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The Kaaba is the lock but where and what is the key? Could it be the shivalingam? Is the Blackstone the yoni? What thoughts arises in your minds?
President Irfaan Ali
October 29 ,2021
President Irfaan Ali on Friday appeared to back down from his long-held position that he would not be meeting with Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon to discuss key constitutional appointments unless the Peopleâs Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) is recognised as being legitimately in office.
They include substantive appointments for the positions of Chancellor, Chief Justice and the Police Commissioner. He also said when he returns from next monthâs Global Climate Conference, the appointment of a Judicial Service Commission and Boards would be addressed.
The Guyanese leader told a news conference that he is prepared to meet with Mr. Harmon in accordance with Guyanaâs constitution. âI am fully committed to abiding by every aspect of the constitution. There is no precondition to fulfilling my mandate in accordance with the constitution,â he said.
President Ali, however, argued that Mr. Harmon now has a âmoral problemâ to reconcile how he will meet with the President for a government that he does not recognise. âThis is outside of that mandate in relation to my constitutional role where you have someone who is continuously saying that this government is illegitimate so he has a moral problem so how does he explain talking to some government he is claiming is illegitimate; that is his moral problem and that will expose his duplicity,â he said.
Mr. Harmon and his A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change opposition coalition have said they do not recognise the government because of alleged electoral fraud by the Peopleâs Progressive Party.
At the same time, Mr. Harmon is on record as saying that he is ready to meet with the President.
By News Source Guyana on October 25, 2021
Multiple sources at the Elections Commission have confirmed to News Source that Mr. Boodoo, who served as Chief Elections Officer up until 2013, is among sixteen persons who have applied for the top GECOM post.
Eight years after his contract as Chief Elections Officer of the Guyana Elections Commission was not renewed, Gocool Boodoo is hoping to make a return to the Guyana Elections Commission.
Multiple sources at the Elections Commission have confirmed to News Source that Mr. Boodoo, who served as Chief Elections Officer up until 2013, is among sixteen persons who have applied for the top GECOM post.
Boodooâs contract was not renewed in April 2013 following a majority vote of the Commission not to rehire him. He was accused of attempting to declare erroneous results in 2011 which would have given the PPP a majority win although the combined opposition secured more votes.
It was Commissioner Vincent Alexander who drew attention to the issue, which resulted in the PPP leading a minority government and the combined opposition holding the majority in the parliament.
Before that, Boodoo was also accused of a miscalculation of votes in a previous election that gave a Region 10 seat to the PPP, when the seat should have really been given to the Alliance for Change.
Boodoo has always denied any wrongdoing. When he was removed as Chief Elections Officer, he landed a Local Government Consultant job under the PPP Civic administration.
A senior official close to the Elections Commission said it is mind-boggling and offensive that Gocool Boodoo is now seeking a return to GECOM with all that the Commission has found itself dealing with over the past year.
A few months ago, GECOM terminated the contracts of its Chief Elections Officer, his Deputy and the Region 4 Returning Officer after the Government nominated Commissioners tabled a motion to terminate their contracts.
The three officials, Keith Lowenfield, Roxanne Myers, and Clairmont Mingo are currently before the Courts facing various charges of misconduct in public office and allegations of fraud related to last yearâs general elections.
The termination of their contracts triggered a search by the Elections Commission to public vacancies to fill the posts as soon as possible.
The full Commission is expected to meet tomorrow and begin going through the list of persons who have applied for the top GECOM.
President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali.
Asking new, developing producers like Guyana to leave its oil resources in the ground or to produce some of it at a slow pace is not the answer to achieving a decarbonized world. The key lies in putting a tax or price on carbon and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies says President of the new oil producing South American country, Dr. Irfaan Ali.
Mr. Ali made these comments last week at the launch of the expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS-2030). During his address, the Head of State said it is not fair for some countries to be asked to halt production or any new exploration while global powerhouses continue to grow their supply base.
He articulated that basic fairness is required while adding that this means the oil industry, and its US$3-4 trillion of annual revenue, should not just be for the benefit of incumbent oil producers, particularly when those nations are already very wealthy. He said therefore that expecting developing economies to leave their oil in the ground really means âprotecting the monopoly-like situation of existing producers so that they can maximize their income from oil and gas.â
Expounding further the President said, ââĶit would be perverse if the market was protected for them and them alone.â
Mr. Ali added, âNo responsible government should volunteer that its people stay poor so that richer countries can have their market protected. Putting faith in solutions that expect this to happen is irresponsible and ultimately damages the prospects of climate success.â
Since 2009, Mr. Ali said Guyana has supported two main policies to drive global decarbonization. He said, âFirst of all, there should be a global price on carbon, levied on the consumption of oil and gas. This is the way to incentivize both the investment in lower carbon replacements for fossil fuel-based electricity and transportation â such as renewable energy and electric vehicles â while at the same time managing the global low carbon transition through incentivizing progressively lower-carbon sources of fossil fuels.â
The second main policy he said, is that subsidies for fossil fuel production should be removed. Upon noting this, Ali recalled that in 2019, 50 of the largest economies in the world â which account for 80% of global greenhouse gas emission â increased their support for fossil fuel production by 30%. Most of this was in developed countries, which are already the incumbents benefiting most from the trillions of dollars in the oil and gas market, the Guyanese leader stated.
He said the Government of Guyana, therefore, supports calls for the elimination of such fossil fuel subsidies, especially in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries where the subsidies are the most distorting, destabilize prices, and do nothing to reduce the carbon intensity of the worldâs economy.
Combined, he categorically stated that these two policies can create a much fairer marketplace for oil and gas that is compatible with achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
The township of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)
Within five years, the Guyana Government intends to have some major hinterland communities powered mainly by renewable energy.
This was revealed by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday as he launched the expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 which outlines Governmentâs plans for clean energy and a suite of low carbon development opportunities that will drive the future low carbon development of the country.
The LCDS initiative was the brainchild of former President and now Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, and was launched in 2009 as the first low carbon development strategy from a developing country.
According to President Ali, while the scale of vision captured 12 years ago remains valid today, a lot has happened since then hence the concept of the initiative has been refashioned to reflect the current-day context of low carbon development.
A key feature of LCDS 2030 is the transformation of Guyanaâs energy landscape with the aim of ensuring that the nation is fully powered by affordable and non-polluting power in the next decade.
The Head of State posited that the countryâs high electricity cost, which is 97 per cent dependent on imported fossil fuels, would have been countered with the completion of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) â the flagship initiative under Jagdeoâs LCDS.
Pegged at generating some 165 megawatts of electricity, the Amaila Falls project was scrapped by the APNU/AFC Coalition regime.
But President Ali said on Thursday that his government will resume this project as part of its clean energy transition â a three phase initiative under LCDS 2030.
The first phase covers 2022-2027, during which there is anticipated to be a near tripling of electricity demand in the country. This, the President noted, will be met through a combination of natural gas from offshore oil production operations and the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project to boost the main national grid.
Added to this will be a major expansion of solar power with batteries on the rural networks.
âBy the end of this period, the Essequibo Coast, Linden, Leguan, and Wakenaam grids will be integrated with the national grid. The Bartica, Lethem, Port Kaituma, Madhia, and Matthews Ridge grids will be almost exclusively powered by renewable energy,â he stated.
Additionally, it is envisioned that approximately 200 hinterland villages will undergo an electrification programme by 2026. In fact, this work has begun already in villages across the country, included Seba, Waramadong, Paruima, Kurukabaru, Whyaka, Mission Capoey, Lake Top Capoey, Annai, St Monica and Karaburi.
Moreover, the national Transmission and Distribution Network will undergo a massive upgrade to manage the forecasted electricity demand and meet the standards expected of a modern power utility company, the Head of State revealed.
The second phase will run from 2027 to 2032 and according to President Ali, it will see further increases in electricity demand being met by continued replacement of Heavy Fuel Oil, expansion of wind and solar power, and the commission of Guyanaâs second hydro plant â the site of which will be identified in the coming years.
âAfter 2032, the expansion will be driven by the prevailing market conditions, but it is likely that battery technology will be sufficiently advanced to enable solar and wind plants to provide new capacity increases while contributing to further downward pressure on electricity prices,â he stated.
The Guyanese leader pointed out that these initiatives under the LCDS 2030, will see Guyana boasting of an energy transition unlike any other country. He added too that the anticipated supply of cheaper electricity can increase fivefold with emissions staying essentially flat.
On the other hand, this transition agenda also included a suite of low carbon investment opportunities.
âSmall and medium businesses will be supported to create low carbon jobs and economic opportunities,â the Head of State asserted.
He said some 15 per cent of funds from forest climate services will be invested in Amerindian communitiesâ priorities, including land titling and capitalisation of the Amerindian Development Fund to implement Community Development Plans.
In addition, low carbon infrastructure will be expanded â including transportation, digital infrastructure, e-Governance, and social inclusion. The urban built environment such as roads, drainage and water infrastructure among other areas will also be improved in all towns across Guyana.
âConsideration will be given to international architecture and urban planning competitions for Georgetown and Silica City to match the unprecedented anticipated growth with high standards of urban planning. The LCDS 2030 will support entrepreneurship and innovation. The Protected Areas System will be expanded, and we will see the creation of an International Center for Biodiversity. Work will resume on the restoration and maintenance of our important mangrove forests.
In 2022, work will start on the implementation of Guyanaâs Climate Resilience Strategy and Action plan, which was produced using revenues received under the Guyana-Norway partnership. Work will re-start to implement the strategy and upgrade sea defences, irrigation systems, build agriculture systems that are more resilient and address the threat to public health from climate change,â the President added.
Meanwhile, as government outlines its transformation vision under LCDS 2030, the 110-page document has been made public and will undergo a four-month consultation to get feedback from stakeholders countrywide. A Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee will be reconstituted to carry out these discussions before the initiative receives final approval.
During this time, however, President Ali reassured that no agreements will be entered into before LCDS 2030 is finalised.
By: Amar Persaud
The Belted Kingfisher [Leon Moore photos]
Birding experts Brian OâShea and Leon Moore have recorded a new species of bird in Guyana during an ongoing study being conducted in Region One (Barima-Waini).
The new recorded species is the black-chested tyrant, which is more commonly found in neighbouring Brazil, Suriname, and Venezuela. It has a chestnut head, a black breast band, and gray underparts. This species has a large range, and does not approach the thresholds for vulnerability.
In addition to this new record, the experts also made the first confirmed record to the belted kingfisher, which is a stocky, medium-sized bird with a large head with a shaggy crest. Its long, heavy bill is black with a grey base. The belted kingfisherâs breeding habitat is near inland bodies of waters or coasts across most of North America, within Canada, Alaska and the United States.
The belted kingfisher was already reported as a new record but there was no evidence of this until now, when OâShea and Moore succeeded in capturing a photograph.
âFor new birds to added to any country list, you need picture proof or a voice recording to back up the sighting,â Moore explained in an invited comment to INews.
The Black-chested Tyrant [Leon Moore photos]
The discovery of both birds was made along the Barima-Mora Passage (BMP) in Region One, which, according to Moore, âholds great promise as a megadiverse site with high tourism and conservation potentialâ.
âOur survey will provide the first comprehensive list of birds for the BMP, thereby adding to the emerging baseline dataset of vertebrates in the region, and will also build capacity of local scientists to conduct follow-up studies and monitoring,â the birding expert highlighted.
The first day of the birding study with experts Brian OâShea and Leon Moore. They are conducting an orientation class on the various equipment with the Region One participants. [Guyana Marine Conservation Society photo]
This birding study is being conducted under the auspices of the Guyana Marine Conservation Society which is led by environmentalist Annette Arjoon-Martins.
In addition to Moore and OâShea, there are seven local participants from Region One engaged in this activity.
Moore is a native of Linden, Guyana and is the founder of Leon Moore Nature Experience. He has conducted bird surveys in both Guyana and Suriname, most recently working with shorebirds in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and BirdLife International. In the course of his work, Moore has trained and supported several budding field ornithologists in Guyana. He is an accomplished tour guide and photographer, and serves as a regional reviewer for eBird in Guyana.
OâShea has studied birds in the Guianas for more than 20 years, working with many organisations including the Smithsonian Institution, Conservation International, WWF, the Iwokrama International Centre, and the South Rupununi Conservation Society. He currently runs long-term survey projects in Iwokrama and the southern Rupununi, and serves as a regional reviewer for eBird in the Guianas. OâShea has mentored several students in Guyana and Suriname and believes strongly in fostering the development of skills that lead to career opportunities in environmental management and conservation.
L-R: Brian OâShea and Leon Moore
Tremendous Benefits
Arjoon-Martins, during an interview with this publication, lauded the efforts of the team in making these remarkable discoveries.
âDespite the rain being very terrible and giving them a challenge, imagine that they found two previously unrecorded species,â she remarked with excitement.
Environmentalist Annette Arjoon-Martins
âThey are on the river as early as 04:30hrs in the morning because thatâs the best time to be prepared to get the birds, in the early morning period, and they basically do the bird watching there and then go and walk transects into the forest, to also go back to check, maybe where they see two species, they might see eight.â
According to the environmentalist, this birding study will bring tremendous benefits to the people of Guyana.
âSo not knowing that we have these very rare species in Region One, now that we have it, we can now take steps and have the populations increase. So, this in itself would be a natural attraction for the tourist who want to go to Region One,â she explained.
Day Eight of the birding study. Here, the team is situation along the Barima River and in Benda Creek. [Guyana Marine Conservation Society photo]
The areas being captured in the study include the Lower Kaituma area all the way down to Imbatero.
In fact, Arjoon-Martins explained that her organisation plans to establish a Research Centre in Imbatero for ânational researchers to come and stay there while conducting studiesâ.
The study commenced on October 19 and is expected to end on October 29.
Another video of police harassment at wedding house in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara.
October 29 ,2021
Eugene Godfrey Petty
The post of Chief Election Officer (CEO) for the Guyana Elections Com-mission (GECOM) has attracted the attention of a wide range of candidates including an election official from Jamaica and another from the island of St Kitts.
Leslie Oliver Harrow from Jamaica and Eugene Godfrey Petty from St Kitts are among 20 who have submitted their applications to be considered for the post of GECOM CEO.
According to sources close to the Commission, both men have significant electoral experience. Harrow has held a number of positions within the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) and was just last year appointed as Director General of Jamaicaâs Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).
Leslie Oliver Harrow
Deodat Persaud
Vishnu Persaud
Saphier Husain
He is said to have over 25 years of experience working in the field of administration and governance. Harrow spent over 18 of those years with the ECJ. He started as an Office Manager in 1997 and served there until January 2001. In 2002, he returned to the ECJ as the Regional Manager and served up until May 2017.
As Regional Manager at the ECJ, Harrow was responsible for the management of 9 constituencies for General Elections in 2002, 2007, 2011 and Local Government Election 2003 and 2012 & UWI, Mona and Utech, Jamaica â Studentsâ Union Elections from 2003 to 2015.
In June 2017, he moved up as Zonal Manager. He was seconded to the ODPEM for 7 months.
Meanwhile, Petty is a seasoned electoral observer and former Elections Supervisor in St Kitts. He led the Organization of American States (OAS) observer mission to observe the 2006 General and Regional Elections in Guyana. Petty also served as Director of the CARIFORUM Directorate.
Among the other applicants is controversial former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff.
Shariff was fired from the Ministry of the Presidency at the end of 2016 after being accused of accumulating a substantial amount of wealth which was inconsistent with the salary of a public servant. He was being investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and was later taken before the Courts for failing to comply with a High Court order.
Then acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards had issued a production order in favour of SOCU which was served on Shariff. However, he failed to comply with the order and was brought up on contempt charges at the Georgetown Magistrateâs Court.
Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander confirmed that Shariff is among the 20 applicants for the post. He also told Stabroek News that other applicants include Vishnu Persaud â former GECOM Public Relations Officer; Aneal Giddings â GECOMâs Information Technology Manager; and attorney at law Saphier Husain â who contested the May 2015 elections.
Deodat Persaud, current Assistant Registration Officer and former Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Commissioner also confirmed that he submitted an application for the CEO post. He has been employed with GECOM since 2005.
âGECOM has been under the scrutiny of the nation in relation to corrupt practices and I would find it difficult that persons who are before the court for such practices find themselves eligible for employment by GECOM,â he said.
Indirectly referencing the termination of the contracts of former CEO Keith Lowenfield and DCEO Myers, Alexander said that was done on the mere basis of allegations of corrupt practices.
There have also been concerns raised about the eligibility of Husain since he has contested for the presidency of the country.
âDo you want somebody who has been a contestant to now become a part of the jury on these political matters? Should we really open up to somebody like that? Do we want people who have been contestants in the political arena now to become judges and jurors over that contest?â Alexander questioned.
He said that those questions would have to be addressed at the level of the Commission before candidates are shortlisted.
The traditional process for the hiring of a CEO and DCEO involves the Commissioners interviewing and scoring the shortlisted applicants before a report is presented to the full Commission for appointment. However, Alexander and his fellow Opposition Commissioners have proposed the appointment of an independent panel to conduct the interviews and then submit a report to the Commission.
Alexander had said that proposal was made in light of all the political drama at GECOM.
Based on the advertisement, the CEO is required to play the key leadership role GECOMâs Secretariat and is tasked with the responsibility for implementing all aspects of its operations, and ensuring that results achieved are consistent with the laws of Guyana and the policies determined by the Commission.
The successful candidate is responsible for advising the Commission on policy matters and their implementation; the interpretation of relevant legislation, and reports on their applications among a plethora of other responsibilities required for the day-to-day functioning of the Secretariat.
Boodooâs contract was not renewed in 2013 after he had been famously stopped by Alexander in 2011 from making an erroneous declaration which would have given the Donald Ramotarled PPP/C government 33 seats in Parliament when it only had 32.
Boodoo was later hired by the PPP/Câs Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development as a consultant and later resigned when the APNU+AFC Coalition took office following their victory at the 2015 polls.
October 28 ,2021
Dear Editor,
Maybe we need an ethnic equation for the appointment of GECOM Commissioners. As a nation we hardly ever reach a consensus on any matter with the exception that a majority of us agree that our elections are ethnically driven. Given our overriding preoccupation with ethnicity, why not use it to our advantage and appointment our Gecom Commissioners on the basis of ethnicity. Why not have five Commissioners representing each of our ethnic makeup comprising of an African, Indian, Chinese, Indigenous and Portuguese Guyanese. The appointment of these ethnic commissioners should be based on the following criteria:
1. Should have no known political affiliation or membership to a political party.
2. Should be of good character with a stellar public profile and a respected member of their community.
3. Each appointed Commissioner must be approved by a two- thirds majority of Parliament.
4. A select committee comprising of one representative each of the political parties in parliament to manage the application and selection process.
5. From among the five Commissioners they will choose the Chairperson.
6. Their period of appointment should be for ten years with the option of being selected for one more five year term.
This methodology of equal ethnic representation might very well remove the stigma of biases in the running of our elections.
Sincerely,
Reggie Bhagwandin
October 28 ,2021
A city magistrate yesterday upheld a no-case submission by the defence and dismissed the charges instituted against two police constables over the deleting of the Guyana Police Forceâs (GPF) financial data.
Jenneka Carmichael, of Lot 121 Onderneeming, West Coast, Berbice, and Tatayana Smith, 21, of 43 Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, were freed of the charge after Magistrate Annette Singh, who was presiding over the trial, upheld a no-case submission. The trial was conducted at the Georgetown Magistrateâs Court.
Jenneka Carmichael
It is alleged that the two, on January 28, 2021, and February 04, 2021, at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, Eve Leary, Kingston, Georgetown, intentionally and without lawful excuse or justification, deleted electronic data from the GPFâs computer that was in the administrative office of the Felix Austin Police College mess. Attorneys-at-law, Edrianna Stephens and Bernard DaSilva represented Carmichael and Smith respectively. The attorneys argued that the prosecution did not provide enough evidence to the court to sufficiently back the accusation. The prosecutor was Tuanna Hurdy.
The prosecutionâs case is that the duo who had previously been released on $150,000 bail each, intentionally deleted electronic data from the computer that was in the administrative office of the Felix Austin Police College. The two constables were clerks attached to the Finance Department. This discovery was made following an investigation conducted by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU).
SOCU had instituted charges of the same nature against a number of GPF members after the investigation was conducted by the Auditor General. Since then, the police have also acted on the audit findings. The GPF members are charged with committing fraud against the force amounting to over $19 million.
Posted by: Denis Chabrol in News, Politics Thursday, 28 October 2021, 13:02 0 Comments -- Last Updated on Thursday, 28 October 2021, 13:02 by Denis Chabrol -- Source - https://demerarawaves.com/2021...motion-is-frivilous/
Region Four Councillor Amarnauth Chinkan
The Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Council meeting was Thursday morning adjourned after an Alliance For Change (AFC) councilor, who wants to sponsor a no-confidence motion against the Vice Chairman Samuel Sandy, refused to leave on the grounds that he was exposed to a COVID-19 positive person.
Regional Chairman, Daniel Seeram said when the council meets again next month he would be reprimanding Councillor Amarnauth Chinkan for his behaviour on Wednesday when he was told to leave the Council. âI will not leave because you never tell me that I cannot attendâĶ. You never send me anything official. You are sending message to me,â Mr. Chinkan said.
âCouncillor you are asked to leave these proceedings. I will not entertain any conversation with you at this point in time on it. I believe that this is a matter of public health and you are doing a disservice to your fellow councillors by being here at this meeting after it had been communicated to you,â Mr. Seeram told Mr. Chinkan.
After Mr. Chinkan was informed that he would have to leave, he vented his frustration aloud during a cross-talk with the Chairman. âYou would like to adjourn this meeting because you know your time short,â he said.
Several top parliamentarians from the Peopleâs National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were present at the Council meeting. They included Christopher Jones, Dr. Karen Cummings, Ganesh Mahipaul and Attorney-at-Law Amanza Walton-Desir.
Region Four Vice Chairman Samuel Sandy and Chairman Daniel Seeram.
The Regional Chairman noted that Regional Executive Officer Donald Gajraj and two Peopleâs Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) Councillors stayed away from the council meeting because they were told that they were in contact with a COVID-19 positive person and should get tested.
Mr. Chinkan insisted that he was tested negative twice- once last week and again on Thursday. However, he did not provide any proof of his test result. When pressed by the media about why he did not present his negative test result, he brushed off questions, but opted to label the Regional Chairman a âbullyâ and asserting that âI am not leaving unless he leaves.â
Regarding the no-confidence motion against the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, the Regional Chairman said he was relying on the law, precedent against the then Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette and parliamentary procedure to remove the motion from the agenda. Mr. Seeram said the motion, submitted on 21st November 2021, was examined and âdismissedâ by him because it was âfrivolous, ill-written and have no legal bearing.â
âAfter going through the motion and at our examination my findings were clear and I dismissed such a motion,â Mr. Seeram said. âThis is not a circus here. This is the Regional Democratic Council (Demerara-Mahaica) and I wouldnât have such issues being raised in the Council when we have issues pertaining to public importance to deal with,â he added.
But Mr. Chinkan said the Regional Chairman could not unilaterally throw out the motion but it is the Council that has to do so. âThis is three months he has this motion and they are dancing around it and they are giving you all frivolous reasons why the motion should not be read,â he said. He added that the Chairman and the Vice Chairman must be removed for incompetence.
Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor Neilsen Mc Kenzie said he was now looking forward to the next council meeting because âultimately we want to move the council forward; it is the business of the people that matters more than the individual persuasions.
The AFC has already publicly criticised APNU for breaking a formal agreement that the AFC would have be supported for the position of Vice Chairman. However, when it had last year actually gone to a vote the APNU nominated Messrs. Seeram and Sandy for both the Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship.
Oct 27, 2021 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists, News -- Source - Kaieteur News Online -- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...acy-but-not-dem-age/
Kaieteur News â Dem wah fighting fuh become leader of de Pee-N-See only telling we bout how dem better dan each other. Dem throwing jabs at one another and telling we how dem long and loyal to de party.
One ah dem done gat plans fuh Soulja Bai sehing how Soulja Bai mek mistakes and he nah gan mek de same mistakes. But he nah seh wah is de mistakes. Dem boys wan know if accepting de GECOM declaration is one ah dem mistakes and, if nat, wah was the right things fuh do.
Nuff talking does generate hot air. And we gat alat ah dat at de moment.
But nobody nah talking dem age. One man does decide he gan form wan Elderâs Council but he nah seh whether in a couple years time whether he gan qualify fuh membership.
De whole thing is a charade. De Pee-N-See nah gat no internal democracy. Every election does gat it own confusion. And when yuh think is election, it does tun out to be selection.
A man in Canada nah even wait fuh see the full nomination list. He done decide who he voting fuh. It mek dem boys remember de time when de Justice fuh None Party nah get no votes at de polling station way dem Prime Ministerial Candidate did vote. De big laugh was dat either de man vote spoil or he vote fuh somebody else.
But deh gat candidates wah beat de odds. One time a man had to compete in wan election against a cancer patient. He tell he supporters how he know he nah gan win de sympathy vote. But he still had de best campaign slogan: âVote for me, I wonât abandon you in two months.â
Talk half and tell de contenders fuh state dem age!
October 21, 2021
Dear Editor,
Personal thoughts: I feel sad to see how the people of Guyanaâs money is being squandered in Dubai. Not that the trip should not have happened, but the trip could have been tailored to suit Guyanaâs pocket. I feel proud of the performances and high quality of talent of our people there but I have burning questions in my mind: how many persons really are on this trip? What is the purpose of each of those persons? So many questionable persons on this trip I wonder why they really are there. The personal assistant to the First Lady is there and like he is on a personal vacation, I wonder whose tax dollars is paying for all the meals and sights. To assist her do what????
An economy round trip ticket to Dubai from Guyana is nearly $600,000 Guyana Dollars. Then add hotel and transportation to that. Why the Government of Guyana has to go so overboard with these trips? The Opposition did the same thing when they were sitting there. They are another weak bunch failing to call out this wasteful lavish trip by the current administration. I voted PPP before but I am highly disappointed. I need my questions answered. Guyanese demand a breakdown of spending for this fetÃĻ in Dubai. I have no apologies to make. The Opposition instead of focusing on this decided to spend time on how Priya Manickchand dressed or how President Ali looks in his suitâfrivolous matters. The Kaieteur News once known for its highly objective reporting only obsesses daily about the oil and oil contract.
Starvation continues in Guyana in the deep pockets of the society. Meanwhile we can shuttle dozens of useless and unnecessary people to halfway around the world for a festival â all compliments of the poor and hard-working Guyanese population. Why were no private media taken to Dubai? What is the purpose of âVisit Guyanaâ there? That is not a media house. Only the Guyana Chronicle was lucky to be there. Why not a reporter from KN, Stabroek News or even Gordon Moseley or Chabrol? What is the purpose again I ask of the First Ladyâs personal assistant there? What are the roles and functions of each participant? There has to be a breakdown for taxpayers to see. You have ministers there with their spouses and family. Itâs a friends and family âtingâ again.
Sincerely,
Leon Suseran
Queens NY
Dear Editor,
In its statement on the question of the prayer recited on the occasion of the declaration of the 2020 CXC results (SN 10/21/2021), Ministry of Education admits that its intention and policy regarding prayers are at times subverted. This surprises no one. What is surprising is the insistence that the prayer is, âa universal one,â the very âsame one,â recited at the sittings of the National
Assembly. This is a blatant untruth. Two significant changes, inclusion of âheavenly father,â and âamenâ the signature ending of Christian prayers, which are not the National Assembly so-called universal version, were sneaked in. Clearly, not the âsame oneâ used in the assembly. Why those responsible for perpetrating this mischief have chosen to ignore the changes and repeat the lie is known only to themselves, but the changes, especially the first one, âheavenly father,â are critical from a purely Christian theological perspective and simply cannot be swept away by this deception. It is also clear that both the decision to Christianise the prayer and the decision to exclude others were intentional. It is for this reason that we feel that attempts now being made to pass off it as âthe universal prayerâ doubles the insult to those who have been so ignored and marginalised.
Let it be clear that I do not have any problem with the prayer invoking âheavenly father,â and ending with âamen.â Every person is free to pray in whatever manner she or he chooses. But we are talking about Christian only prayers at an important state function in a supposedly secular society in which there is no official state religion and in which no religion is accorded a privileged status. This scenario perpetuating dominance of one religion reminds one of Orwell. All of us are equal but some of us are more equal. Let us also remember that we are dealing with the department of government that is responsible for education of the nationâs children, an education, one expects, founded on truth and on not causing pain and hurt to others, both of which, unfortunately, have been casualties in this sordid affair. It is now only left for us to ask, in despair, if our department of education would engage in such distortion and manipulation, what hope is there for the future? Finally, on a different note, both the National Assembly prayer and the MOE variant have a curious line that needs to be urgently examined and expunged, that is the line seeking Godâs guidance for âthe maintenance of true religionâ in the assembly version and, âthe maintenance and extension of true religionâ in the MOE version. What on earth is meant by âtrue religion?â Who decides this and on what basis?
True religion versus false religion, true God versus a false God, true Prophet versus a false one â these are coded constructions embedded in a religious language of hate and violence. If not the entire prayer, which is nothing but an abomination bereft in heart and soul, lacerating the grandeur and beauty of Tagoreâs âWhere the mind is without fear,â at least the line on âtrue religionâ must be expunged forthwith.
Sincerely,
Swami Aksharananda
The Liza Unity FPSO after its arrival in Guyana waters.Guyanaâs Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Tuesday the arrival of the Liza Unity floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.
The Ministry said the vessel arrive in Guyanese waters after traveling for approximately 53 days and in excess of 11,000 nautical miles on its journey from Singapore.
âThe vessel is twice the size [capacity] of the first FPSO; Liza Destiny. It is expected to commence operations by 2022 and has a production target of 220,000 barrels of oil per day,â the Ministry said.
The Liza Unity FPSO departing Singapore for its journey to Guyana
The FPSO will be spread moored in water depth of about 1,600 meters and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil.
The FPSO represents SBM Offshoreâs first Fast4WardÂŪ design, benefitting from standardization of the project`s execution plan and using a fully completed and commissioned MPF hull, which sets the benchmark for future FPSO projects. The project continues to target first oil in 2022, in line with client schedule.
As it announced a rollout of state-of-the-art mobile service in Region Two, Digicel Guyana has called on the government to free up spectrum for the expansion and upgrade of its services.
The mobile company said that requests to the government have been pending since November and new services and upgrades have been delayed.
In a statement, Chief Executive Officer, Gregory Dean said: âThe Government has been transformational in delivering liberalisation. Now, to be able to bring further benefits to the people of Guyana, we need confirmation from the Government that the spectrum we use to deliver these and future services, will be made available. Our requests have been pending since November and this has led to new services and upgrades being delayed. We are keen to immediately invest in Guyana and ensure our customers access world class services.â
Digicel Guyana said that it has switched on its state-of-the-art mobile service in the Kabakaburi Mission Region Two, completing major service expansion in the Upper Pomeroon river area.
It added that residents in the villageâs sub divisions of St. Monica, Siriki, Abrams Creek and Jacklow will now have access to first world connectivity.
Dean underscored Digicelâs contribution to taking connectivity to unserved areas, âWe are thrilled to have given thousands of residents in remote communitiesâ access to world class communication services, during our 14 years of operations in Guyana.â In addition to the new site launch, the telecommunications provider donated over 30 tablets to students of Kabakaburi Primary School, the statement said.
Further, over $4 billion has been invested in rolling out LTE services delivering greater speeds and an overall enhanced user experience, to customers on the coast and inland areas like Linden, Bartica, Mahdia, Kwakwani, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Aroaima and Matthews Ridge. Puruniâs upgrade, which has been delayed due to poor road accessibility, is set to be completed in August with expected weather improvements.
This would see Digicelâs LTE services being available to an estimated 83% of the population, allowing more customers to now enjoy the full digital lifestyle, the company said.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada...ta-spitzer-1.6212510
Alberta's reporting of comorbidities questioned after boy, 14, removed from COVID-19 death count
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Nathanael Spitzer's family says he died of cancer, not COVID-19, as province reported
Wallis Snowdon · CBC News · Posted: Oct 15, 2021 11:19 AM MT | Last Updated: October 15Nathanael Spitzer, pictured above, died on Oct. 7, nine months after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. His death has renewed the debate surrounding how Alberta reports COVID-19 deaths. (Spitzer family/GoFundMe) Nine months after being diagnosed with a Stage 4 brain tumour and two days after his family says he tested positive for COVID-19, Nathanael Spitzer of Ponoka, Alta., died in hospital. When Dr. Deena Hinshaw told Albertans earlier this week that the 14-year-old had died of COVID-19, the province's chief medical officer of health triggered a wave of controversy over how coronavirus deaths are reported. Hinshaw told a news conference on Tuesday that the boy had complex, pre-existing medical conditions that contributed to his death. Her comments renewed a debate surrounding Alberta's practice of reporting on comorbiditie
The boy's family publicly called on Hinshaw to retract her statement, suggesting that Nathanael had died of cancer, not COVID-19.
'We just want the truth to come out'
Simone Spitzer accused the province of spreading "fake news" about her younger brother, who had been in hospital since August.
"We just want the truth to come out," she said in a message to CBC News on Tuesday.
On Thursday, at another news conference, Hinshaw apologized to the family. She said that while an initial report had indicated that COVID-19 was a secondary cause of the teen's death, a subsequent review determined that not to be the case.
Hinshaw announced the province will no longer report COVID-19 deaths of children until a review process has been completed to confirm the actual cause of death.
Nathanael, described by his family as an entertainer with a quick smile, has now been removed from the list of more than 2,900 Albertans who have died of COVID-19.
The case highlights the intricacies of reporting comorbidities â such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and dementia â that can contribute to the dangers of COVID-19.
Alberta started reporting comorbidities linked to COVID-19 deaths in December 2020, but the data doesn't tell the whole story. Experts say discussing the statistics without nuance can minimize dangers of the disease.
WATCH | Hinshaw says Alberta has changed reporting for pediatric deaths:
Dr. Deena Hinshaw apologizes for mistake in cause of death of 14-year-old
4 days ago
3:44
'The pain of losing a child is terrible enough without having that loss compounded by a public debate about the circumstances,' Hinshaw said Thursday. On Tuesday, she had announced that COVID-19 was a contributing factor in the child's death. It was not. 3:44
Comorbidities are prevalent among all age groups, and the vast majority of Albertans who have died of COVID-19 will have at least one of these conditions listed on their death certificate.
Only 3.8 per cent of Alberta's COVID-19 deaths have involved no comorbidities. More than 74 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in the province have involved three or more pre-existing conditions.
The most common comorbidities listed in Alberta are hypertension (82.9 per cent), cardiovascular diseases (52.2 per cent), renal diseases (49.7 per cent), diabetes (44.5 per cent), respiratory diseases (40.1 per cent) and dementia (40.1 per cent).
After a COVID-19 death is reported, each case is assessed to ensure the reporting is accurate. If fault is found, the case is removed from Alberta's COVID-19 statistics.
"If there is any question, the death certificate and file are reviewed by medical professionals post-mortem," Alberta Health spokesperson Tom McMillan said in a statement to CBC News.
"If the cause of death was unrelated to COVID â for a hypothetical example, if an individual who is a confirmed case of COVID-19 died in a car crash â the case would be subsequently removed from our death count."
An issue of classification
Dr. Noel Gibney, professor emeritus in the department of critical care medicine at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, says reporting on pandemic deaths is complex, and the data can easily be misunderstood.
Pre-existing conditions can range from severe to minor â and just because someone has a comorbidity does not mean they were likely to die before contracting COVID-19.
Gibney, who expressed sympathy for the Spitzer family, also noted that COVID-19 can trigger myriad lesser-known, potentially fatal health issues, such as a heart attack or stroke.
"The issue is: How does one classify, when they die, has someone died of COVID or with COVID?" Gibney said. "If you had COVID, would you have died on that day or could you have survived for another number of months or years?"
Pediatric patients now excluded from Alberta's critical-care triage protocol
For example, he said, a terminal cancer patient who dies can still be categorized as a COVID-19 death if symptoms of COVID-19, such as pneumonia, are what ultimately proved fatal.
"If your condition was relatively stable and then you caught COVID and died, in most instances a doctor would fill out the death certificate as 'due to COVID' with your cancer as the underlying condition."
Gibney said tracking comorbidities can contribute to a broader understanding of the pandemic, but sharing the data publicly is problematic.
Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Friday, Oct. 15
Without context, the statistics may undermine the public's understanding of the disease, he said, noting that the data also stigmatizes those with underlying health conditions.
Ubaka Ogbogu, an associate professor in the faculty of law and the Katz Research Fellow in Health Law and Science Policy at U of A, said Alberta's comorbidities reporting system should be scrapped.
"This disclosure started a long time ago, and it started from the time that Premier [Jason] Kenney really wanted to minimize COVID in general, as well as COVID deaths," Ogbogu said.
"People who have these comorbidities are going to live in fear.... And that anxiety is not being matched by any action from these governments to actually show that they're trying to protect those who are especially vulnerable."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Journalist
Wallis Snowdon is a digital journalist with CBC Edmonton. Originally from New Brunswick, her journalism career has taken her from Nova Scotia to Fort McMurray. Share your stories with Wallis at wallis.snowdon@cbc.ca
