New Nation, April 2023

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Page 2 Returning Linden and Guyana to decency and prosperity for all.

Page 3 Page 5 & 8

On Nomination Day for the 2023 Local Government Elections (LGE), the contesting parties submitted their lists of candidates for the various Local Authorities Areas across the country. Since then, most Guyanese have learnt from the evidence we have shown that the submissions of the PPP contain numerous instances of forgery, fakery, impersonation and blatant electoral fraudulent acts. These blatant acts of fraud by the PPP amount to an orchestrated attempt to rig the 2023 LGE. They expose the PPP‟s desperation and waning popularity among the Guyanese people. Worse, they are high criminal acts that must be punished by the full force of the law.

From the documented evidence we have revealed to the public, the PPP‟s fraudulent acts include (i) fake signatures, where one PPP agent signs for every nominator, (ii) selecting nominators without their knowledge and consent and forging their signatures, (iii) signing on behalf of nominators who are either dead or overseas, (iv) signing on behalf of persons who normally use their thumb print, (v) intimidating nominators to remove their names from the APNU lists, (vi) coercing and threatening persons to support the PPP or otherwise lose their jobs and hand-outs, and (vii) compelling ten-day workers to participate in PPP political activities.

Many of the affected persons have written to, or have directly approached, GECOM regional offices and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to lodge complaints. On our part, the APNU has written to the Commissioner of Police to request a meeting to present the evidence and to demand that the police take action against the fraudsters and their controllers at Freedom House. We will make a copy of the letter available after the Press Conference.

The APNU has noted that GECOM is suggesting that they cannot investigate the illegalities that the PPP is involved in. It is apposite to note that the responsibility for ensuring free and fair elections lies squarely at the feet of GECOM. It is therefore a dereliction of duty on GECOM‟s part if it fails to engage the Guyana Police Force to take legal action against the perpetrators of electoral fraud. By GECOM‟s action the credibility of LGE 2023 is in question and should not proceed until an investigation is done into the irregularities involving the PPP and its activists.

It must be noted here that Justice Claudette Singh has removed all pretensions of being independent and interested in free and fair elections. It should be evident to all that she is a pawn of the People‟s Progressive Party and can never deliver free, fair and credible elections. She has made herself an enemy of fair play and democracy and therefore is unsuited to be Chairman of GECOM. She should do the decent thing and resign.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, we have noted the silence from the so-called Guardians of Democracy. We have noted the silence from several of the main media houses. We have noted the silence from civil society. We have noted the silence from the Diplomatic Community. We call on all of these entities to unbury their heads from the sand, to stop being convenient advocates of free and fair elections, and to join the people of Guyana in demanding that GECOM and the Guyana Police Force treat with the necessary urgency and seriousness this blatant attempt by the PPP to rig the 2023 LGE.

Let it be known that the APNU will not allow this matter to wane with time. We will not allow our focus to be distracted. Our outrage will not be calmed. We will not allow the PPP, in cahoots with its agents in GECOM, to rig and steal the 2023 LGE elections. We will not allow the will of the Guyanese people to be perverted by the PPP. Enough is enough.

These acts of electoral fraud by the PPP further confirm what we have been saying since the last General Election in 2020. As we have said before, the PPP party rigs elections. The PPP has no interest in free and fair elections. They have no interest in local government. The PPP is disdainful and dismissive of the collective will and concerns of the Guyanese people. The PPP is hell-bent on total domination and control regardless of the cost to the nation.

It is now clearer than ever that our demand for a clean voters‟ list and voting-day biometrics is justified and vindicated. Without credible and acceptable elections, our country will plunge into social and political instability and conflict. We call on all Guyanese, civil society, and friends of the country to join the effort to rescue the country from this impending gloom and doom.

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Report to the police of blatant acts of electoral fraud by PPP agents

EASTER Celebrations: Kite distributions

Forbes BurnhamCentennial Birth Anniversary

Outreach at Mahaicony & Linden

Town Hall Meeting in Barbados with Party Leader

Without an investigation into the acts of electoral fraud by the PPP, the LGE cannot proceed

Georgetown District submitting their List of Candidates to GECOM for the Municipality of Georgetown on Nomination Day

Embattled Home Affairs PS ought to proceed on leave

what is the government‟s stance on the matter.

It is well known that this government is of the belief that if a matter is ignored long enough, it will eventually go away. But Thomas‟ position is too important. She is the Permanent Secretary of a vital Ministry.

To the people of Linden

We reiterate the fundamental importance of the vote and the citizens‟ right to participate in governance at the local level. We believe that free, fair, and credible elections are critical in the proper functioning of our democracy. Local government is the bedrock of community development since its intent is to minimize rank partisan politics, which we have seen in Guyana could result in ethnic tension, discrimination, and socio-economic retardation.

We, of the PNCR, are proud of and will zealously guard local government and ensure not only the integrity of the electoral process but also the day-to-day governance of communities.

Since the return of the PPP to government after the 2020 General and Regional Elections, we have seen a malicious effort to erase and neutralise the political opposition, to deny its supporters representation by their elected leaders, and to place many Guyanese on the fringe of society. The PPP has run amok and has reached into every single conceivable aspect of life in this country to exercise its dominance and ensure that it can dictate the very existence of citizens. Its actions not only threaten the fundamentals of democracy but the citizens‟ desire for peaceful, thriving, and harmonious co-existence.

The PPP is utilizing institutions of coercion, including some members of the Guyana Police Force who violate their oath to serve and protect the people consistent with the Constitution and laws of Guyana. The PPP is denying fundamental rights, such as the right to assembly and peaceful demonstration, right to vote, freedom of expression, and freedom to choose the political party of one‟s choice.

We, the people of Linden, believe that these rights must be respected and our participation in these elections is a demonstration of our commitment to continue to demand that these rights are respected and our resolve to defend those rights.

The PPP can boast of no significant political crossover in our region, and it is no surprise that many people rejected its efforts to bully and coerce them to wear the party‟s red jerseys. Red jerseys will not put food in the mouths of our children! These jerseys will not ensure that Lindeners will be meaningfully employed and their quality of life lifted.

Our Party in Linden would like to assure our supporters and those who are not our supporters that our campaign will be organised and positive. Meetings are being held in the various constituencies and we are reaching out to our people to share with them our vision. We will make sure our candidates are known in their constituencies as we undertake the task of serving our people. We will seek to remind our brothers and sisters that this government has failed to engage in anything transformational in our region. It is satisfied with seeing our people comatose and defeated. We must reject this!

We are seeing the infusion of oil money into our politics to deceive and manipulate our people. The PPP has no respect for checks and balances which are necessary in a society governed by the rule of law.

We want to encourage people to join our struggle for respect for our constitutional rights. We are here to serve you and will continue to fight to ensure that all of our rights and entitlements are respected. We recognize that we made mistakes but will work to correct those errors. Together, we can defeat the PPP and return Linden and Guyana to decency and prosperity for all.

I have noted, with deep concern, the incident involving the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Toussaint Jr. Thomas, which occurred at the Miami International Airport.

The most recent update by Stabroek News on this matter, to the effect that the official had been on a US watch list, has caused even greater concern.

Thus far what the public knows is that the PS‟s phone was confiscated, she was interrogated for hours by US border agents and her US visa was revoked. All this was not by chance or random suspicion as she was apparently on a list of persons of interest.

The public does not know why she was placed on the watch list, how this will affect her duties or

The Ministry of Home Affairs is the epicenter of all international security cooperation arrangements with Guyana and of course the Ministry has control over agencies responsible for law and order locally. The events that recently unfolded would obviously undermine public confidence in the PS and by extension, the Ministry.

The chief accounting officer of the security ministry and the point person for several key security programs cannot also be a person who is smeared internationally. There simply cannot be business as usual at the Home Affairs Ministry while its PS is under international investigation.

Until the public is fully appraised of the facts of the matter, until confidence can be restored, until the government can have an official position on the matter, PS Toussaint Jr. Thomas ought to proceed on administrative leave.

Protect the integrity of the election process

Your vote is not just a mark on a ballot; it is an opportunity to shape the future of your community. Your vote is your chance to ensure that your concerns are heard and that the issues that matter to you are addressed.

As we approach the Local Government Elections, we are aware that recent events may have caused you to question the integrity of the process and your ability to make a difference. We want to reassure you that your vote matters and that your voice must be heard.

It is understandable to feel discouraged by attempts to undermine the election process, but we must not lose sight of the importance of our collective participation. We cannot allow apathy to set in or let those who seek to manipulate the system win.

We must remember that democracy is not just a process, but a value that we must uphold and defend. We cannot take it for granted. Our predecessors fought hard for our right to vote, and we owe it to them and to future generations to exercise this right with pride and conviction.

Let us come together to protect the integrity of the election process and to demonstrate that democracy works best when citizens participate. Let us show the world that Guyana is a nation that values the power of its people.

On Election Day, let your voice be heard. Your vote matters, and your participation is essential to building a better future for us all.

#ProtectTheVote #YourVoteMatters #LocalGovernmentElections #DemocracyWorks"

to hold local government elections. And it took the David Granger administration to restart the process.

Second, every effort was made by the PPP administration to suffocate those municipalities such as Georgetown where they lost.

Third, everyone knows that a Municipality to deliver its service requires money and management.

Someone drew to my attention, the PPP‟s mouthpiece newspaper, the Chronicle Editorial of Tuesday 18th April, 2023 entitled ‘A clear choice?”

The article at best is a classic example of hypocrisy and inaccuracy. The Editorial went out of its way to refer to the major municipality that is the capital city of Georgetown.

The article emphasizes the importance of local government as it said and I quote “this event marks a significant milestone for the democratic process, as citizens will have a direct say in who will represent them and make decisions on their behalf at the local level.”

They claim that people are leaning towards the PPP/C to lead Georgetown. Some folks have no shame, no understanding of the truth. Briefly, I set out below facts for which there is abundant evidence I have mentioned time and time again.

Since when does the PPP leadership recognize the importance of local government as set out in those high-sounding phrases above?

One, for twenty-one years, the PPP in office failed

The PPP has without exception but in particular Georgetown denied those Councillors access to these two vital ingredients, money and management. They refused every initiative of the Georgetown Municipality to raise funds and disallowed the Mayor and Councillors the opportunity to identify qualified persons to take charge of the several important divisions of the Council.

This includes ignoring the several reports and recommendations to streamline and modernize the municipalities. It is time the PPP hierarchy and their media outlets stop fooling citizens. You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the time and do not expect the state-controlled media to publicize this letter.

But if any of the letter writers question the veracity of the contents of this letter, I challenge them to an open debate anywhere, anytime. This will give me and others an open opportunity to go into details and facts to expose the hypocrisy if not dishonesty of the PPP asseverations that it is wedded

(Continued on Page 3)

The PPP has no interest in local government

POLITICAL

On Saturday, 22nd April 2022, several residents of Union/Naarstigheid Local Authority Area made official reports at the Fort Wellington Police Station of their names being placed on the PPP list of candidates as nominators without their permission. The residents asked the police to urgently investigate these blatant acts of forgery and electoral fraud. Meanwhile, representative of the list and current NDC Chairperson of Woodlands-Bel Air LAA made formal

reports to the police of being abused and attacked by a known PPP Regional Councillor of the Region.

The residents were accompanied by Member of Parliament and the APNU Campaign Manager of Region #5 Vinceroy Jordan and Attorney at Law Darren Wade.

Other residents are set to approach the police in coming days and produce evidence of their signatures being forged by the PPP/C candidates and workers.

(Continued from Page 2) … to the principle of local government which in a truly democratic society is the lynchpin of good governance.

No one should be fooled in Georgetown or elsewhere by this robust rhetoric flowing from a wellfunded and well-staffed information machinery.

An important factor for decent people is, unlike the PNC and independent groups, no Party since the Waddington Constitution triggered in 1953 the right for every adult to vote has had such an enormous sum of money to spend on an LGE Campaign.

For many with the rising cost of living, this money which the PPP has in abundance is a temptation. I say to those who are being offered cash for ballots, they must not forget the way

an evil empire operates and not be insulted by the offering of a few ‘grangers.‟ I say accept it but remember the story and wisdom found in the Holy Bible, where history reminds us of the shortsightedness of Esau selling his birthright (your vote) for a meal.

So, they shared out a few thousand dollars, while they have millions and billions here and abroad and insult you by thinking that is all you are worth.

In our circumstances, take the money but don‟t feel that you are like a piece of wood for sale. At the end of the voting, they must respect us even though we are poor and not among the wealthy. Today, citizens everywhere must know it is only the truth that will set us free.

The letter below was sent to the Commissioner of Police (ag) Mr. Clifton Hicken by the APNU requesting a meeting to present the evidence of electoral fraud and to demand that the police take action against the fraudsters and their controllers at Freedom House.

Residents of Region #5 make official report to the police of their signatures being forged by PPP agents

The PPP has no interest in local government

Young people demand more than just infrastructure

The Guyana Press Association‟s (GPA‟s) condemnation of the attacks on a woman journalist and the President of the Association, herself a woman journalist, has heightened public concern about press freedom and the relations between the state and the media.

Former President David Granger, speaking on his weekly programme –The Public Interest – called attention to the significance of the attacks for the observance of „World Press Freedom Day‟ on 3rd May.

As the local government campaign for Constituency #14 continued with „boots on the ground’, the constituency candidate Kibwe Copeland received unexpected yet promising support from young people in Roxanne Burnham and Rasville. These young people were not just interested in the traditional infrastructural promises that politicians usually make during election campaigns. Instead, they expressed a need for programs that would benefit their personal lives and enhance their skills and abilities.

During the campaign, the young people demanded programs that would provide opportunities for them to participate in sports, academics, creative arts such as music, poetry, and art. They also requested programs that would promote employment and en-

trepreneurship in the area. “Yes infrastructure is good, but if you can represent us in a way or create ways, whereby our personal lives can be affected and not just the elements around us, that would be even better,” said a positive young man from Rasville. These sentiments expressed by the young people are a clear indication that they are interested in being empowered and are not merely passive spectators in the development process. This demand for personal empowerment dispels the myth that young people are not interested in development. Copeland, the constituency candidate, was pleased with the young people‟s demand for personal development programs and promised to work towards their implementation if elected (Village Voice News)

A meeting was held on Tuesday 25th April at the PNCR Office in Bartica where Leader of the PNCR and Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton addressed those members that attended, updating them on the current situation with the local government elections.

He recalled that Guyana‟s President emphasised the People‟s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration‟s commitment to press freedom by signing the Declaration of Chapultepec in May 2002 saying, then, “My government has never, and will never, seek to victimise, punish or in any way target media organisations simply because they do not share the government‟s view on an issue…”

Granger, however, cited the GPA‟s concerns that attacks by PPP/C officials encouraged threats to the lives and livelihoods media professionals and deplored earlier verbal confrontations in which journalists‟ questions were openly described as “silly and stupid”.

The Association of Caribbean Media Workers had condemned earlier statements referring to journalists as “vultures and carrion crows”, declaring them as “inflammatory” and “designed to endanger the lives of media practitioners and their families.”

The former president is of the opinion that the PPPC‟s actions denying state advertisements; banning a journalist from attending press conferences at the Office of the President; shutting down a television station for four months; withholding Government advertisements from one newspaper for 17 months and politicising the state

Mr. David A. Granger Former President

-owned news media – have been intimidatory.

He recalled that a woman journalist was suspended for one month for asking then Finance Minister at a press conference to clarify reports that the FBI (of the USA) was looking into money-laundering at his ministry.

Granger reminded that Article. 146 of Guyana‟s Constitution assures citizens of their fundamental right to “freedom of expression”. He suggested that press freedom could be safeguarded by the GPA‟s adopting a three-point policy of enhanced education, strengthened solidarity and steadfast social responsibility including the principles of accuracy, accountability and ethical reporting.

Press freedom, Granger iterated, is a fundamental right, not a political favour

(Village Voice News)

Linden/Soesdyke Highway and McKenzie/Wismar Bridge

Despite the APNU had completed the feasibility study and secured funding for the upgrade of our highway and a new bridge across the Demerara River at Linden, three (3) years after, all we get is promises from the current administration. The Linden Soesdyke Highway and Mackenzie /Wismar bridge remain the same.

The government claims it has allocat-

ed a whopping $76 billion to cater for the construction and upgrades of key roads and bridges in the 2022 budget. With $49.2 billion going to roads and $27.5 billion to be spent on bridges.

Talk and no action.. But de money done and the highway remains the same and bridges and drains continue to collapse.

On E-Day Vote APNU!

Freedom of expression a fundamental right, not a political favour - Granger

PNCR Easter Message 2023 Kite Distribution

The People‟s National Congress Reform wishes all Guyanese a happy Easter. Let us all make a greater effort to engage in self-reflection, to share love, to spread joy, and to offer forgiveness for the greater national good and our shared destiny. May this glorious season remind us of God‟s love for us and our responsibility to show compassion and support for one another.

Easter is one of the most important seasons of the Christian faith - starting from Palm Sunday, then Good Friday, and finally Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday reminds us of Jesus‟ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Good Friday reminds us of His brutal treatment, culminating in crucifixion. Easter Sunday reminds us of Jesus rising from the dead. Each of the Christian gospels explains the purpose for which Jesus came into the world. In John 3:16, Jesus himself tells of

God‟s love and concern for mankind. Not only does God say He loves us but He has demonstrated that love by sending Jesus with the express purpose of sacrificing His life so that mankind might be redeemed.

It is the Christian‟s belief that the blood of Christ shed on a cross at a place called Calvary is the full price for man‟s redemption. Christians also believe that beyond the suffering and the horrors of crucifixion they can still rejoice in the glory of His resurrection and His triumph over the grave. Let us be reminded, therefore, that when circumstances seem at their worst, there is still reason for hope. During this Easter, let us reflect on the full meaning of Jesus‟ sacrifice and God‟s love for us. Let us recommit our responsibilities to our fellow humankind.

Happy Easter and God bless our nation.

‘B’ Field, Sophia

Miss Bartica Regatta Contestants 2023

Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Vinceroy Jordan distributed kites to the children of Union/Naarstigheid villages of Region #5 on Tuesday 4th April 2023.

Contestants of the Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant 2023 paid a courtesy call to the PNCR Secretariat, Congress Place, Sophia on Wednesday 5th April. They were welcomed by Administrator of the Secretariat Ms. Hazel Pyle-Lewis and Public Relations Officer Ms. Shaneika Haynes. The Party representatives wished them well and encouraged them to be confident and to boost their efforts towards whatever endeavors they undertake after the pageant.

Union/Naarstigheid, Region #5

Party Leader, Aubrey C. Norton, MP distributing kites to the children of ‘B’ Field, Sophia on Tuesday 4th April 2023. Linden, Region #10

General Secretary of the PNCR, Dawn HastingsWilliams, MP, on Saturday 8th April 2023 assisted in the distribution of kites at the Linden Party Office with the kind contribution of NCW of Region #10 and other Party Groups and members.

The Venezuelan Contestants and their interpreter.

PPP ELECTORAL FRAUD

HARD EVIDENCE OF PPP ELECTORAL FRAUD

- PPP agent signing for all nominators

BURNHAM - The Statesman/Politician

1982 CARICOM HEADS CONFERENCE (JAMAICA)

(standing): - Tom Adams (Barbados); Dr. the Right Hon. Sir Kennedy A. Simmonds (St. Kitts/Nevis); John Osborne (Montserrat); Dr. Kurleigh King (Secretary General); Lynden Pindling (Bahamas); Maurice Bishop (Grenada); John Compton ( St. Lucia); George Price (Belize); Hudson Tannis (St. Vincent and the Grenadines); (sitting): - V. C Bird (Antigua and Barbuda); Forbes Burnham (Guyana); Edward Seaga (Jamaica); Mary Eugenia Charles (Dominica) and George Chambers (Trinidad and Tobago).

Historical Day | The Signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas on the 4th July 1973. From Left are Errol Barrow of Barbados, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham of Guyana, Dr. Eric Williams of Trinidad & Tobago and Michael Manley of Jamaica.

1966 - Flag of Guyana being raised at UN Headquarters, New York. First Prime Minister of the independent nation, Forbes Burnham, stands second from left.

Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and Premier Fidel Castro stands before the heroes of the Non-Alignment during the latter’s visit in 1973.

They were once friends and colleagues: The Founder Leader and Cheddi Jagan embrace during the Independence ceremony at the National Park, 1966.

HAPPY EASTER

Kite distribution in Region #6

On Thursday 6th April 2023, the Leader of the PNCR and Opposition Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP distributed kites in the communities of Kildonan, Alness, Liverpool and No. 28 Bushlot/Adventure on the Corentyne, Region #6. The Leader also took the opportunity to interact with residents

Party Leader and Team at the Bartica Regatta 2023

along the way.

Accompanying him in the distribution of kites were Members of Parliament Coretta McDonald, Nima Flue-Bess, Vinceroy Jordan and Dineshwar Jaiprashad along with PNCR Executive member Hazel Pyle-Lewis and Staff members of the Party Secretariat.

On Sunday 9th April, the Leader of the PNCR and Opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP attended the Regatta at Bartica, Region #7. Along the way to the Regatta venue, the Party Leader took the opportunity to greet and interact with residents.

Accompanying him were Member of Parliament Coretta McDonald, PNCR Executive members Mervyn Williams, Riaz Rupnarain and Joan Romascindo, GYSM Rep. of Bartica Estiva Lake, Councillors and Party Secretariat Staff.

Party Leader Aubrey C. Norton, MP on his arrival at Bartica on Sunday 9th April 2023 where he was greeted and welcome by GYSM Rep. of Region #7 Ms. Estiva Lake (at his right). On his left are Coretta McDonald, MP and PNCR CEC member Mervyn Williams.

OUTREACH

Outreach at Perth and Strath Campbell, Mahaicony

On Thursday 20th April 2023, Leader of the PNCR and Opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, and a team conducted an outreach in Perth and Strath Campbell, Mahaicony in Region #5. The Leader and team first held a community meeting, where they listened to the concerns of the residents of Perth. Residents expressed the feeling of neglect by the current government. They also complained of the deplorable state of the roads within the community and the need for the playground to be fixed for the benefit of the youths in the community. The

team later conducted a walkabout in Perth and Strath Campbell.

The Leader assured the residents that their concerns would be raised and there will be continued representation for persons within the community. He also shared his vision for the community and country.

The Leader was accompanied by the PNCR Vice Chairman Vinceroy Jordan, MP, Party Regional Chairperson for Region #5 Angela McDonald, Executive Assistant Shonelle SmithDaniels, Regional Party representatives, Councillors and staff.

Linden Town Day

Walkabout in Perth Village, Mahaicony on Thursday 20th April 2023.

A section of the gathering with the Leader at the Community Meeting held at Perth.

Party Leader Aubrey C. Norton, MP and some of his team members at Linden Town Day activities on Sunday 23rd April.

Photos top and bottom: Party Leader Aubrey C. Norton, MP meeting with residents of the Linden community.

MP Coretta McDonald and Regional Chairman Deron Adams greeting members of Linden football team during a visit to the region for the Linden Town Day activities on Sunday 23rd April. MP Nima Flue-Bess is in the background.

Party Leader greeting residents on his walkabout in Strath Campbell.

LINDEN TOWN DAY: Leader of the PNCR and Opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, and other top Party officials took the time out at the Linden Town Day activities on Sunday 23rd April 2023 to meet and greet with residents of Region N0. 10.

Some of the historic achievements of WHO

In 1948, WHO took the responsibility for the International Classification of Diseases, which has become the international standard for defining and reporting diseases and health conditions. Since its creation WHO has contributed to many historic achievements in global public health. Some of them are:

 Antibiotics: (1950) The great era of discovery of present-day antibiotics begins, and WHO begins advising countries on their responsible use.

 Polio: (1988) The Global Polio Eradication Initiative 1988 is established at a time when polio paralyzed more than 350,000 people a year. Since then, polio cases have decreased by more than 99 per cent because of immunization against the disease worldwide.

 Smallpox: (1979) Following an ambitious 12 -year global vaccination campaign led by WHO, smallpox is eradicated.

 Tuberculosis: (1995) The strategy for reducing the toll of tuberculosis (TB) is launched. At the end of 2013, more than 37 million lives had been saved through TB diagnosis and treatment under this strategy.

 AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: (2001)

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a new partnership and funding mechanism initially hosted by WHO, is created in collaboration with other UN agencies and major donors.

 Children's mortality: (2006) The number of children who die before their fifth birthday declines below 10 million for the first time in recent history.



Heart Disease, diabetes, cancer: (2012)

For the first time WHO Member States set global targets to prevent and control heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and other noncommunicable diseases.

 Ebola virus outbreak: (2014) The biggest outbreak of Ebola virus disease ever experienced in the world strikes West Africa. The WHO Secretariat activates an unprecedented response to the outbreak, deploying thousands of experts and medical equipment; mobilizing foreign medical teams and coordinating creation of mobile laboratories and treatment centres. In 2016 WHO announces zero cases of Ebola in West Africa, but warns that flare-ups of the disease are likely to continue and that countries in the region need to remain vigilant and prepared.

WHO staff, who include medical doctors, public health specialists, scientists and epidemiologists and other experts are at work on the ground in 149 countries worldwide. They advise ministries of health on technical issues and provide assistance on prevention, treatment and care services throughout the health sector.

WHO interventions cover all areas of the global healthcare spectrum. For instance, WHO intervenes during crises and responds to humanitarian emergencies. It also works to establish International Health Regulations, which countries must follow to identify disease outbreaks and to stop them from spreading. Furthermore, WHO‟s work helps to prevent chronic diseases and to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Malaria vaccines are finally ready for action: what happens next?

After more than 50 years of research, the RTS,S / AS01e vaccine is on the brink of being rolled out to countries with moderate to high transmission of the world‟s deadliest malaria parasite.

In October 2021, the WHO gave the green light to use the RTS,S/AS01emalaria vaccine to protect children in regions with moderate to high transmission of Plasmodium falciparum – the world's deadliest malaria parasite.

It was a historic breakthrough: for more than 50 years, scientists have been trying to develop a vaccine against this foe, but their task proved exceptionally tricky. The malaria parasite is a shape shifter, taking on different forms during its lifecycle and changing the proteins on its surface to escape the immune system. Now, the world is on the brink of another historic moment: the roll-out of the world's first malaria vaccine to children in greatest need of protection from this global killer.

Pilot vaccination programmes launched in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi in 2019, have shown that the RTS,S vaccine is safe and effective, and implementation has resulted in a substantial drop in hospitalisations and child deaths from malaria. Indeed, assuming global RTS,S vaccine supplies reach 30 million doses, modelling has suggested that the deaths of some 24,000 children a year could be averted. It is hoped that other malaria vaccines currently in trials or at earlier phases of development will further increase the numbers of lives saved through roll-out of additional supply to meet demand.

Yet there are still some hurdles to overcome before every child at risk will have the opportunity to be vaccinated against it.

In October 2021, the Gavi board approved funding to support malaria vaccine roll-out in areas of moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission. The first countries to benefit from this funding are Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, where it is being used to support continued implementation of RTS,S/AS01e vaccination programmes.

The coming months

Non-pilot countries were invited to apply for Gavi support in January and April 2023, with the first allocations of vaccines expected to be announced shortly. However, because it will take time for the vaccine's manufacturer, GSK, to scale up production, doses are expected to be initially targeted at populations in areas of greatest need. As production is steadily increased, they will be made available more widely.

For these additional countries, phased introduction of malaria vaccination could begin as soon as late 2023 or – more likely – early 2024. Ahead of this date, countries will begin preparing for the vaccine's introduction by ensuring adequate supply of injection devices, making sure cold-chain provision is in place to support transportation and storage of the vaccine, training health workers on delivery of the vaccine, and informing caregivers and communities about the benefits and risks of vaccination and the importance of continuing other malaria control measures (such as using insecticide

-treated bed nets) as well.

In pilot countries, this information has been provided through talks led by health officials and health providers, as well as meetings with community leaders, health volunteers, public service announcements and through the local media.

Scaling up supply

Meanwhile, Gavi and its partners continue to work towards increasing supplies of the vaccine. GSK expects to deliver 18 million doses of the vaccine by 2025, with four million doses available by late 2023, six million doses delivered in 2024, and eight million in 2025. Beyond that, production of RTS,S/ASO1e is expected to increase to at least 15 million doses per year during 2026–2028 thanks to a product transfer deal with Bharat Biotech, of Hyderabad, India.

However, vaccine production will still fall short of demand, so other malaria vaccines are needed to fill the gap. The most advanced candidate is R21/ Matrix-M, developed by the University of Oxford, UK, and being manufactured and scaled up by the Serum Institute of India. This is currently undergoing phase 3 trials in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania, and results relating to safety, efficacy, and duration of protection in different malaria transmission settings are imminently pending. Phase 2 data published in September suggested high effectiveness following a fourth booster dose in areas with highly seasonal transmission of malaria

The vaccine's developers hope it will gain WHO recommendation and prequalification during 2023, as the vaccine is currently under review by these bodies. If these milestones are achieved this year, this could make it available for use in areas with moderate to high P. falciparum malaria transmission, though potentially with an initial limited indication, as early as next year. The vaccine has also just received approval by national regulatory authorities in two countries. Other malaria vaccines are also in development, including an mRNAbased candidate by German biotech company BioNTech. It announced the launch of a phase I trial of this vaccine, called BNT165b1 in December 2022.

It has been a long time coming, but RTS,S/ASO1e is the first vaccine to be approved for use against a human parasitic disease, and a critical new weapon in the fight against malaria.

(gavi.org)

BARBADOS: Town Hall Meeting with the Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform and Leader of the Opposition of Guyana, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, and the Guyanese community on Friday 28th April 2023, at the Woodbine Restaurant and Sports Bar in Barbados.

GECOM picketed for Electoral Fraud and a Clean Voters List

The Opposition has stepped up its picketing exercise in front of GECOM for electoral fraud by agents of the PPP and its continued call for a clean voters list on Tuesday 18th April 2023. This exercise will continue everyday from Mondays to Fridays. Since Nomination Day, there have been numerous claims and evidence of the name of deceased appearing as nominators for candidates, one hand writing signing for more than five persons on a list of nominators, a United States-based Guyanese appearing as a nominator unknown to him, among other complaints. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! FRAUD IS FRAUD!

A section of the gathering at the Woodbine Restaurant and Sports Bar in Barbados.

Leader of the PNCR and Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton, MP, greeting Guyanese in Barbados.

Party Leader, Aubrey C. Norton, MP, addressing the gathering.