11 David Patterson, Rawlston Adams deny fraud charge NEWS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021|| GUYANATIMESGY.COM
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lliance for Change (AFC) General Secretary and former Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson and former General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), Rawlston Adams returned to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday where they pleaded not guilty to a joint fraud charge. They were each released on $200,000 bail during their initial court appearance last month. The charge against them states that between November 18, 2016, and February 1, 2018, they conspired with other persons unknown to defraud the DHBC Asphalt Plant of
AFC General Secretary David Patterson
$162,635,015. The funds were for a project about a feasibility
study and design for a new bridge across the Demerara River, which was not a function of that corporation and as such the monies from the Asphalt Plant account could not be used. Patterson, who serves as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, is being represented by Attorneys-at-Law Nigel Hughes, Ronald BurchSmith, and Khemraj Ramjattan, while Adams is represented by Attorney-atLaw Glenn Hanoman. Attorney-at-Law Leslyn Noble is the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor. Patterson and Adams return to court on March 1, 2021, to collect statements.
In November of 2020, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill had disclosed that the Guyana Police Force was actively probing the award of the 2016 $145 million contract to LievenseCSO. The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and the Auditor General had redflagged Patterson for requesting from the then Cabinet that the feasibility contract be sole-sourced instead of being processed through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). The PPC had found that the bidding process was annulled because of non-responsive bidders. Following
2 new COVID-19 mortalities …1 new case from 112 tests
West Demerara), 3666 in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica), 223 in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 456 in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), 733 in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 245 in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), 412 in Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 641 in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). New developments have emerged amid the administration of coronavirus vaccines in Guyana, which started on Thursday as health workers received their shots.
Vaccines
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71-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and 70-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are Guyana’s latest COVID-19 death. This raises the death toll to 187. This was announced by the Health Ministry, stating that the elderly man died on Sunday while receiving care at a medical facility. Prior to this, the last fatalities were reported on Thursday after two males – an 84-year-old and 59-yearold from Region Four - succumbed in the designated coronavirus facilities. On Monday, only one
new COVID-19 case was detected in Region Four from a total of 112 samples. The confirmed cases are 8232. From this number, the gender breakdown is 4282 males and 3950 females. A total of 7399 persons have recovered from the virus as 647 active cases remain. There are still seven persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), with 45 persons in institutional isolation, 595 in home isolation and 26 in institutional quarantine. Some 1017 cases have been detected in Region One (Barima-Waini), 233 in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), 604 in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-
Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony assured on Monday that thousands of vaccines will reach Guyana by the end of this month. They will finish the medical sector first before moving on to another group of the population. “Our expectation is that by the end of the month, we will be receiving thousands of vaccines. I think we will have enough vaccines to cover at least all the healthcare workers and then move on to the other population groups,” he informed. The Minister said that the teams that are conducting the immunisation are well-schooled in the areas which should be checked and examined before a vaccine is delivered. “Anyone who would come to get their vaccines would go through several minutes
DHBC Former General Manager Rawlston Adams
investigations, it was revealed that several companies had bid for the project for the feasibility study and design for the bridge and 12 companies had been shortlisted. But only two of the 12 companies had made proposals. As such, the bidding process was annulled.
NPTAB had approved for the project to be re-tendered. However, the project was not re-tendered. Instead, LievenseCSO was engaged by the then Public Infrastructure Ministry to do the work. It was revealed that the bid from LievenseCSO was “unsolicited”, but Patterson took the company’s proposal to Cabinet for approval. Approval was granted for the company to be engaged. Monies to be spent on the project were taken from the Demerara Harbour Bridge Asphalt Plant account. Reports indicate that in 2017, $215.3 million was used from the fund, while in 2018 a further $74 million was withdrawn. The original sum approved by Cabinet for the contract was $161.5 million. It is understood that the contract price for the handpicked LievenseCSO was actually $148 million. (G1)
Soldiers implicated in rape allegations removed from Mabaruma …Army launches BoI
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of getting the information pertaining to the vaccine. They’re given a brochure with additional information on the vaccine. When you go through that first step of getting this information, then you can make a decision whether you want to proceed and then you sit down with the next person on the team and they’ll go through a checklist with you. That is to verify whether or not you’re eligible.” After confirming eligibility for the vaccine, the nurse will administer the vaccine after going through the process once more. The patient is required to wait for some 15 to 20 minutes for observation. If there are no immediate symptoms, they can leave. Minor symptoms are common with vaccines since they mimic the virus to a lower extent. Normal side effects include swelling, redness, fever, headaches and tiredness. (G12)
he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has launched a Board of Inquiry (BoI) into the rape allegations made against five of its ranks stationed at Mabaruma, North West District (NWD). As such, the ranks were pulled from the community to facilitate the investigations. “The conduct and professionalism of our ranks are premier factors in our mission accomplishment. The Force will, therefore, spare no measure to ensure our ranks uphold our values and standards, and maintain the confidence of the communities which we are sworn to serve and defend,” the Force stated in a release to the media on Monday. In addition, it stated that the Force’s operational posture on the border remained alert and the safety and security of citizens were assured. On Sunday, the Force stated that five ranks were subjected to an allegation of rape in Mabaruma, NWD. While the details surrounding the incident are not available, the GDF in a release stated that soldiers are cooperating with the Police
as the investigation is ongoing. In addition, the Force wishes to assure the public that it remains committed to the preservation of law and order. In October 2018, two soldiers – Rawlston Reid, 22, of Dochfour Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Isaiah Rawlins, 21, of Wisroc, Linden – allegedly raped a 26-year-old female in Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). It was reported that on October 13, 2018, the two soldiers, who were placed on $300,000 bail each, allegedly had forceful sex with the woman. The woman was at the time with her boyfriend at a community centre ground eating chips when they were approached by the soldiers, who are known to them. The couple were ordered to have sex for the soldiers to see and when they refused, they were beaten and robbed. The woman’s boyfriend was forced to watch the entire ordeal before they stripped him of his gold chains worth $180,000. The men have since been dismissed from the military.
