment between the Government of Guyana and interested stakeholders in the diaspora to build bridges for a brighter future for Guyana."

In addition, he emphasised the need for collaboration and cooperation between the Guyanese Diaspora and stakeholders in Guyana. The collaboration agreement will allow Diaspora members to invest, partner, mentor, transfer knowledge, technology, and increase market expansion for members of the GMSA.

GMSA’s President Shyam Nokta welcomed the formalisation of the collaborative arrangement with UGDGN and thanked the organisation for its commitment to supporting national development and working with Guyana’s Private Sector by helping the GMSA to connect with the network, knowledge base and expertise of overseas-based Guyanese.

According to Nokta,

“This partnership is coming at a time when the GMSA is accelerating its efforts to support SMEs, in particular in the agriculture and agro-processing sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed us to move to the digital space and as part of our successful UncapppeD Initiative, we have started the process to set up an online portal to help SMEs showcase their products and potential markets. “

“Through this mechanism, we can also work closely with the Diaspora on key areas identified under the MoU as well as explore a range of other possibilities of collaboration in other sectors. The GMSA remains committed to working closely with Guyanese at home and abroad and to supporting SMEs,” he added. The GMSA and UGDGN will convene a joint working group in late November to develop a programme of activities.