Weekend Mirror 17-18 December 2022

PPP/C gov’t advancing people-centered development – PM Phillips

P rime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said initiatives implemented by the PPP/C Administration are heavily centred around the development of

the citizens.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a contract signing ceremony held in the community of Victory Valley, Region Ten (Upper De -

merara-Berbice) on December 9, 2022. “I am happy that the government is here with you today with these projects, because as a government we believe in peo-

ple centred development. And people are included in the implementation of the projects and I think that is important for all of us here,” the PM stated.

Contracts were awarded to nine residents of Victory Valley to desilt drains, construct bridges, small roads and footpaths. The contractors were encouraged to hire persons from the community, especially youths in an effort to create employment and foster community development by keeping the revenue within the community. Further, the Prime Minister urged residents to not be distracted by the naysayers, as Guyana is currently experiencing unprecedented growth.

“Don’t let anybody get in your way of what is happening in Guyana now. We are on a thrust to develop this entire country and Region Ten will not be left out. What we are focused on now is bringing development to all the people of Linden, all the people in Region Ten, all the people in all the other nine regions and this is just part of the development,” he emphasised.

The prime minister also highlighted a number of

major projects that will benefit residents of Region Ten significantly, the reconstruction of Soesdyke/ Linden Highway.

Another major project underway is the Linden to Mabura road that will connect the mining town to Lethem, Region Nine. The project aims to cut travel time and increase economic development for citizens. Thus far, the US$190 million project being undertaken by Brazilian company, Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A. has created employment for more than 100 Guyanese.

In addition, the government has rehabilitated a number of roads in Victory Valley from First to Third Ally and the back road.

The Prime Minister said Lindeners can look forward to more development in the coming years.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill and Minister within the Ministry, Deodat Indar were also present at the contract signing.

“As a government we believe in people centred development. And people are included in the implementation of the projects and I think that is important for all of us here.”

– Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips

Teixeira rubbishes Coalition’s latest racism, discrimination claims

The APNU+AFC Coalition’s claims of discrimination in the awarding of contracts to companies owned by Afro-Guyanese for government projects were rubbished by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira.

In addressing the assertion made by an opposition political party that the PPP/C Administration has awarded contracts mainly to Indo-Guyanese-owned businesses since it assumed office, the senior government functionary reminded that Guyana has strong constitutional provisions in place that deal specifically with anti-corruption and procurement.

For example, contracts have to go through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) before they are awarded to contractors. Contracts $16 million and over are forwarded to the Cabinet for a no-objection. The Cabinet can only grant no-objections, not award contracts.

In 2020 a total of 331 contracts were granted no-objection by the Cabinet, while 1,608 were awarded in 2021 and 1,790 were awarded in 2022. In total, around 4,000 contracts were granted with no-objection by the Cabinet.

The minister explained also that contracts are tendered at various levels of local government including the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCS), Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, munic-

ipalities and ministries.

She said when the opposition members talk about discrimination in contracts, they must be challenged to bring the facts and statistics.

“First of all, there are small contracts that ministries are allowed to have, that they are basically service contracts and these go to a ministerial tender board and they also have to go to the National Tender Board,” she said.

Minister Teixeira highlighted that a claim of marginalisation cannot be made in a country where no one ethnic group is over 50 per cent. “What is wrong with a contractor, regardless of his/ her ethnicity getting a job based on providing the requirements and specifications and financing to be able to do the job. And what if they don’t do the job? Well, they will be terminated and we go to tender again and we bring up another contractor as required by the law. But one cannot, it is unacceptable in a multi-ethnic society for a political party to be so highly irresponsible, to be dredging this up all the time about ethnicity. Every Guyanese regardless of their ethnicity have a right to live a better life, a right to housing, a right to water,” the minister said.

Teixeira reminded that it was the APNU+AFC cabinet that got into hot water for approving a contract for the new Demerara River Bridge without approval from NPTAB.

Also, big contractors who

were aligned with the opposition were hogging up not only billion-dollar projects but small contracts as well.

Now, there is currently over 1,000 small new contractors in Guyana who are doing projects for the government. “All the parapets being done; the small work being done in communities. It’s not been given to contractors outside but using and developing skills of those in

has given COVID relief; help in the hampers; flood relief; the removal of taxes; the purchase of vaccines for our people; the PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment)… drugs that were not there; the opening up of housing; and the fixing of roads and bridges. All of this is taking place and all you can do is drag it down to race. That is the only flag you have. The only flag you wave is race.

“…you have stuck loyally to your history from 1954 and onwards - of divide and rule in Guyana. That is unfortunate. I don’t accept that the youth don’t know about these things. They are not obtuse…whether the PNC/ RIG/ APNU/ AFC comes to term with past and steps on the road to national unity, you will be found, if you don’t join, left alone…. you have a choice.” – Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira

the communities,” Minister Teixeira added.

UNDERMINING DEVELOPMENT

The PPP/C Government’s effort to advance a development trajectory continues to be dragged down by the Coalition for partisan political purposes, according to Teixeira, in a prior interview.

She had said, “At a time when we are taking the trajectory of our country forward; when we are seeing transformation; when the government

“…you have stuck loyally to your history from 1954 and onwards - of divide and rule in Guyana. That is unfortunate. I don’t accept that the youth don’t know about these things. They are not obtuse…whether the PNC/ RIG/ APNU/ AFC comes to term with past and steps on the road to national unity, you will be found, if you don’t join, left alone….you have a choice.”

Teixeira charged that the PPP/C will push forward with President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s

“…it is unacceptable in a multi-ethnic society for a political party to be so highly irresponsible, to be dredging this up all the time about ethnicity. Every Guyanese regardless of their ethnicity have a right to live a better life, a right to housing, a right to water.” – Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira

announced One Guyana initiative, despite the naysayers in the Coalition camp. She said, “The attempt to weaken any embryonic efforts at building a One Guyana will not succeed…efforts at building a ‘One Guyana’- a ‘One Guyana’ for all of us as a people where we will work towards equitable distribution of goods and services; where we will work for the development of the regions of our country…that is our goal and if you don’t agree with it, I’m sorry. You’re lost.”

In February 2021, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced the establishment of a ‘One Guyana Commission’, which will be spearheaded by Prime Minister, (rtd) Brigadier, Mark Phillips.

Ali had said, ““An essential part of my Government is inclusion. Stop being defined by race; stop being defined by politics. Start being defined by our one nationality and by our common love for our one country, let us lift it up together and by doing so, let us lift each other and ourselves, one people, one nation, one destiny…I

propose to give meaning to my call for one Guyana by requesting the leader of Government business in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Brigadier, Hon. Mark Phillips to introduce the adoption of an Act of Parliament establishing a One Guyana Commission which he will head….we must move our nation building from abstraction to action and lose not one more moment in doing it. Let us stand up for our one nation, our one Guyana, let us stand up for what we know in our hearts and in our minds to be right. Let us stand up for one identity, the Guyanese identity.”

President Ali said the work of the Commission will be undertaken countrywide to encapsulate the free expressions of all voices, respecting the diversity “from which our oneness springs.” The Commission will also address education concerning Guyana’s history, religion, ensuring equal opportunity, employment and entrepreneurship and institutional strengthening of the Ethnic Relations Commission.

GUEST EDITORIAL

By Zulfikar Mustapha, PPP Executive Secretary

Guyana’s rapid transformational development is evident for all to see. Across the ten administrative regions, unprecedented social and physical infrastructural changes are unfolding to effect better services and access for the benefit of all Guyanese. The improving of lives and conditions and creating a prosperous future for all, is the hallmark of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Throughout its history, this trait defined it. On returning to government in 1992, the PPP inherited a bankrupt country and that was classified as a highly indebted poor one; second poorest in the region behind Haiti. On leaving office in 2015, Guyana’s sustained economic growth during those twenty-three years led to its re-classification as a developing country.

The economic transformation during that period not only led to the improvement and positive transformation of the lives of Guyanese and their families, but also to Guyana being branded as the shining star of the Caribbean. In tandem with Guyana’s modernization during that said period, the country’s international image was restored and respected returned.

These changes were not coincidental but as a result of astute and visionary leadership of the PPP-led governments which has an enviable record of progress through people-centered development. Since taking office in August 2020, the pace of development has meteorically risen under the vibrant leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

This development is holistic and not confined to any particular section of the country in keeping with the Party’s policy that every citizen must benefit. This is glaringly evident from every single intervention across the country, be it housing or cash grants to name just two. Guyanese from all walks of life have public voiced their satisfaction and approval of efforts led by President Ali. Many of these persons, by their own admission, did not vote for the PPP.

That speaks to the PPP’s holistic nationalistic developmental thrust and to those with a different political preference being unafraid to embrace development and the Party’s related polices. This is what leadership is about. This is what President Ali and his government have been working tirelessly to achieve and to realize the true intent of the One Guyana initiative.

However, sadly, this is worrying to the Opposition, particularly, the Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC). He is worried over the inroads being made in many of what he deems his constituents for the simple reason that development is being brought to their doorsteps. As a matter of fact, he and his Party are on record for calling for the blocking of aspects of the country’s national development and urged their supporters to not engage in related interventions.

Such actions are woefully anti-development and are designed with the deliberate intent to hold back the country and its people. Those who know the history of the PNC would know such actions are not new but an inherently engrained characteristic of that Party and which failed miserable while in government and in the Opposition. Mr. Aubrey Norton is therefore being true to his Party’s modus operandi.

Having been in government from five years between 20152020, the APNU+AFC coalition proved to be grossly inept and completely visionless during their tenure. In that period, their abject failure to realize any form of development is also glaringly evident. This cannot be swept aside nor be forgotten by Guyanese, including the coalition’s supporters.

With real-time access to information, Guyanese, home and abroad, would have witnessed APNU+AFC dismal performance in government and are able to juxtapose that with the PPP-led people-oriented development in every section of the country. This trajectory of progress and its redounding benefits to the citizenry, are welcomed by all. Their genuine outpouring of commendations permeates across the across the country and into the Diaspora. Major international organizations have also expressed satisfaction over Guyana’s rapid development.

Given what continues to be said by ordinary citizens, especially those who support the APNU+AFC, it is clear they have refused to listen to Mr. Norton’s anti-development rhetoric. After all, why would he want Guyanese, more so his supporters, to not benefit and to have a better life? Such selfish

Norton struggles for support

Dear Editor,

As Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton approaches the first anniversary (December 18) of his being chosen as Leader of the PNCR, his party has been haemorrhaging in support under his leadership, and struggling to gain traction from traditional supporters of the Opposition APNU coalition as well as its AFC partner.

The latest tracking surveys conducted for NACTA show that the public is losing confidence in current PNC leadership, and by extension interest in the party, which is facing widespread apathy.

The recent polls reveal that the PNCR or APNU-and-AFC coalition is not likely to do well in the coming Local Government Elections, scheduled for March 2023. The AFC has indicated that it is not contesting the LGE.

Opinion polls conducted last December revealed that Norton would win the PNCR leadership contest. Although he faced resistance after his election as Leader of the PNCR, it was foreseen that it was just a matter of time before Norton would become the Opposition Leader. Norton became Opposition Leader last April, and has since been struggling to win over the masses that support the Opposition PNCR and APNU. He has virtually no support among AFC supporters, and polls also find that he has zero support among those who traditionally vote PPP. And he has no support among those who voted for the minor parties in the March 2020 elections, indicating that he has no traction of middle-of-the-road voters to take the Opposition to victory in an

election.

These are some of the findings of surveys conducted this month, November, October, August, July and April. Norton’s likeability or favourability ratings and job performance numbers have not improved in any poll conducted since he became Opposition Leader last April. His numbers remain stuck in the 20s and 30s percentile.

In the latest surveys, the public at large, and PNCR supporters in particular, do not feel Norton can take their party, APNU, and AFC coalition into Government.

The biggest complaint against Norton has to do with personality traits. Voters say he does not display an affable personality, and rarely ever smiles. They describe him as too confrontational, and more suited for street politics rather than for a leadership position to win over cross-party appeal to make his party electable. They say he comes across as too aggressive and brash, and is not personable and approachable like his predecessors or other likable PNCR politicians. They note he is stuck in his street politician days, not transitioning to the politics of diplomacy and conciliation.

In contrast, the public praises President Ali’s leadership, noting that he is approachable, congenial, and engaging. And they say the PPPC Government under Ali’s leadership has been taking Guyana to new heights in social, economic, and political development never before experienced in the country.

The December tracking poll shows the APNU (PNCR) losing seats to PPP in traditional strongholds. African working-class people are leaving the PNC.

The newly formed independent party of broadcaster Bobby Vieira — Citizens for Progress — is already a beneficiary, gaining traction and pulling support from the PNCR and middle-of-the-road, unaligned floating voters. With time, Vieira’s movement could win significant popular support, and seats that would hold the balance in control of the capital’s Mayoralty.

While Norton has maintained support among ‘the lumpen’ and lower-class Africans, he seems unable to win over professional and middle-class Africans and Mixed-race Guyanese. The polls reveal he has no cross-over support from among other ethnic groups than those that traditionally support PNCR. This is in sharp contrast with previous party leaders like Desmond Hoyte, David Granger and Robert Corbin.

The public says Norton lacks the panache and finesse of his predecessors, and of Vincent Alexander and Carl Greenidge. Among the names of MPs mentioned who have the potential to transform the PNC into an electorally appealing force to give it a good chance at the next general election are Volda Lawrence, Amanza Walton-Desir and Roysdale Forde, to mention just a few. However, they note that Volda and Amanza retain baggage, having made unforgettable statements that hurt the sentiments of Indian voters. And both lack crossover appeal. Roysdale garners cross-racial appeal among non-traditional PNC supporters and floating voters.

Other findings of the poll will be released in subsequent reports.

Yours truly, V. Bisram

Guyana must cleanse itself of the riggers

Dear Editor,

Against the backdrop of a necessity to urgently remove the double-edged hatchet from the necks of Guyanese, one cannot ignore the persistent threat of the PNC to free and fair electoral practices.

The role of key players from the PNC ranks, historically and in the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, resulted in their open support of the blatantly incorrect and infamous declarations, the flagrant abuse of discretion and procedures, coupled with eventual charges levelled against key elections officials that form part of the evidence of the then contaminated Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Since then, GECOM has made some efforts to address the conundrum, but there is more work to be done in this respect.

From its inception, the PNC, under

its founder leader LFS Burnham, was adamant about staying in power at all cost. Party Paramountcy was used to strengthen the typical one-party rule approach, as Guyanese were forced to live under desperate conditions. However, a united people struggled for free and fair elections, and when we overcame, it witnessed “The Dawn of a New Era” in 1992.

For twenty-eight years, the PNC utilised its influence and control in manipulating the Guyana Elections Commission. The general strategy was to ensure that key leadership within the organisation was controlled by a party diehard, who would ensure a balance of elections officials to advance the Party’s Paramountcy Ideology towards satisfying its power-hungry thirst and survival.

Their use of party influence at the various levels ensured the blatant rig-

actions speak to narrow-mindedness and a thinking that has no place in this modern Guyana. The people continue to reject him and his Party’s anti-progress narrative.

Having witnessed first-hand Mr. Norton’s Party’s shameless attempts to illegally hold on to government following the March 2020 elections and their calls to have aspects of

ging of the National Elections in 1968, 1973, 1978/1980 and 1985 in the PNC’s favour. However, it was the Political Committee for Democracy (PCD) that struggled with the PPP and all other Progressive Forces, particularly decent and imminent personalities, for international support to enable the Guyanese people to free themselves from the PNC riggers.

Typically, the events that unfolded during the five months of March/August 2020 expressed the characteristic behaviour of the PNC+ APNU/ AFC coalition, which was trying desperately to steal the Government and reposition the controls it had over GECOM before the restoration of democracy in 1992. Their excessive abuse of procedure and twisting of the laws led to challenges heard at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), and

development blocked, people, including many -supporters, would have lost whatever trust they may have had in them. This also adds to Mr. Norton’s worries.

Given the relentless developmental push by President Ali and his government will continue unabated, there will be no letting up of Mr. Norton’s worries.

Guyanese are increasingly embracing development, shunning Coalition’s divisive rhetoric

ELECTION WATCH: LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

APNU+AFC continues attempts to further delay hosting of LGE - Rohee

The Parliamentary Opposition continues to use every opportunity to frustrate the preparatory process and create stumbling blocks to the hosting of the Local Government Elections (LGEs), according to GECOM Commissioner, Clement Rohee.

Rohee, in a statement, said, “The opposition commissioners have, once again, irresponsibly thrown out a revised GECOM work plan presented to a statutory meeting of the Commission held on Tuesday December 13, 2022. The plan concedes the postponement of Local Government Elections by approximately one month with the likelihood of it to be held in April 2023 provided a

date is named by the Minister of Local Government [Nigel Dharamlall].”

The new work plan was created following the submission of a proposal by the Chief Election Officer, Vishnu Persaud, to the Commission, to conduct an exercise to correct the Registers of Voters (ROVs) for Local Government Elections under Section 24A of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03,” the GECOM statement said.

According to Rohee, the postponement of LGEs, which the PPP/C has agreed to, will accommodate a new claims and objections period and the extraction of a voters’ list that will reflect the

correct placement of electors at their place of residence in their respective constituencies.

Further, on the issue of boundaries for Local Authority Areas (LAAs), Rohee said, “Notwithstanding convincing evidence presented by PPP/C sponsored commissioners and the dismissal by the Court in November 2018 in a matter questioning the minister’s authority in respect to the demarcation of constituency boundaries, opposition commissioners have consistently and shamelessly questioned the powers of the Minister of Local Government to demarcate/establish boundaries of constituencies within local authority areas.

Coalition’s proposal for fingerprinting at polling places unconstitutional – GECOM

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in response to Kaieteur News’ December 8, 2022 article headlined ‘GECOM agrees to use electronic fingerprinting at the place of poll….’, made clear that fingerprinting at polling places would be unconstitutional.

In a statement, GECOM said, “With specific reference to the call for the introduction of a biometric identification system at every Polling Station, the decision given by the Chairman was that if such a system were to be introduced at the place of poll as a requirement for persons to vote, persons will be unable to vote in that in any absence/failure of such a means of identification, and that this would be contrary to

the Constitution, as was absolutely clear in the decision in the Esther Perreira case.”

Referring to the Esther Perreira case, the GECOM Chair, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, noted that the decision established that in accordance with Articles 59 and 159 of the Constitution once a person is 18 years and is registered that person is entitled to vote at an election.

“If, on the other hand, a biometric identification system was to be used as an alternative means of identification, so that persons will be permitted to be identified by additional means and be allowed to exercise their right to vote even in the absence of such biometric identification, then the

introduction of biometric identification at the Polling Stations might be permissible. But this would simply be another means of identification for which the legislation does not currently provide, this will require legislative amendment,” GECOM said.

Further, the GECOM Chair stressed that she does not support the calling for legislative provision to be made before a feasibility study is done to assess whether the introduction of biometric identification at Polling Stations is something that can be done effectively.

The APNU+AFC Coalition, while option out of the national consulations on electoral reform, have been making calls that require legislative changes.

(LAAS). Moreover, with the establishment of new constituencies, it is to be recalled that the Minister of Local Government held consulta-

tions with residents in the newly established LAA’s.”

Nomination Day, initially set for December 12, 2022, has been postponed, due

to court action by the APNU+AFC Coalition.

LGE is constitutionally due every two years in Guyana and was last held in 2018.

Questions raised by the Parliamentary Opposition as to whether or not the Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall, acted in contravention of the laws, were settled by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

GECOM Chairperson, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh, explained that the powers given to the Minister and the Commission are different and not in conflict. She explained that the Minister has power to divide Guyana into areas as provided for, considering the factors specified by Article 72(2) of the Constitution in defining the boundaries of those areas. This includes the power to define and/or modify the boundaries of neighbourhoods and people’s co-operative units within those neighbourhoods, and the establishment of local

democratic organs for those.

The Chairman further posited that, on the other hand, the Commission only has the power to combine or subdivide those divisions within neighbourhoods, and municipalities, to form constituencies.

GECOM in a statement said, “It follows therefore that the Commission can only exercise its powers after the Minister had demarcated and defined the boundaries of the electoral divisions within the local authority area. The Commission cannot ignore those divisional boundaries and arbitrarily set its own. The Commission’s constituencies must be based on and reference the boundaries of the electoral division that have either been combined or subdivided to form the constituencies.”

Addressing other concerns regarding the recent-

ly gazetted orders of the Minister, in which he made changes to the existing Local Authority Areas, and at the same time may have identified changes to those constituencies within the Local Authority Areas, the Chairman pointed out that those changes made to the boundaries of the local authority areas, and any changes to electoral divisions within those Local Authority Areas, are within the legal authority of the Minister.

She emphasized however, that if the Minister sought to form or change the configuration of constituencies within those areas, he would have usurped the power granted to the Commission to combine and sub-divide electoral divisions to form constituencies.

“If such were the case, the Minister would have acted outside of his legal remit,” Singh declared.

Minister Dharamlall acted within law to adjust boundaries ahead of LGE

POSITIONS FROM VICE PRESIDENT BHARRAT JAGDEO

[A review of Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent engagements]

Norton should present ‘winning SOPs’ to CoI – Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton should present to the elections commission of inquiry the Statements of Poll (SOPs) he has publicly claimed to have, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said during a news conference on December 9, 2022.

“I’m hoping that Mr. Norton himself will take his appearing, disappearing statements of poll and show the commission, ‘I have them here’, so we can then just post them up,” he said.

Jagdeo added, “For the group of people who’ve been very vocal about winning elections, that they have won

Jagdeo says….

the elections, and they have evidence to that effect and filed a petition in court, I would like to think that they would want to utilise this opportunity to clarify their names and to present their case.”

Notably, in May 2022, Norton backpedaled on producing the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Statements of Poll, after being challenged by PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.

An exchange between Jagdeo and Norton, on May 9, 2022, saw Norton’s issuing a challenge to Jagdeo for a public debate. While

the Vice President accepted the challenge and issued a challenge of his own, Norton quickly backpedalled. “If you bring your SOPs (Statements of Poll) tomorrow, make them public, the next day I’ll debate you,” Jagdeo said. Norton queried why the SOPs were of interest. “Why you want to see my statements of poll?”

According to Norton, he will only debate Jagdeo if the “observation reports” – presumably those APNU+AFC Coalition agents during the national recount process – are accepted. “If you accept the observation reports, I will debate you, once you allow the

observation reports,” Norton said. Jagdeo reminded Norton of the reports from the international Election Observer Missions and said, “Which observation report? From the OAS (the Organization of American States), the European Union? From the Carter Center? From CARICOM?”

Notably, CARICOM’s role in the national recount process was one that was initiated by Norton own predecessor, former president David Granger, who had referred to the three-person CARICOM team as the “most honest interlocutor” in the recount process. The CARICOM report,

from the three-person team, made clear that: “…nothing we witnessed warrants a challenge to the inescapable conclusion that the recount results are acceptable and should constitute the basis of the declaration of the results of the March 2, 2020 elections….the team categorically rejects the concerted public efforts to discredit the polls up to the disastrous Region 4 tabulation…the numerous requests for information on several serial numbers were so bizarre that on one observed occasion, an APNU/AFC agent was prepared to query serial numbers on the OLE

(Official List of Electors) in a work station where no one had noted. These challenges were often made on the ground of death and migration…the team viewed much of the exercise as a fishing expedition designed to gather data for a possible election petition and which resulted in considerable time being wasted during the recount. Furthermore, the net was cast extremely wide in the hope of at least making a small catch and at times the anticipated harvest ended in slim pickings.”

The elections CoI, which is currently in recess, will resume on January 4, 2023.

Hassle-free travel, business with new

national ID

The findings of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the March 2020 Elections will hopefully form the basis for holding individuals accountable for the events which occurred during the March 2020 elections, including GECOM officials.

This is according to Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who, on December 9, 2022, noted that the testimonies given to Commission so far expose a “crucial link” between operatives of the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition and staff, including sacked Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers.

He noted that to date, the signatures of Volda Lawrence, as well as the party’s Chief Scrutineer, Carol Smith-Joseph, on the fraudulent declarations made on March 5, 2020 and March 13, 2020, respectively, by former Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo. “I hope that the two of them would appear before the Commission and

explain how their signatures ended up on Mingo’s fraudulent declarations…the signatures ties the GECOM officials to the political masters and the intellectual authors of this,” Jagdeo said.

The Vice President also questioned Myers’ role, given that she was the “key chaperone” when Mingo’s fraudulent declarations were made and when former Coalition Minister, Karen Cummings, threatened members of the In-

ternational Election Observer Missions (EOMs).

He noted that in addition to the CoI being a basis for holding individuals accountable for the events which occurred during the March 2020 elections, including GECOM officials, it is hoped that GECOM itself would take administrative steps to address the actions of persons who have been exposed as being involved in the effort to undermine the will of Guyanese.

Guyanese and other persons looking to do business here can look forward to hassle-free travel through the country’s airports and improved ease of doing business, with the implementation of a new national ID card.

“I met also with Abu Dhabi Exports, and we are looking for them to fund a project in Guyana. They’ll fund about 90 per cent of the cost, and the government, 10 per cent. It has to do with our airport. So, the Cabinet has approved that, to move fully to an e-visa portal, and put in a number of e-gates, so that in the future, hopefully within eight months to a year, that it will almost seem paperless coming in through our airport, but with a lot of security features,” Jagdeo disclosed.

The ID card will have a secure chip, which can store data including blood type, date of birth, driver’s license and taxpayer’s number.

Jagdeo said the neces -

sary legislation to allow for the card’s use will be taken the National Assembly next year. “It will be for nationals and people who are resident in Guyana. So, if you’re coming to work here, you have a different colour card. Guyanese will have one colour card.,” he explained.

The card, the Vice President noted can be used at banks and other institutions with ease. He said, “When they [Guyanese] come home, they can take out their card and just swipe and come in. They don’t have to go through this elaborate customs and all of that at immigration etc., making it easier for that.”

Government is also hoping to send employees from the Immigration Office and Customs department to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to receive training in the operation of the technology.

The Vice President also pointed out that the system would not allow the dupli-

cation of numbers, since it will have a software that shows if two biometrics are the same.

In addition, the system will be designed in such a manner that when a work permit expires for foreign workers, the cards would no longer be valid, allowing for renewal. This, Dr Jagdeo said will make keeping track of persons in the country efficient. “The next phase is probably e-passports. So, with this we’ll bring in the stuff from abroad, but these would be full electronic passports with a chip, when you go around the world. It’s hard to duplicate, easy for people to travel [with]. Hopefully that would give us more visa-free access to some countries in the world that require secure documents eventually,” Jagdeo said.

He said this will improve the experience of Guyanese when they travel around the world or return here.

Ramjattan, Hughes owe Guyanese an apology if interference claim is not backed up – Jagdeo

It is interesting that former APNU+AFC Coalition, Government Ministers, Khemraj Ramjattan, and Cathy Hughes, have not appeared before the Elections Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to back up their claims of alleged Russian interference in Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Elections.

The observation was made by Vice President,

Bharrat Jagdeo, during a news conference on December 9, 2022. “I am hoping that Mr. Ramjattan and Cathy Hughes, who were the champion of the Russian involvement in Guyana’s elections, you’d recall the passionate exposition by Ramjattan…if they had any sense of decency will take that evidence to the Elections CoI…he and Cathy

Hughes should present themselves to the CoI and give to the Commissioners all this evidence they have or if they don’t do that, they should apologize to the country for the lies they told.”

He noted that Ramjattan and Hughes should apologize to Guyanese for the wildly misleading statements.

Ramjattan and Hughes had claimed that there was

alleged Russian interference in Guyana’s electoral process - comments that came right after embattled Region 4 Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo, tried to declare fraudulent elections results on March 5, 2022.

On March 8, 2022, talk about Russian interference in Guyana’s March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections by APNU+AFC Coa-

lition officials was rubbished by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Gail Teixeira.

“The accusation by Cathy Hughes and others, including (Khemraj) Ramjattan, that the Russians were attempting to hack into our electoral system is ludicrous…this is such a comical comment being made by them – or accusation being made by them – because our system is

a manual system. People vote manually, not electronically in Guyana. The count is in the polling station is done manually not electronically. The Statements of Polls are verified and tabulated manually. So there is no electronic system for Russians or anyone else to hack into.”

The elections CoI, which is currently in recess, will resume on January 4, 2023.

Testimonies at CoI tie some GECOM officials to intellectual authors of rigging attempt

– Jagdeo says Gov’t working with Abu Dhabi Exports

POSITIONS FROM VICE PRESIDENT BHARRAT JAGDEO

[A review of Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent engagements]

APNU clearly does not want to LGE – PPP General Secretary

With the Alliance For Change (AFC) already out of the upcoming Local Government Elections contest, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, contends that it is becoming increasingly clear that the PNCR-led APNU does not want to go to elections.

“We know APNU does not want LGE. They are not ready. They are having trouble finding candidates or backers. Who wants to go on a list knowing they are facing a sure defeat…they are using an old PNCR tactic…this is desperation,” he said during his last news conference.

Moving ahead, Jagdeo made clear that the PPP/C supports transparency, hence its clear commitment to another round of Claims and Objections to address concerns about the Voters’ List.

“We agree with APNU on increasing transparency….we believe the proposal has merit. Even if it means delaying by a few weeks because we want it to be fully transparent,” he said.

At a prior news conference, Jagdeo made clear that the PPP/C is ready to stand at the upcoming polls. “We’re already gone on an election footing. We’d be ready whether elections are held this year or next year. We don’t control when that happens, GECOM does but we’d be ready at any time,” he said. The PPP General Secretary added, “GECOM

would have to write indicating when they are ready. But [in] the People’s Progressive Party, I speak as General Secretary, I’ve already convened a meeting and we’ve already started working on our organizational structures around the country. We’ve put our party in a readiness mode….we don’t know the timing because we don’t control that [but] the PPP will participate.”

Guyana has 80 Local Authority Areas - 10 Municipalities or towns; and 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

The 10 Municipalities/ Towns are: Mabaruma, Region 1; Anna Regina, Region 2; Georgetown, Region 4; New Amsterdam, Region 6; Rose Hall, Region 6; Corriverton, Region 6; Bartica; Mahdia, Region 8; Lethem, Region 9; and Linden, Region 10.

Each Local Authority Area (LAA) is divided into Constituencies for the purpose of electing members of the Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.

A Constituency in the context of Local Government Elections is a specifically demarcated part of a Municipality or Neighbourhood Democratic Council as defined and identified by its given boundaries.

For the purpose of electing individual Candidates to represent the respective

Constituencies, each Local Authority Area is divided into a given number of Constituencies, equal to half of the number of seats on a Municipality or Neighbourhood Democratic Council.

2018 LGE

Notably, the former APNU+AFC Coalition government in 2018, created 10 new Local Authority Areas and made changes to the boundaries of 14 other areas, ahead of the November 2018 Local Government Elections. Additionally, existing Local Authorities were tampered with and in total seats in over a dozen constituencies were reduced.

Regardless, the 2018 Local Government Elections having been held in 80 Local Authority Areas – 10 towns and 70 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils – saw the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), securing wins in 52 of the LAAs.

Nationally, results showed that the PPP/C almost doubled the margin of votes between the Party and APNU and AFC combined –moving from about 24,000 at the 2016 Local Government Elections to over 45,000 at this year’s Local Government Elections. The difference of votes between the PPP/C and the AFC was a whopping 113,000 votes. Between the PPP/C and the APNU, the difference of votes was over 50,000.

The race card is all that the APNU+AFC Coalition is hanging onto, according to Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who added that it is done by “people with short memories” and “people with no shame,” given the “vile and disrespectful” nature of what is being peddled.

At his news conference on December 9, 2022, Jagdeo charged that all Guyanese are equal partners in the PPP/C government’s national development agenda.

“These people are convenient – like Nigel Hughes and his fuzzy mathematics. They are not interested in fairness. They are responding to their loss of privilege,” Jagdeo said.

FACT-BASED DEBATE

A fact-based debate, according to the Vice President, will demonstrate that Afro-Guyanese have always benefited more under successive PPP/C administrations, than they did under the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition.

As to the inclusion, at the Executive level, Jagdeo said, “Seven Afro-Guyanese hold significant portfolios in the PPP/C Government… they are involved in policymaking.”

Additionally, there have been initiatives such as the

NTC is ‘primary interlocuter’ being engaged by gov’t A

The National Toshaos’ Council (NTC), a body elected by the over 200 Amerindian communities in Guyana, is the primary interlocuter with which the PPP/C Government engages, according to Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo.

And he contends that in the face of criticisms, the fact remains that over the duration of Guyana’s 10year agreement with Hess Corporation for the purchase of 37.5 million credits, Amerindian communities will receive 15 per cent or $23 billion, which they will spend according to their village development plans.

“We’re so pleased that

the Indigenous communities worked on this… the National Toshaos Council is the primary interlocutor with the Government. At that meeting, a resolution was passed that they wanted this to go forward. And they said that the 15 per cent will go directly to Amerindian communities,” he said.

Jagdeo added, “There would be more money going, but through other things. For example, if we have to do a project on addressing drought in the Rupununi. That would be funded from other sources. The 15 per cent goes directly to the Indigenous communities. They will determine its use…

over the period, $23 billion will go to the Indigenous communities. Based on the payments in two weeks’ time, you will have $2.4 billion that will be ready to go to the Amerindian communities immediately. Their 15 per cent share in a couple weeks’ time, will be equivalent to $2.4 billion.”

The 15 per cent commitment was detailed in the Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and the 15 per cent of all revenues from forest carbon markets, will be dedicated to Amerindian communities who choose to opt-in and produce their own Village Sustainability Plans.

review of inflation across the globe vindicates the efforts taken by the PPP/C government to ensure that inflation in Guyana is managed, standing at just at single digits, while steps are being taken to increase disposable income.

This is according to Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, whose comments came during a news conference on December 9, 2022. “On the cost of living side, electricity and water prices kept constant,” Jagdeo said.

In Guyana, some of the measures taken include:

• The removal of VAT from water, electricity and data services along with some

$30,000 education cash grant, the COVID-19 cash grant and other grants; the massive housing drive; removal of the value added tax from utilities and other key items; the consistent increase in salaries for public sector employees; the part-time job initiative; the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships, among many others which have benefitted persons regardless of their race, religion, creed and any other individual feature.

To further highlight the PPP/C government’s successes, Dr Jagdeo said there are a lot of Afro-Guyanese who have benefitted from government contracts and more persons will benefit as initiatives are rolled out.

He noted that there is a Bid Review Committee and the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), which are mechanisms that can address complaints. He noted that the PNCR-led Coalition will never encourage use of these mechanisms and this exposes its duplicity and the fact that the Coalition’s talk is nothing but a smokescreen.

Additionally, in contrast to the PPP/C Government, the former APNU+AFC Coalition government’s record saw it:

• Firing almost 2,000 Amer-

indian Community Service Officers (CSOs);

• Firing 7,000 sugar workers;

• Giving no salary increases for five years to sugar workers;

• Giving scholarships to government ministers, as opposed to ensuring equitable distribution;

• Engaged in a massive land-grabbing to certain officials, as opposed to ensuring that ordinary Guyanese benefit;

• Contracts to campaign financiers, majority of which were not Afro-Guyanese, but Indo-Guyanese businessmen.

ERC Further, he noted that following national consultations, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is expected to be reconstituted soon.

The body, which was empowered by a former PPP/C government, was “empowered tremendously” and can even direct the Executive.

He noted if there are claims of discrimination, then the ERC can investigate and direct the Executive to act. “We empowered the ERC tremendously….there are mechanism in the law to address concerns,” Jagdeo said.

everyday commodities, fuel lubricants and construction materials.

• A budgetary allocation of $5 billion in budget 2022 to cushion the effects of rising cost of living;

• Constant increase in oldage pension and public assistance which in 2022, put $2.3 billion and $432 million into the pockets of Guyanese;

• The reinstatement of the ‘Because we Care’ cash grant and school uniform cash grant which stands at $30,000 per child in both public and private schools.

• Reduction in the excise tax on fuel to zero;

• Support for construction of homes through the hand-

out of steel and cement;

• One-off cash grants to sections of society, such as farmers, fishermen, persons with disabilities, and hinterland and riverine households, and pensioners, among others;

• Farmers benefiting from free fertilizer from government, a move government said that was necessary to keep food production low; and

• The creation of some 11,000 part-time jobs across the coast; among others.

Notably, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Guyana’s neighbors are recording high inflation

– Suriname with 35.2% and Venezuela with 220%.

PNCR-led Coalition, acolytes not interested in Guyanese, reeling from ‘loss of privilege’ – Jagdeo

Guyana’s inflation stands at single digit, billions spent to increase disposable income – Jagdeo

‘Islamic State’ comments against President spurs widespread calls for Mayor Ubraj Narine’s resignation

Wild comments from the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Ubraj Narine, also Mayor of Georgetown, have drawn widespread condemnation and calls for his resignation.

Narine, in a rant, accused President Dr. Irfaan Ali of creating an Islamic State, while protesting against the removal of vendors on New Market Street, Georgetown.

The Mayor’s own colleagues distanced themselves from him after the outburst. A statement from City Hall said, “Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore wishes to distance himself from the unfortunate utterances made by the Mayor regarding President Ali, with specific reference to comment pointing to a ‘Muslim State’.” Further, Mentore said the comments made by the Mayor Narine does not reflect his own views and that of some other Councillors. “As a Council we are prepared to work with any religious group, organisation, denominations

and Central Government at large. As our motion only [Monday] spoke to collaboration and dialogue and the extension of an olive branch to endorse the term of a (One Guyana) which will create Local and Central Government working in collaboration to build this nation.”

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Tuesday (December 13, 2022) said the Mayor’s remarks were “wholly unacceptable, vile, obnoxious, religiously offensive and highly provocative personal statements”. The Commission said, “The private sector is of the view that, given the high office and responsibility of the Mayorship of our capital city, Mr Ubraj Narine has proved himself to be unfit for this office and is left with no alternative but to immediately resign.”

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) also said it is aware of statements of “a religious and racially

prejudicial nature made by His Worship, Pt Ubraj Narine, Mayor of the city of Georgetown.” In a statement on Tuesday (December 13, 2022), the body said, “The GCCI strongly condemns any hate speech or actions, that attempt to incite racial and religious tension and by extension division in our nation. GCCI is firmly persuaded that at this juncture of Guyana’s economic transformation, unity in diversity should pervade the nation’s landscape and airwaves.”

The Viraat Sabhaa added its voice to the issue and said, “The Sabhaa has confirmed that since President Ali ascended to his position, his agenda of uniting Guyana took precedence over everything else. For he is firm in his conviction that only a united Guyana could accelerate the progressive attitude of our people… President Ali has never deliberately absented himself from any Hindu festivals. As a matter of fact, this year

he was personally involved in the Diwali celebrations in Georgetown and other parts of the country. His passionate celebration of Phagwah and his personal visits to various mandirs is a testimony of his support for the Hindu religion. His contribution to the strengthening of the social and religious fabric is being admired by all with whom he would have come into contact. The Mayor in effort to explore possibilities for the vendors has allowed his emotional overdrive to ventilate these bias accusations of the President. The Viraat Sabhaa denounces such expressions and calls on the Mayor to tender his resignation with immediate effect for making such dangerous statements.”

Several Islamic organisations including the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, Muslim Youth Organisation, the Darul Uloom Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Guyana Islamic Trust and the Guyana United

Coalition’s Carol Joseph on 14 fraud charges

The APNU+AFC Coalition’s Carol Joseph was, on December 9, 2022, read 14 fraud charges.

Joseph was released on self-bail and ordered to return to court on December 16, 2022.

The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) in a statement explained that during the month of March 2022, a report by the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) Rice Milling Complex Limited, a Private Company registered under the Companies Act. Cap 89:01 about fraudulent appropriation of funds of that company by Joseph, who was a director of that company at the time. “As a result of that report, SOCU commenced investigations,” the Unit said.

SOCU added, “During the course of the investigations it was revealed that Carol Joseph as a director on the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) board, without authority, solely approved fourteen transactions amounting to GC $6,121,108.00 without the Board’s knowledge and approval between 1st June 2016 and August 2016.

“These amounts were used for her personal benefits and other purposes other than that of Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS’S) business. On completion of the investigations a file was prepared and sent to the DPP’s Chambers for legal advice. Based on legal advice from the DPP’s chambers, she was invited to

SOCU on today’s date (9th December, 2022) where 14 allegations of Fraudulent Appropriation of Property of Body Corporate were put to her to the total value of GC $6,121,108.00 committed on Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) Rice Milling Complex Limited.”

This is not the first time Joseph, who is also the Chief Election Scrutineer for the APNU+AFC Coalition, has been in hot water over misconduct.

Joseph in April 2017 was exposed for using her office as a Region 5 Councillor to obtain unusual amounts of a prescription painkiller, Pethidine injections, from the Fort Wellington Hospital. The whistle-blower

who wrote to then Health Minister, the APNU+AFC Coalition’s George Norton, in a letter said, “To this date no disciplinary action was done to curb this situation…I am still awaiting intervention on this matter.” The whistle-blower, later identified as nurse Shemilyn Mark, was transferred from her post. Joseph later resigned as Region Five Councillor after her drug abuse, via state resources, was exposed. According to documents, the contents of which were made public in April 2017, Joseph was being receiving pethidine almost every single day the Fort Wellington Hospital in Berbice. The records showed that on December 6, 2016, Joseph received a 100mg injection of pethidine around

Sadr Islamic Anjuman, also unequivocally condemned the reckless outburst from the Mayor Narine, in relation to the removal of vendors along the roadway in the vicinity of the GPHC. The Islamic organizations said, “In a world characterised by epic political, social and technological transformations, there has never been a greater need for responsive and responsible leaders. Some of today’s dominant models of leadership struggle to reconcile both qualities. The actions and utterances of Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine, outside the Georgetown Hospital last night make him the embodiment of what contradicts these principles…we the Muslim Organisations view these statements as utterly irresponsible, amounting to no more than a pathetic political stunt to incite the emotions of people and garner support for himself. Such outbursts are foolhardy and

11:20hrs, a similar dose at 22:10hrs on the same day.

On December 27, 2016, Joseph received a 100mg dose of pethidine at 13:30hrs and again at 19:05hrs. On January 18, 2017, records showed that Joseph received a dose of the narcotic drug at 11:10hrs and again at 21:50hrs. On February 23, 2017, Joseph was administered one dose at 00:40hrs and another at 21:30hrs. It was later exposed that the APNU+AFC Coalition know about Joseph’s addition and abuse of state resources for years.

Additionally, Joseph is currently facing forgery and conspiracy to defraud, respectively. In what was a clear case of fraud, provision was made for the signatures of 'witnesses' on the Region 4 declaration of results from the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.

very dangerous, and feed into the Islamophobic agenda which seeks to incite fear in the hearts of people regarding Islam and Muslims, and they must be condemned in the strongest terms. His Excellency is unashamedly Muslim. Yet it is his very being as a Muslim which also teaches him that he is a servant of all the people of Guyana. From his actions and engagements with the various religious groups in our country, it is clear that no single religious denomination can claim to be less favored by His Excellency.”

Additionally, several government ministers have also supported the Commander-in-Chief and denounced the Mayor’s rants.

The only group supporting the Mayor has been the APNU+AFC Coalition. In a statement the embattled political group said, “The Opposition reaffirms its total confidence in the stewardship of Mayor Pandit Ubraj Narine.”

While the first fraudulent declaration on March 5, 2020 was signed by the PNCR’s Volda Lawrence, Joseph signed the second fraudulent declaration issued by Mingo on March 13, 2020. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in comments on the issue had said, “Interestingly, the only 'witness' who signed was the embattled APNU+AFC Coalition's Carol Joseph. This is a clear attempt to obfuscaste the conspiracy between the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition and complicit GECOM officials – a conspiracy to perpetrate electoral fraud.”

The completed recount of votes from Region 4, which were cast in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, exposed the fact that the Returning Officer, did, in fact, manipulate the results he presented on March 13, 2020.

The “race baiting” and “hatemongering” from the APNU+AFC Coalition and its acolytes persist, despite the clear hypocrisy in such an anti-national undertaking, according to Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.

On Tuesday (December 13, 2022), in a statement, the Coalition said, “We need to address the gross imbalance in the award of government contracts both in terms of the amount of persons getting contracts and the money value of those contracts…. the imbalance in the award of

government contracts today is therefore the outcome of previous decades of discrimination.”

Responding to claims that contracts are being given to one group of Guyanese, while Afro-Guyanese are discriminated against, Nandlall pointed out that the government plays no role in the awarding of contracts at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). “Contracts are awarded not by government, but by a law called the National Procurement Act.

That Act sets up a tribunal and machinery that outlines how contracts are awarded. It begins with the public Invitation for Bids. These bids are assessed by public servants, 85 percent of whom are Afro-Guyanese…they make a recommendation in terms of who should get the award based upon the bids submitted…there are stated criteria by which each bid is assessed. That recommendation is then forwarded to the Cabinet for no objection and then the contract is awarded.”

Touching on the hypoc-

risy of the Coalition and elements aligned to it, Nandlall pointed out that it was the Coalition, when in government, that was more concerned with “cronyism” than about delivering to and empowering businesses owned by Afro-Guyanese.

He pointed to the fact that the Coalition bypassed procurement procedures to give an East Indian businessman a contract to store medical supplies in a “bottom house” at Sussex Street, Georgetown that was rented for some $12.5M in monthly

rental ($150M annually) – an arrangement that saw the East Indian businessman being an advance, which was the exact sum needed to purchase the property. Nandalll said, “They paid over $400M in rent to that gentleman. His name is Larry Singh. He’s not Afro-Guyanese. Let them tell you the billions of dollars in contracts that BK International got under their government. He (Brian Tiwari) is not Afro-Guyanese. The point I am making to you, it’s not about race for them. It’s about cronyism. Normal

Afro-Guyanese suffered under them like any other racial grouping in this country…Let them show you how many Afro-Guyanese got contracts under their government,” Nandlall stressed.

In another case, relating to the sale and vesting of the state’s largest wharf facilities located at Kingston, Georgetown, the Coalition’s Winston Jordan issued a vesting order, which passes Title to the purchaser, for prime waterfront properties in Kingston to BK Marine

hypocrisy on full display ‒ Nandlall responds to farcical claims about discrimination in contract awards

FOCUS ON GUYANA’S FIRST PEOPLE

New surgical theatre commissioned in Moruca

Residents of Moruca will no longer have to travel long distances to access surgical treatment, as a new surgical theatre was commissioned at the Kumaka district hospital on December 9, 2022.

The over $40 million investment features a new operating theatre suite with all the amenities, including anesthesia machines, an ICU wing, and a recovery wing with Crisis Stabilisation Units (CSU). It is the culmination of several specialist visits to the region, forming part of the Ministry of Health and Regional Democratic Council’s 20year strategic development plan for Region One (Barima-Waini).

Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr.

Vishwa Mahadeo, said the new theatre is in keeping with the government’s manifesto promise of expanding and upgrading health facilities and diagnostic services to improve access to healthcare countrywide.

“The Government of Guyana under the leadership of His Excellency, President Ali, has made it a priority to bring healthcare to the hinterland, to bring healthcare to those who need it most. This is another such project where access to healthcare is being made more equitable and readily available for persons.” Dr Mahadeo said efforts will continue to further expand the range of healthcare services in the region, especially in the training of medical personnel. Over 50 patients are slat-

ed for operations at the newly commissioned surgical theatre

The director general referred to the ongoing nursing assistant training in the region, noting that pharmacy assistant training is also set to commence in early 2023.

“More persons are being trained, more services are becoming available, and even the specialists are coming out here to deliver the care that is necessary,” he noted.

Recently x-ray and ultrasound services were officially launched at the facility. Additionally, during the health outreach, several residents were provided with prescription glasses as part of the ministry’s ‘snap on’ spectacles programme.

New well nears completion in Sawariwau, Region Nine

As the government continues to make the necessary interventions across the country, residents of Sawariwau, Region Nine will get first-time access to potable water by January 2023, as work on a new well in the community is near completion.

This is a commitment made to the villagers during a three-day outreach led by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali to various communities in Region Nine back in August.

On December 10, 2022, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues conducted a visit to the construction site to check on the progress of the work. During a meeting at Sawariwau Community Centre, she noted that the interventions across the region are part of the government’s

five-year strategic plan aimed at providing 100 per cent access to potable water across the region. Rodrigues said, “But we are going at a rate where we may achieve that before 2025. As we come out in communities and meet with people, we respond… and so, we make resources available to ensure that our people can live more comfortably and that their lives can improve. And that their developments and progress are visible to them.” The minister underlined that the ‘One Guyana’ vision speaks of inclusivity, “every household in every community must have access to water.”

Minister Rodrigues indicated that the PPP/C government remains steadfast in its efforts to govern through consultations with the people, which is the one of the most effective ways to bring devel-

opment to communities. She noted that the proceeds from the oil and gas sector and other sectors are assisting to improve the lives of citizens, through massive programmes which include telemedicine, access to water, cash grants, and the aggressive housing programme.

Residents raised concerns related to road infrastructure, new schools, and internet access. As the government remains committed to govern through consultations, Minister Rodrigues noted that the issues will be related to the respective ministries for the necessary interventions to be made.

Sporting gears were also handed over to the residents.

Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock, Toshao of Sawariwau, staff of GWI and the ministry and contractors also attended the meeting.

53 health centres upgraded in Region Nine in 2022 – Dr Anthony

Residents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are benefitting from improved healthcare facilities as some $100 million was expended for the upgrade of a number of health centres/ posts.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, revealed that 53 communities in Re -

gion Nine have benefitted in 2022. He noted that $1 billion was set aside in this year’s national budget to improve healthcare facilities in all 10 administrative regions. “In each of these facilities, we would have spent varying sums of monies. Some of them were in a better state than others. So those that were in better

states, we spend minimal amounts… and those that required more spending to upgrade them, we spent a lot more money there,” the minister noted.

Katoka in Central Rupununi, Katur in South Central Rupununi, Churlkadarnau in Deep South and Masakenari also known as Gunns Village

are some of the communities that received upgrades.

“Gunns Village for example was a small health post. Now, we have now upgraded that, added new examination rooms, waiting areas and a sanitation block and so forth. So, it’s now a far better facility than how it was one-year ago,” Minister Anthony

explained. In addition, a recently trained midwife was stationed at the Gunns Village health centre, providing much-needed care to expectant and new mothers there.

Most of the upgrades are completed while some are ongoing.

Meanwhile, work will continue on the regional

hospitals at Anna Regina, De Kinderen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath, Number 75 Village and the Paediatric and Maternal Hospital at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

This forms part of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s vision of creating a world-class health system for all Guyanese.

Significant ‘milestone’ achieved in health sector with launch of telemedicine programme

The Health Ministry on December 7, 2022 formally launched the ‘National Telemedicine Programme’, a pilot programme that is being carried out in four remote communities in Region Nine.

The communities are Gunns Village, Nappi, Yupukari and Parikawarinau. These communities usually experience challenges in accessing quality health care.

They are now able to receive care from specialists and doctors stationed in

Georgetown through their clinics that are equipped with technological devices.

These include a digital stethoscope, pulse oximeter, infrared thermometer, blood pressure monitor, mobile ultrasound, exam cameras and others. The pilot programme spans six (6) months and an evaluation will be subsequently conducted to examine the expansion to other communities.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony revealed that exten-

sive training was conducted with community health workers (CHWs) in each community so that they can deliver the services efficiently. “The system provides a lot of opportunities and options to us and we would want to utilise them as we start getting more familiar and working with this system. And, this of course is in keeping with President’s vision of making a world-class health care system in Guyana, utilising technology,” Minister Antho-

ny expressed.

A group of specialists from Georgetown and physicians from the Lethem Regional Hospital are assigned to deliver specific medical care to residents of the four communities.

Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said Guyana has achieved a milestone that will begin the journey of transforming the delivery of health care. “From the very beginning, we have made equitable

health care a priority, our government, our ambition is to improve health care for all of our people and whilst we understand that we cannot put every specialist, every technology and Georgetown Public Hospital level in every village, we believe that citizens in every part of the country could get access to basic health care,” Dr Ramsammy relayed. A high level of antenatal consultation will be delivered as well. “A few months ago, we did not think

this was possible but here we are,” Dr Ramsammy stated.

Chief Executive Officer of 19Labs, Ram Fish stated, “This goes beyond health care, the equity that it brings to all also opens the eyes of the people in places, to different cultures, a different way of doing things…. It’s about empowering the local technology and empowering local men and women.” 19Labs is a US company that worked with the government to develop the telemedicine system.

Op-Ed: Exciting times for Amerindian Communities

By Derrick John Chair of the National Toshaos’ Council

On behalf of the National Toshaos’ Council, I welcome the issuance of 33.47 million ART TREES credits for Guyana. I also welcome the sale of some of these

credits – which will result in payments of at least US$750 million to Guyana.

This is a significant moment in a journey that many of us started back in 2009, and I pay tribute to all Guyanese who participated in the hard work it took to get this far. I pay special tribute to all

those who took part in the national consultation from October 2021 to July 2022, and who contributed ideas and suggestions that improved the overall strategy.

I pay a very special tribute to my Amerindian brothers and sisters who took part in this process. So many took

part in the consultations all across our beautiful country, and it is thanks to you that our low carbon vision is continuing to advance. As a result, the National Toshaos’ Council was pleased to represent you, and endorse the LCDS 2030 at our annual conference in July 2022,

including the ART- TREES process and the proposed mechanisms for sharing revenues that come from the sale of ART- TREES credits.

The National Toshaos’ Council commits to continuing our support and oversight of the process as it moves from consultation to imple-

mentation. This is a very exciting time for all our communities, so I encourage everyone to get involved, and to help with the implementation of the important initiatives.

The first step is to make sure you are familiar with your village plans if you

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Major increases in renumeration announced for health sector workers

In keeping with the PPP/C’s manifesto and in keeping with the government’s commitment earlier this year, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Monday (December 12, 2022), announced the adjustment of the salaries of healthcare workers to remove anomalies and also to ensure the delivery of better healthcare.

“These revisions to the salaries of these workers will benefit over 5,000 persons and will increase disposable incomes by over $1.5 billion annually. This represents a further instalment of my Government’s unwavering commitment to continue the improvement of the working conditions of our employees in the public sector and, indeed, of all Guyanese,” Ali said.

The changes are as follows:

DOCTORS

• Medical Interns will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $151,374 to $200,000. This represents an additional 32.1 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Medical Intern.

• Medical Officers, whether employed at the GPHC or elsewhere, will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $219,878 to $300,000. This represents an additional 36.4 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Medical Officer.

• Medical Officers who have completed one year of post-employment experience (for example, a second year GMO) will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $351,204 in line with the current

practice at the GPHC.

• Medical Officers who have completed two years of post-employment experience (example, a third year GMO) will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $414,032 in line with the current practice at the GPHC.

• Medical Officers who have completed three years of post-employment experience (example., a fourthyear GMO) will now have their current minimum salary adjusted to $446,160 in line with the current practice at the GPHC.

• Specialist Doctors (e.g. obstetricians and gynaecologists, neurosurgeons, dermatologists, orthopedic surgeons, etc.) will now have their minimum salaries adjusted upwards of $276,536 to $450,000. This represents an additional increase of 62.7 percent

on the current minimum salaries.

NURSES

• Nursing Assistants will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $88,525 to $115,000. This represents an additional 29.9 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Nursing Assistant.

• Midwives will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $96,974 to $169,438. This represents an additional 74.7 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Midwife.

• Staff Nurses will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $111,628 to $169,438. This represents an additional 51.8 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Staff Nurse.

• Staff Nurses/Midwives will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $127,963 to $195,000. This represents an additional 52.4 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Staff Nurse/Midwife.

ALLIED HEALTH WORKERS

• Pharmacy Assistants will now all have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $84,662 to $100,000. This represents as much as an additional 18.1 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to these workers.

• Dental Aides and (Laboratory) Aides will now all have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from as low as $80,892 to $100,000. This represents as much as an additional 23.6 percent

increase on the current minimum salary paid to these workers.

• Community Health Workers will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $88,525 to $100,000. This represents an additional 13 percent increase on the current minimum salary.

• Medex will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $152,420 to $200,000. This represents an additional 31.2 percent increase on the current minimum salary.

• Pharmacists will now have their current minimum salary adjusted from $127,963 to $215,000. This represents a 68% increase on their current minimum salary.

These additional adjustments will take effect from 1st January 2023.

The Men on Mission (MoM) initiative will help with the construction of approximately 150 homes across the country for vulnerable persons who own their own house lots, according to President Dr. Irfaan Al.

The Head of State made the remarks during a simple handing-over ceremony where he presented 85-yearold Herstelling, East Bank Demerara resident, Meena Bafan with the keys to her newly built home. “I think this is a real testimony to who we are as a people, as a country, when we can come together like this, and work with the private sector, led by the private sector to do things like this, and this is what is going to transform our country—the way we think and feel about each other. When we can come together; people of all, all persuasions, whether it’s political, social, cultural, ethnic, coming together and working together to deliver good things for citizens across our country.”

This, the President said, is what is going to cement the country as ‘One Guyana’

Ali said, “Next year, under the Men on Mission umbrella, we are going to launch a massive programme. We are hoping that through the Men on Mission Initiative alone next year, we can build

at least 150 homes across the country.”

The Head of State explained that the banks have already been engaged and are willing to finance the projects, once persons own their own lands. Interested persons are urged to contact the offices of the Police Commissioner and the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force to register. He said, “So a house like this, we will work with to deliver everything you see here for about $5m for anybody who has their own land anywhere.”

President Ali also noted that it is not only Government that should be praised for the initiative but also the private sector. He said, “These guys are willing to actually reduce profit lines and everything for the wood and labour, which is one of the most critical thing for us.”

Expanding the project, the Head of State also posited that the Government will explore the option of providing the Guyanese-Venezuela migrants who have returned with jobs. This, he said will be complemented with workers from Albouystown and other similar communities throughout the country. These workers, the President noted, will be trained thoroughly in carpentry and

masonry.

The Head of State also noted that in the new year, there would be a “massive push with community involvement,” which will see all the small pathways and roads rehabilitated. Tree-planting exercises and other community infrastructural works will also be done by the communities. “So while the last two years, we’ve been focusing heavily on the transformative agenda.

I think next year will be a massive push on community development, village development that really pushes people development also.”

The Head of State also emphasised that he does not want MoM to become a reactive initiative but a proactive one that is spread across the entire country. He also noted that on the last Sunday of January, MoM is planning a “Home with Dad” event.

“We’re encouraging all fathers to be at home to cook for your family, to spend the entire day with your family, to play with your children, to bring families together… There is absolutely no beauty in becoming wealthy as a country, and we are poor as a people; the way we think, the way we act, the way we behave, the way we socialise, the way we treat our families and our communities.”

The bidding process for 14 oil blocks offshore Guyana was, on December 9, 2022, officially launched by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali. “What we are seeking to do is to have the best possible outcome for Guyana, given the lessons we have learnt,” he said.

He disclosed that the process is expected to close with the submission of bids on April 14, 2023 and it is expected that contracts will be awarded by May 31, 2023. “This, of course, will follow negotiations and evaluation of the bids that we receive during this bidding round,” he said

Ali also disclosed that there will be a US$20,000 participation fee. “The Guyana offshore basin has captivated the attention of the global market participants and it is now labelled the gateway to the world’s fastest growing super basin,” he said.

The PPP/C government announced its decision to auction 14 blocks that range from 1000sqkm to 3000sqkm per block, with the majority being closer to 2000sqkm, last month.

Eleven of the 14 blocks up for auction are in shallow areas and three are in deep areas. Ali said, “There are

minimum entry requirements for shallow water blocks. But there is a high bar set for those who wish to enter the deepwater blocks which is more complex.

Deepwater is also very capital intensive and requires specialized skills and a different level of exploration and production activity and so that distinction will be made and seen.”

Meanwhile, an Extraordinary Gazette, dated December 9, 2022, titled ‘NOTICE – The Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act’ has been published with full details relative to the commencement of the bidding process.

NEW FISCAL TERMS

Last month, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, had explained that Government worked with the London-based market intelligence company, IHS Markit.

He made clear that a new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) would govern production from oil blocks. “The laws of the country will be amended to reflect these new fiscal terms but the strengthening will entail the entire PSA,” Jagdeo said.

The Vice President also said there will be a min -

imum signature bonus of US$20M per block in the deep areas and US$10M for shallow areas.

He added that the 50/50 profit sharing formula will be retained, while royalty will go to 10% and corporation tax, also 10%.

He also noted that the maximum for any given year for cost oil will be 65%.

The Vice President also noted that there will be more stringent relinquishment clauses.

Further, each bidder will be required to put up a work programme. Under the new rules companies that fail to forge ahead with their work programmes within the first three years would have to return their blocks and pay the Guyana government. Jagdeo explained, “This is to prevent people taking a block and sitting on it for three years and then at the end of the three years, you hear ‘we can’t do anything, we need to move forward’ and the country loses three years of development.”

Guyana offshore basin is estimated to have in excess of 25 billion barrels of oil equivalent and an estimated reserve in excess of 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Men on Mission to construct 150 homes for vulnerable Guyanese next year – President Ali

Bidding process for 14 oil blocks opened, awards expected to be made in May 2023

POSITIONS FROM THE PRESIDENT

Guyana demands justice for victims of the Cubana terrorist act

Constitutional Reform Commission to be appointed after Elections CoI concludes

will make up the commission.

G

uyana reiterated its demand for justice for the victims of the 1976 Cubana air disaster while stating the people of CARICOM, Cuba and Guyana will never give in to terrorism.

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, made the bold declaration, some 46 years after the air disaster occurred, while at the Cubana Monument in Barbados.

He noted that the attack represented an open assault on the independence of the English-speaking countries. He said, “The passage of time has not quelled our demand for justice for the innocent victims of the Cubana air disaster nor will it absolve the intellectual authors of this crime.”

Dr Ali added that justice still has not been served and the victims, deserve every bit of it now. He vehemently declared that CARICOM, Cuba, and Guyana did not succumb to terrorism rather the territories have come together with a strengthened resolve

to advance human dignity. While paying tribute to them, he said “they will hold a special place in our hearts… and in our region for having innocently paid the supreme sacrifice. In their memories, hundreds of other Guyanese successfully completed medical studies in Cuba”.

President Ali noted the strength of the people at that time, noting that there is strength in family. “This is the strength of solidarity, family, commitment, and human dignity,” he affirmed.

Further, the head of state pledged the country’s continued solidarity with the Republic of Cuba, emphasising the importance of coming together in times of calamity.

Forty-six years ago, the Cubana Airways Flight CU-455 was scheduled to fly the following route: Guyana to Trinidad, Trinidad to Barbados, Barbados to Jamaica, and finally, Kinston to Havana, Cuba.

Nine minutes after it took off from Barbados Seawell International Airport (now Grantley Adams Airport) two bombs exploded in the plane, causing it to crash into the Atlantic Ocean. The 1976 terrorist attack claimed the lives of 73 people, including 11 Guyanese.

The 11 Guyanese were Eric Norton, Ann Nelson, Seshnarine Kumar, Jaqueline Williams, Rawle Thomas, Margaret Bradshaw, Gordon Sobha, Violet Thomas, Rita Thomas, Raymond Persaud, and Sabrina Harripaul. Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd, President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Prime Minster of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr Carla Barnett and other regional officials were also at the event.

The 20-member Constitutional Reform Commission will be appointed by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, after the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the events surrounding the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections has concluded.

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, who made the disclosure, added that, “The Constitutional Reform Commission will be up and running as soon as the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which has a limited time, if there are delays like this, going into the courts, it could take longer than was anticipated,” Minister Teixeira disclosed.

The building that is currently facilitating the elections CoI will be used to house the commission. Early in November, the National Assembly passed the Constitutional Reform Commission Bill 2022 paving the way for the appointment of the commissioners.

The commission will comprise five members nominated by the government and five members by the opposition. Representatives from the Guyana Bar Association, the labour movement, the National Toshaos’ Council, the private sector, as well as women, youth and religious organisations and farmers

It will implement reform relating to elections and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), taking into consideration its composition, method of electing its chairman and members, and its jurisdiction over the national registration and electoral processes.

Once enacted, it will provide for the commission to receive, consider and evaluate submissions for the changes to the constitution. Those recommendations will then be submitted to a standing committee for consideration by the National Assembly.

Constitutional reform requires the support of the National Assembly or in some cases, a referendum. “Constitutional reform will take place and it will be a national issue,” the Minister assured.

This was a commitment made by the PPP/C Administration shortly after it took office, vowing to never a recurrence of the events during the March 2, 2020.

Government’s model for constitutional reform is laid out in its 2020-2025 manifesto, and promotes the inclusion of all Guyanese in the review process.

“We are aware that issues concerning constitutional

reform, particularly in relation to a national, inclusive governance model, management of elections, fiduciary accountability, enhancing rights of Guyanese and ensuring constitutional language is simple have been raised and discussed in the public domain. However, we believe that these, as well as other issues, must be part of a process of widespread consultation with the people of Guyana before being acted upon. The extensive changes to our Constitution under the PPP/C followed such a process,” government said in its party’s manifesto.

The manifesto said too that it is committed to continuous revision of the Constitution and will ensure that the Committee on Constitutional Reform which will advance the work, will pursue nationwide consultation following the model used in the past, with half of the members from civil society and equal representation from Government and the Opposition.”

The Constitution of Guyana is the highest governing document in Guyana. It came into effect on October 6, 1980, replacing the constitution enacted in 1966 upon its independence from the United Kingdom. Guyana’s Constitution was last amended on August 3, 2000.

Gov’t working to address every category of workers – President Ali

President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali Wednesday (December 14, 2022) said his government is working overtime to address every category of workers.

He is optimistic that his government’s progressive strategy will improve the welfare of every citizen.

Dr Ali was at the time responding to questions posed by media operatives on salary increases specifically for teachers, on the sidelines of an event held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

He said while government understands the importance of wage adjustments, the all-embracing well-being support by the administration

is more than just finance. “It is quality of life, quality of healthcare, quality of infrastructure, the cost of your electricity, the cost and quality of your water… We are working to have treated water to every single person on the coast, to bring down the cost of electricity by half. Definitely, every sector of employees. Their time will come… the day for teachers will come,” he emphasised.

Previously, the president announced salary adjustments for selected categories of employees of the disciplined services and healthcare workers.

He made it clear, on numerous occasions, that the

salary increase will take a holistic approach that will eventually see every public sector worker benefitting from a comfortable remuneration package. “You have to understand the functionalities of the economy and every category of workers will be addressed, and we are starting from critical areas where they were great anomalies and that is how we have started and we are progressing,” Ali added.

President Ali did not give a timeframe as to when teachers will receive a salary adjustment but reminded, “as you can see things are happening very quickly in this country.”

More trouble in PNCR camp…. Geeta Chandan-Edmond out as PNCR General Secretary

A fter weeks of speculation and non-committal comments from PNCR Leader, Aubrey Norton, it was confirmed on Wednesday (December 14, 2022) that Geeta Chandan- Edmond has officially tendered her resignation as General Secretary PNCR.

Chandan-Edmond, reportedly sent Norton her resignation letter after being on leave for several months.

This decision was made after clashes over several issues, including the direction the party was headed under Norton’s leadership.

Another PNCR Executive on way out

The PNCR national treasurer, Faaiz Mursaline, has announced that he’ll be stepping down from the position.

In a short post on his Facebook page, Mursaline said: “Comrades all, after one year of serving on team Norton’s leadership, on the 23rd December 2022, I will discharge my last and final

duties as National treasurer of the P.N.C.R.”

He said a formal letter will be prepared and sent to the party leader’s office.

His announcement follows the resignation of the party’s General Secretary, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, and serves as a clear indication that there is increasing trouble in the PNC’s camp.

Coalition’s Ubraj Narine, Sherod Duncan arrested for ‘attempting to incite racial and ethnic disunity’

The APNU+AFC Coalition’s Ubraj Narine, also Georgetown Mayor, and Opposition Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan were, on Wednesday, arrested and placed on $100,000 station bail for allegedly obstructing traffic and attempting to incite racial and ethnic disunity in Guyana.

Narine and Duncan were arrested on Wednesday and charged under Guyana’s Racial Hostility Act related to statements made against the Muslim community and President Dr Irfaan Ali.

According to a statement issued by the police, based on an investigation, a file was submitted for legal advice indicating that Mayor Narine and MP Duncan be jointly charged with obstructing traffic in relation to them laying beneath a motor lorry on New Market Street.

It was recommended that Mayor Narine be charged with the offense of obstructing traffic, in relation to plac-

ing a wooden pallet on New Market Street.

Further, it was recommended that Mayor Narine and MP Duncan be jointly charged with the offense of using a computer system to attempt to excite ethnic divisions on the ground of race and with the offense of attempting to excite hostility or ill will on the ground of race.

The duo appeared at the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (December 15, 2022).

Further, Narine, a former Staff Sergeant, disembodied from the Guyana National Reserve of the Guyana Defence Force, with effect from Tuesday December 13, 2022 for conduct ‘Unbecoming of a soldier’. The Force in a statement said, “Mr Narine on Monday December 12, 2022, was engaged in a civil protest action during which he uttered words that are considered to have promoted racial and religious intolerance, as well as political

PPP remains a...

the way we approach development in Region Three; that has been awarded and we went through a process we went through a public tender…we put together a team of people to negotiate that we got the best arrangement that’s awarded.”

Plans for the social sector, including the building of six hospitals are also on the cards. “We just awarded a contract to an Austrian firm to build the Children and

dissonance. Several disparaging comments were made against the Commander in Chief and his government.

As a member of the Guyana Defence Force, albeit Regular or Reserve, Mr Narine is required to conduct himself in a manner that uphold the professional image and integrity of the Force. Members of the Force ‘Regular and Reserve’, are required to adhere to the policies, regulations and protocols of the Force; the Values and Standards of the Guyana Defence Force are examples of such. These require, among others, adherence to Core values such as Discipline, Integrity and Loyalty. Similarly, it requires members of the Force to adhere to core standards such as Responsibility, Respect for the law, Respect for others, Correct Conduct and Appropriate Social Behaviour. Mr Ubraj Narine’s conduct on Monday December 12, 2022 violated the above mentioned and others.”

(From back page)

Maternal hospital…we're working on the six other hospitals to be tended well not to be tender, but to be awarded now that we've already selected the sites….these will transform healthcare and many of the coastal regions,” he said.

Similar plans are being worked out for the hinterland, according to him. “I just don't want this country and people like Mr. Norton to pigeonhole us as though

we are just a government running around giving handouts to people. We're serious government that takes planning seriously, and implementation of a master plan seriously,” Jagdeo declared.

The PPP/C Government has fulfilled 90 percent of its manifesto promises in less than two years in office, and is currently working to ensure the modernisation of the country to the benefit of all Guyanese, he added.

POSITIONS FROM FREEDOM HOUSE

Aubrey Norton-led APNU+AFC engaged in racist, obstructionist campaign

The PNC-led APNU+AFC opposition has demonstrated time and time again that it is incapable of offering meaningful leadership to its constituents, or anyone for that matter, and is therefore in its familiar obstructionist mode, with racism being its primary tool of choice.

The latest manifestation of this unfolded on Monday (December 12, 2022) when all of Guyana, and the world for that matter, looked on in shock as Mayor Ubraj Narine unleashed his vile, obnoxious, and religiously offensive tirade during the APNU+AFC’s attempt to obstruct the removal of vendors encumbering the New Market Street

entrance of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The issue of vending in that area has been a sore one since 2015 when the GPHC made its first complaint. Its pleas for intervention by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council fell on deaf ears, even as the number of vendors increased exponentially and the City Council collected thousands of dollars in revenue from them.

It is clear that Mayor Ubraj Narine and the Aubrey Norton-led APNU+AFC have placed the collection of fees from the vendors and the perpetuation of their racist, obstructionist agenda ahead of the lives and well-being of pregnant

mothers, the sick and accident victims whose access to critical primary healthcare are being delayed by congestion of the pathways for ambulances and other vehicles transporting them.

The blame for this uncaring, insensitive, obstructionist act should be laid squarely at the feet of PNC and Opposition Leader Mr. Aubrey Norton who has been unabatingly setting a tone of obstruction and division along ethnic and religious lines.

Instead of offering some sort of rebuke or reprimand, Mr. Norton doubles down on his racist incitement by daring to compare the attack and brutalization of vendors

at Mon Repos Market, which he orchestrated and defended, with the removal of vendors encumbering the entrance to the country’s premier public health facility - a situation which puts lives at risk.

As though Guyanese have short memories, Mr. Norton accused the PPP/C government of politicizing the Guyana Police Force. Perhaps he is oblivious to the numerous revelations coming out at the Commission of Inquiry of his party’s shameless use of police ranks during their attempt to subvert the will of the electorate during the 2020 General and Regional Elections, but rest assured Guyanese are not.

The PPP unequivocally condemns the vile, obnoxious, and religiously offensive tirade by Mayor Ubraj Narine and the racist, obstructionist campaign by the Aubrey Norton-led APNU+AFC.

The party further calls on Civil Society and other national stakeholders, as well as all patriotic Guyanese at home and abroad to condemn Mr. Aubrey Norton and members of his cabal, on this most vexing and worrying matter, and the subtle as well, as overt messages of obstruction, religious and ethnic division.

COMMENTARY

A transformative 2022 – the people’s President rallying a nation as ‘One Guyana’

By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy

The Weekend Mirror wishes our sisters and brothers in Guyana and in the diaspora a blessed and joyous holiday season. We wish our sisters and brothers who are Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Bahai, Rasta and from other religious designations, whatever their ethnicity and wherever they live in Guyana, a truly enjoyable season.

As we approach the holiday season, we reflect on a year that has been in every way, in myriads of ways, a truly remarkable year for Guyana. The year 2022 might well one day be marked off, underlined, as the year when we began transforming a dream into a realizable possibility in the lifetime of this generation. We need a vehicle to take us along this journey. As 2022 comes to an end, we have that vehicle –One Guyana.

In 2022, one deep look-in around Guyana tells a story – a story of hope and optimism. We have rarely seen the enthusiasm we see today in our country. Guyana has not looked this good for as long as we know it. Every community, buildings, public places, and homes are now in lights, signalling that the Guyanese people genuinely are hopeful that Guyana is realizing our potential. Within this hope is the recognition that the possibility of greatness comes with our people working, playing, dreaming and developing together. President Ali has given

our country the unity platform – One Guyana.

More than anything else in 2022, more than even oil and gas is the rallying call and the enthusiastic response of the Guyanese people, for One Guyana. President Irfaan Ali has not just been a proponent of One Guyana, not just the “father” of One Guyana, he has been the lead practitioner. Like no other President in history, he has expanded and taken the Bharat Jagdeo’s model for governance, where government is taken to the people, to a level never imagined before anywhere. Suddenly, in CARICOM and in other countries, Heads of States are trying to emulate the people-centered approach that President Ali has adopted.

President Ali has been in government less than three years in every single sub-region of Guyana. He has visited hundreds of communities. He has been in communities that has never seen a President. He has been in communities that has never even been visited by a minister. President Ali has not only visited communities; he has worked with and played with his sisters and brothers in communities across Guyana, whether these communities voted for him or not. He has even “limed” with communities, cooking and eating with them. He has sung with them, out of tune most of the times; he has danced with them, out of steps most of times. He has been “loved” and he has “loved” many in bottom-house

domino games, never separating himself from the people. But the bottom line is that he has been with the people. Truly, he has been a People’s President. In 2022, President Ali consolidated his credentials as the People’s President.

Quietly, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo, the man who started bringing government to the people, the man who is the “father” of the outreach model of governance, the man who engaged the people where they live, has been providing the strategic economic and development agenda in Guyana. Together, these two leaders have been transforming Guyana. As the finance, natural resource and economic transformation leader, VP Bharat Jagdeo has ensured that while mobilizing our people to walk together, to work together, to play and celebrate together, we must have a robust development agenda that see Guyana knocking on the doors trying to break out of the category of high middle-income country to a develop country. This is not a wild dream; Guyana as a developed country is today a genuine possibility. In 2022, the leadership of President Ali, the rallying of our people by President Ali, the astute guidance and leadership of VP Bharat Jagdeo have transformed the dream itself from “building castles in the air” to a realizable possibility in the lifetime of this generation.

Even as our government is rallying our people, Guyana has gained prominence as we lead CARICOM’s food secu-

Exciting times for...

have not done so already, and to make your contribution heard. Some 15% of all revenues from the sale of credits will be used for these village plans, so they are very important. At the same time, I hope that all our communities will also familiarise themselves with the other investments that will come to our communities, which will be extra to the 15% and will be run nationally – for things like renewable energy, better connectivity, improvements for agricultural and other job creation opportunities, and continuing the land titling programme for those communities who are still working towards getting their titles.

Credit is due to the Government, and especially to President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Jagdeo, both for their leadership and their rec-

ognition that national consultation was essential to getting us to where we are today.

Credit is also due to all the members of the LCDS 2030 Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) – I want to recognise the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission, The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG), the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA), Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP) and the National Amerindian Development Foundation (NADF) for their work as part of the MSSC.

Now that we move to a new phase in implementing the LCDS 2030, I am confident that the National Toshaos’ Council will continue to play our part by being supportive of our villages and acting as an independent overseer to represent our

(From page 17)

communities’ goals. There is much work still to do, and I hope that people across the country will engage with us as we work together to improve our communities and Guyana.

The National Toshaos’ Council is a non-governmental organisation – comprised of the Toshaos of Guyana’s 218 Amerindian and other hinterland villages / communities away from the country’s main urban areas, with a population of about 98,000 or 13% of Guyana’s population. Toshaos (or Village Captains) are directly elected by each village along with elected Councillors who act as the executive body of the village. The National Toshaos’ Council elects an Executive Committee of 20 Toshaos, who in turn elect a Chair.

rity drive. Guyana’s agriculture is being transformed by President Ali’s 25 X 25 Food Security Initiative. Guyana is leading CARICOM’s goal of reducing the $US5B food import bill by 25% by 2025. In this regard, Guyana has begun a major transformation of our agriculture commodities. Guyana has now begun a soya production initiative. With a consortium of local businesses, such as Bounty and others, more than 10,000 acres of soya completed a first crop and now a second crop has started. The consortium has now announced that they will double the acreage for soya. In less than three years, Guyana has shifted from a net importer of soya and has positioned itself to supply some of the $US70M soya that CARICOM imports today.

At the same time, Guyana is looking to develop its sheep and goat meat industry. Guyana has already imported more than 1,000 heads of Barbados Black Belly Sheep and distributed to small farmers around the country. Guyana is hoping to become a major producer of mutton in the CARICOM. Working with the local private sector, Guyana is also targeting a reduction in milk importation. Also, Guyana has begun the expansion of aquaculture. An exciting new area for agriculture is a precooked food packaging plant where Guyana’s cash crops can be packaged as ready-to-use meals. While cereals is one product, preparation of soups from ready-made power is being developed. With simply adding hot water, ready-made meals could be available. This will transform the lives of cash crop farmers, reduce food import from outside of CARICOM and create another export product for

Guyana.

Guyana’s infrastructure has been undergoing rapid transformation everywhere. The health sector is benefiting from this transformation. Six new hospitals have started construction in Anna Regina (Region 2), DeKindren (Region 3), Diamond (East Bank Demerara, Region 4), Enmore (East Coast Demerara, Region 4), Bath (Region 5 and #75 (Region 6). More than $US180M are being invested in these six hospitals that would add eighteen new operating theatres in the public health sector, thirty new ICU beds, twelve new delivery beds, eighteen new dialysis chairs and six new CT scanners. More than $US160M is being invested in a new Children and Maternal hospital which has started construction in Ogle, bringing oncology services and a paediatric heart surgery suite in Guyana for the first time ever. New hospitals are being planned for Moruca (Region 1), Kamarang (Region 7), Kato (Region 8) and Lethem (Region 9) at a cost of more than $US60M. In addition, hospitals at Mabaruma, Aishalton and Mahdia will be upgraded. Bartica, West Demerara and Suddie will be reconstructed. Linden Hospital will undergo major upgrades. New Amsterdam Hospital, GPHC and the National Psychiatric Hospitals will be redeveloped.

New bridges are being constructed. The contract for the new high-span Demerara River Bridge has been signed and construction has started. President Ali announced plans for a new Berbice River highspan bridge. A bridge is being constructed across the Corentyne River, linking Guyana and Suriname. These bridges will link Brazil, Guyana and

Suriname. Along with these bridges are new highways. A new highway from the new Demerara River bridge will link up to Parika. The Linden Highway is being reconstructed. The new highway from Linden to Lethem has already started construction. A new road linking #59 to the Canje Creek was commissioned by President Ali a few months ago. This new highway will eventually reach the Berbice River, opening up more than 400,000 acres of new agriculture land. Highways have been constructed or are now being constructed around Georgetown making entry and exit out of Georgetown easier. The Mandela to Eccles Highway has eased traffic for those who come into Georgetown and leave Georgetown for the East Bank and West Demerara. A new highway around Ogle to Diamond will help movement from and to the East Coast Demerara.

The rapid transformation is seen everywhere with new housing schemes in all regions, new businesses, new hotels. The lives of people are being truly transformed. The opposition remains obstructionist, but the people have moved on with the government. Walking alongside President Ali and the government, the people have resoundingly rejected the opposition’s sour grapes attitude and their racial and religious bigotry. The people have no patience for the naysayers.

A new dawn has arrived in Guyana. The people have been placed at the epicentres of Guyana’s development.

One Guyana is now the beating heart of a nation that is not looking back, but blazing its way into a future of hope, progress and prosperity.

APNU+AFC’s hypocrisy on...

Inc. without full payment. The company is owned by another East Indian businessman, Brian Tiwari. The property is reportedly worth a whopping $8B. The purchase price, however, was set at $400M. Tiwari only paid $20M – not the full price for the land. The Transport was subsequently issued for this property. Jordan issued a vesting order passing Title to the purchaser, without the payment of any further sum of monies. Notably, the agreement of sale stated that Title must only pass upon full payment of purchase price. The vesting order stated that the property is being sold

free from encumbrance and liabilities and no further sum of money is owed by the purchaser. The Guyana Police Force, said, “Investigators have evidence to establish that a facility that is a mere fraction of the size of the state property under investigation, located some seven miles upriver was sold by a private company for US $17 million.” Jordan is currently facing charges of public misconduct over this issue.

Nandlall added that it was the APNU+AFC also took lands from an Afro-Guyanese civil contractor, leading to his company almost going belly-up. “If

they want – and that is all they do: advance the agenda of one racial group in this country – they can get more persons to enter the fray; get more persons to enter their bids. If five pink men buy five lottery tickets and those are all the tickets that are available, do you think a yellow man would win the lottery? But they aren’t telling you that. The truth of the matter is that those statistics would not be any different under their administration. Let them show how many Afro-Guyanese got contracts under their government,” the Attorney General declared.

Cauliflower -935 lbs; Broccoli-54 lbs; Lettuce-22,449 lbs; Pak Choi-2825 lbs; Poi-180lbs; Chilli pepper- 474 lbs; Hot pepper - 2955 lbs; Sweet pepper - 2190 lbs; Bell pepper – 2094 lbs; Tomato -1,041 lbs; Parsley – 239 lbs; Celery -581 lbs Kale- 68 lbs.

Cut Flower Project

2,551 roses harvested to date.

Corn & Soya Bean

366 acres of corn and 490 acres of soya bean sowed.

Tacama Project - $580,731,186

Approximately 40 KM of Road completely constructed at Tacama with bridges to be constructed.

Construction of Foundation for Conditioning and Storage Plant for Corn and Soya Bean - All steel in place and currently casting base.

Guyana must cleanse itself of...

resulted in rulings that deposed the Granger-led strategy to control GECOM.

With David Granger’s self-imposed choice of James Patterson as Chairman of GECOM gone, the already-in-motion plan lost major support, and it meant that the other clandestine orchestrators implanted in GECOM had to step up as they became required, without cover if necessary. It was the boldest attempt, in this modern era, of some unscrupulous staff at GECOM, who acted in collusion with the PNC riggers to steal the Government.

Notably, the PNC support inside of GECOM stood committed to the Party Paramountcy platform, and did not care about the exposure that modern technological developments would provide to the world as their plan

fell apart; albeit, the emergence of a vigilant and connected PPPC with other national and global democratic support. Such abuse of a national constitutional body must never be allowed to happen again in our dear country.

These “Riggers” believed they could use the courts at their will to procrastinate and frustrate the efforts of this nation to get timely and favourable justice. Three of the GECOM leading administrative staff at the Secretariat level, who were in the plot to rig the Elections, are currently facing fraud charges in our court. Recently, they were denied an injunction filed to prevent them from giving testimony before the ongoing Presidential Elections Commission of Inquiry (CoI), but the wounds to the soul of the Guyanese people are too fresh for the truth to be lost. They will

(From page 4)

Coconut Production

The export volume of coconut and coconut products for Jan-Sep 2022 amounted to 5,968 metric tonnes. For the first 3 quarters of 2022, export earnings from coconut and coconut products amounted to GY $1.079 billion. This represented 67.5 percent of total export receipts from non-traditional agricultural products for Jan-Sep 2022.

be caught, and should be severely sanctioned.

Several presentations to the CoI are indeed a revelation, and will expose many of those who played key roles in the plot. Where there is enough credible evidence to affirm a connection to the election machinery or existing influencing relationships, these should be removed or censored forthwith. The security/ senior officers of the Police Force, the staff of GECOM presentation, along with civic persons’ contribution, and more recently the Chairperson of GECOM accepting that she was scared for her life on that dreaded day, must never happen again.

Let us hear what took place on Election Day, March 2, 2020, on the East Coast of Demerara at those polling booths, where there are serious questions about the documents

that were not in the ballot boxes. My experience reminds me that in 2015 the ‘Famous spreadsheet’ was used, and the 2015 election petition was never heard. Further, the then Chairman said that thousands of votes from that very area were never counted.

This Commission of Inquiry (CoI) must provide recommendations to put an end to all forms of rigging. GECOM staff must be accountable, transparent and fair. Our country is blessed with diversity in unity. Let us unite and tell the riggers that we no longer need them. GECOM must cleanse itself and remove all the rogues. We must have LGEs now.

Sincerely, Neil Kumar

PPP remains a ‘national party’ – General Secretary

“We were set up as a national party for all our people. To fight for independence, to fight for the rights of all our people. Along the way, there was a lot of provocation, external and others, that divided out people, but we remain committed to that (national agenda) philosophically in all that we are working on.”

The declaration came from General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party and Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, who urged Guyanese to be wary of divisive elements in our society.

Consequently, he made

clear that the PPP/C government will not be distracted by the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition. Instead, the Administration will continue to take planning and implementation of it master plan for development seriously.

At a prior news conference, he noted that the primary task of the incumbent Administration, after taking office, was responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, “First of all, addressing the pandemic in the last 18 months or so, in office was a primary task of the government. And you have seen us approach this with a zeal

that is unbelievable and even throw the pandemic when many countries were shut down and public officials refused the gold. We saw the President and ministers, many public officials putting themselves at personal risks still going to the communities. Contrast that with the five months period, the lockdown, while not five months, maybe about four months period, that we had on under APNU and look at the result of or management of the COVID pandemic, compared to countries that are better resource than Guyana. We have come out of the pandemic

with our economy intact and growing. And not just the oil and gas economy, but the non-oil and gas economy still growing. Many countries have gone into recession, or teetering on the verge of recession. Some countries in the region have shut down totally all economic activities, we did not do so we kept our country open. We've managed to get about 80% of our adult population vaccinated, we have a functional COVID hospital with over 150 beds now and an ICU section that can accommodate fairly large numbers of people. We can do 5000 tests per day,

upwards from 40 tests per day when we got into office.

In 18 months, we have been hard at work doing just that. So the opposition would like you to believe that somehow this government has not been doing anything. In fact, they left an entire a mess, a mess from the COVID Hospital, which is a corrupt hospital.

We don't even know how the contracts were secured for over for the land and for everything else with But that's another issue that will come up when the audits are examined in the parliament.”

Additionally, the Vice President noted that after five years under the former APNU+AFC government, the “project pipeline was empty” and there were no plans for future development. He said, “There are several projects that we had to start because the project pipeline had practically empties. We had left a lot of the roads…

those were implemented by afternoon but nothing new of a major consequence started or planned for. They had started some work with the British on, because when we got that grant from the British, the Linden to Mabura Road, nothing else. “Since then, in 18 months, we have had to put together a plan that now saw the road from Eccles to Georgetown, a four lane road implemented, not just planned, but constructed and they will contract awarded to go to Diamond and that will be completed by next year. The bridge which will transform the lives of people on the other side of the river. And would allow us to open up that entire Region Three for housing because people will be able to travel every, any hour of the day or night on a fixed bridge four lanes wide that wouldn't have not have to open. It will change

Perpetrator shot after attempt to breach State House

An attempt was made to breach the Security Perimeter Process Unit at State House about 7:30hours on Thursday (December 15, 2022).

A statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “A security personnel was stabbed during a struggle and is seriously wounded and is receiving urgent medical attention at the GPHC. The perpetrator was shot on response and is presumed dead.”

The Presidential Guard has since been identified as Telon Perreira. The perpetrator has ben identified as Nigerian citizen, Bethl Chineze.

The Ministry of Home Affairs added that President Dr. Irfaan Ali and his family

are “safe and well” and an active investigation by the Guyana Police Force is underway.

“We call on all persons to remain calm but vigilant and to report any activity which is untoward to the preservation of peace, law and order,” the Ministry said.

The perpetrator has been identified as Bethl Chineze

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, visiting the Presidential Guard who was stabbed by a lone attacker while on duty at the Carmichael Street entrance of State House, and his family