Parliament approves $47.3B in supplementary funds: Maritime laws to see beefed up compensation for collisions, AG says: Local gov’t elections

Facing scrutiny from the main opposition over the need for supplementary financing for a second time in five months, the Government on Monday used its majority to approve $47.3 billion in additional expenditure and highlighted a range of projects including 1,000 community roads. Defending the amount that was being sought before the National Assembly, government ministers explained that the money was required to accelerate infrastructure projects and cushion the rising cost of items and services such as fuel, urgent drainage and irrigation works, dietary supplies and security services. The items and services, it was explained when procured, amounted to a cost higher than projected for in the 2022 “historic” $552.9B national budget. During the parliamentary sitting, the Committee of Supply of the National Assembly considered Financial Papers No 2 and No 3 of 2022. They were both tabled in the House by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh at the November 30 sitting. Financial Paper No 2 sought the approval of spending for $2,904,841,406 from the Contingency Fund for the period August 15-November 29, 2022 while Financial Paper No 3 sought supplementary provisions for current and capital expenditure of $14,776,553,723 and $29,666,610,431 respectively. During the consideration of the estimates before the Committee of Supply, it was disclosed that some $18.2 billion was provided to the Ministry of Public Works for the provision of additional resources for the construction and upgrading of miscellaneous roads in communities across the region.

In the face of a number of vessels crashing into the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), which have left taxpayers footing hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs, the government has signalled a revamping of the country’s maritime laws to ensure adequate compensation.

Once completed, all marine vessels using the waterways here and entering into ports will have to ensure they not only have ample insurance but must lodge a substantial security guarantee that can cover costs for any injury to persons or damage to property.

“We promised to create the type of legislative infrastructure, which the new and increased economic activity will require. With the oil and gas sector fully operational, we are witnessing the establishment of shorebase facilities, the creation of additional ports, and we are witnessing an increase in commercial maritime activity. Necessarily, this will require a greater, more robust and a modern regulatory framework, to bring public safety to users of the waterways as well as to protect public property and the interest of the state,” Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC told Stabroek News.

Nandlall reasoned that with oil and gas exploration and the substantial increase in river traffic, the risk for allisions and vessel accidents would increase, with the

Demerara Harbour Bridge not being spared.

Western envoys want more steps by gov’t to battle corruption: The envoys of the US, UK, Canada and the European Union (EU) on Thursday said that they look forward to more initiatives by the Guyana Government to tackle and eventually extirpate corruption. In a joint statement, US Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, British High Commissioner Jane Miller, Canadian High Commissioner Mark Berman and EU Ambassador René van Nes said “As the year draws to a close, we look forward to more initiatives by the Guyanese government to address and eventually root out corruption. Guyana’s sturdy anti-corruption policies together with swift responses to evidence-based cases of corrupt practices will clearly demonstrate to Guyana’s citizens, and the rest of the world, that the government is committed to transparency, accountability, and responsiveness for the future benefit of all Guyanese.” In the statement marking International Anti-Corruption Day being observed today and the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention Against Corruption, the four envoys noted the range of steps taken by the government to fight corruption but said that the battle against graft required more than just robust legislation. “…combatting corruption requires more than a robust legislative framework. In each case where the legal framework allows for best practices, those practices must be implemented for all to see and experience. As corruption disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable in society, governments have a duty to hold to account those who engage in fraud, bribery, and collusion with criminal elements,” the envoys said.

Nomination Day for local gov’t polls postponed: The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Thursday said that Nomination Day for Local Government Elections (LGE), set for December 12th, has been postponed until further notice. The move comes amid a legal challenge by the main opposition APNU+AFC to the manner in which lists have been extracted for constituencies. This triggered a recommendation by Chief Election Officer Vishnu Persaud to the GECOM Chair for a further period of claims and objections to the various registers. In a statement, GECOM said that the decision to postpone Nomination Day was taken at a meeting today which was held to deliberate on Persaud’s proposal “to conduct an Exercise to correct the Registers of Voters for Local Government Elections under Section 24A of the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, Chapter 28:03.″ The statement added: “Subject to further deliberations on this matter, which has been deemed necessary by the Commission, information on the way forward would be shared, in a timely manner, with all stakeholders”. The postponement of Nomination Day would mean a further delay in the holding of LGE, which should have been held at the end of last year. The polls had been due to be staged on March 13, 2023. In the face of a court challenge over the compilation of the lists of voters for the local authorities, Persaud wrote to Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), retired Justice Claudette Singh, proposing a 14-day period of claims and objections to address the opposition’s concerns. In a brief statement on Tuesday, the PPP/C said it “will not be opposed” to GECOM embarking upon another round of Claims and Objections in respect of the Register of Voters.

In the correspondence seen by this newspaper, Persaud told Singh that should the opposition concerns not be addressed, the image of the elections body could be tarnished for failing to guard fundamental standards for democratic elections. He suggested that the coalition can possibly boycott the upcoming polls if the concerns are not addressed. Opposition-appointed commissioner, Vincent Alexander, told Stabroek News the consideration for such a move by the CEO, can be viewed as a possible admission of their claims.

For months the APNU arm of the APNU+AFC coalition has been claiming that the voters list was compiled without capturing voters in their correct constituency thereby placing them at a disadvantage. Alexander, however, stated that given that the issue is a technical legal matter, they took the decision to have full discussions on the proposal. This is to ensure possible decisions made conform to the requirements of the law.

Electrocution

Success couple fatally shocked by illegal connection: A Success Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara couple was found dead on Monday after being shocked by an exposed, illegally run electricity line. The dead persons were identified as Sarojanie (Tasha) Hansraj, 32, a midwife at the Georgetown Public Hospital and her common law husband, Prahalad Jagnarine, 39, a taxi driver. They resided at 4D South Success, East Coast Demerara with their child. The exposed electrical wire extended from a utility post to their home. It was later disconnected by Guyana Power and Light (GPL) workers.

Elections inquiry

GECOM Chair says she was afraid on March 5th, locked herself away in room: GECOM Chair Claudette Singh SC on Thursday testified that she locked herself away in a room at a crucial juncture on March 5th 2020 when an illegal declaration was being made by Clairmont Mingo for the crucial Region Four. Singh’s statements appeared to have left the commissioners incredulous as she was repeatedly asked by them why she hadn’t taken charge of the situation and instituted action against Mingo. Singh had sworn an oath to perform her functions as GECOM chair but ever since March 5th 2020 when she had been found locked away in a room with a senior elections officer while Mingo made his declaration, questions have swirled about her motivations. Her testimony was the first occasion that Singh spoke extensively about what had transpired on that day. Singh told the inquiry that during those critical moments she had been “stressed” and “afraid for her life” so instead of taking action, she locked herself in a room. “…There were so many things on my mind and I wanted to know what to do, the next step. So, I just couldn’t be bothered by anybody. I went up there (room) just to have a quiet moment,” Singh told the CoI. In her sworn testimony, Singh told the inquiry that hours after Region Four Returning Officer, Mingo declared the results for Region Four, she journeyed to a room on the third floor of the Ashmins Building which housed the GECOM administrative centre since she was feeling unwell. “I felt a bit dizzy. I wasn’t feeling well. There were so many things on my mind I was actually shaking….With the declaration…there were so many events,” she said. The decision, Singh said was taken although her security detail had called on her to leave the building. “…I said I will spend some time in a quiet moment up there and just reflect on everything which had happened,” she said while noting “I didn’t want to speak with anyone. I just wanted time because I was not feeling too well. I felt a bit dizzy and I just wanted to be by myself”. At this point, Singh said she was still “strange” to GECOM and didn’t know who to trust. Singh had been named as GECOM Chair on July 26, 2019. She said the only person she called on was then APNU+AFC Government Minister, Amna Ally who she described as a “friend” who would often support her. “I called her (Ally) because I was afraid for my life. I thought people were coming to harm me… I knew her, she was a Minister, and she would give me some support. She told me she would be calling someone,” Singh told the CoI. The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was set up by President Irfaan Ali to probe the events surrounding the March 2nd 2020 elections which eventuated in a five-month delay in the declaration of the results.

Former TSU Head denies passing instruction to evacuate GECOM Chair from Ashmins building on March 5th: Guy Nurse, who was formerly the Assistant Superintendent of Police and Officer-in-Charge of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) on Monday denied claims made by subordinates before the Commission of Inquiry into the March 2, 2020 general elections that he had handed down instructions to get the GECOM Chair out of the Ashmins building on March 5th. Nurse, who is now the Deputy Commander of Region Five, testified under a summons which was issued on December 2nd. Earlier, the Commission of Inquiry had heard from Clifton Davis, who was heading the TSU unit on the day in question and another police rank, that Nurse was the one who had issued the instruction for Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair, Justice (rtd) Claudette Singh to be escorted from the Ashmins buildings which has been the scene of elections tumult. Nurse testified that such instructions were never handed down by him and he is unaware of where they came from. He told the CoI that the only instruction which he sent out and which came from the then Commissioner of Police, Leslie James, was to have the ranks from the TSU go to the Ashmins location to “secure the building.” This would have been after the GECOM Chair was escorted from the building.

GECOM employee testifies she was instructed to use spreadsheet instead of SoPs: Assistant Registration Officer of GECOM, Alexandra Sophia Bowman yesterday said she was instructed to use a spreadsheet instead of Statements of Poll (SoPs) during the tabulation of votes cast in District Four for the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. “When was my turn, I was instructed that we won’t be calling from the SoPs anymore. We would be calling from the spreadsheet,” Bowman told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the March 2020 elections yesterday morning. Asked who gave the instructions, Bowman told Senior Counsel Sophia Chote, who is leading evidence in the inquiry that while she could not remember directly it was either Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo or his clerk, Michelle Miller. Upon being instructed to use the spreadsheet, Bowman recalled that she asked for an electronic copy which was eventually given to her after she provided Livan with a flash drive. When she started to call out the numbers, Bowman told the CoI there were objections from members of the PPP/C party who said that the numbers did not correspond with those on the SoPs. “There was just back and forth and a lot of noise between the party persons and persons from the other party – APNU+AFC,” she said. In response to a question from Chote, Bowen said she could not say whether the numbers on the spreadsheet corresponded with those on the SoPs since she was not allowed to compare them.

Departure

Father Malcolm Rodrigues passes away: Well-known Jesuit priest and social activist, Fr Malcolm Rodrigues passed away on Sunday evening at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital after a period of illness. Catholic Media Guyana announced his passing and gave an insight into his life and activism. “Father Malcolm Rodrigues was a Jesuit priest ordained in 1973. Over the years he (had) been active in various ministries. He completed his M.A (Oxon) in Physics in 1972 and was later posted at the University of Guyana, serving as Head of the Physics Department (1976-1984) and then Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences (1986-1989). Fr. Rodrigues later became deputy Vice Chancellor of UG and held the post from 1991 to 1993,” it informed. “He was also Director of Environmental Studies from 1995 to 1998. Fr. Rodrigues … served Iwokrama for many years as a member of the Iwokrama Committee from 1989 to 1990, then member of the interim Board as well as government nominee on the International Board from its inception. He also served as Chairman of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency and sat on several related tribunals. He served as a member of Guyana’s Indigenous People’s Commission and a Committee Member of the Guyana Media Proprietors Association as the Catholic Standard Representative. He is also known for his Human Rights activism in the 70s and 80s. He was a recipient of the Cacique Crown of Honour,” it added. Rodrigues is also remembered for his decades of human rights struggle. Under the Forbes Burnham governments in the 1970s and early 1980s he was vocal in calling out injustices to citizens.

In the courts

Eight years for man who murdered shopkeeper while a juvenile: A convict who was a juvenile when he murdered Cuyuni shop owner Bibi Sheniza Khan-Bhola back in 2014, has been sentenced to serve a minimum of eight years behind bars; in addition to being ordered to undergo a host of rehabilitative programmes. In accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, notwithstanding that the offender is now an adult, he is afforded certain protections since he would have committed the offence as a juvenile, and for this reason, his identity cannot be published. In early November, the young man at his arraignment before the High Court at Suddie, pleaded guilty to murdering the woman between February 26 and 27, 2014, at Rock Creek, Cuyuni River. Justice Jo-Ann Barlow had, however, deferred sentencing to facilitate the preparation and presentation of probation and other social impact reports. At the sentencing hearing on Wednesday morning, the Judge ordered that he serves a minimum of eight years in custody during which she said he is to be exposed to “behaviour modification programs and counselling sessions” which are to commence in January. The Prison was also ordered to ensure that the offender be exposed to academic studies “tailored to his needs and ability” which are also to commence no later than January 2023.

Seventeen years for man who raped girl, 7: A man who raped a seven-year-old girl on two occasions back in 2020 has been sentenced to serve 17 years in prison. The charges against Donald Chan called “Dano” stated that he sexually penetrated the child on two occasions sometime between December 1st and 24th of 2020. The indictments levelled against Chan were for rape of a child under 16, contrary to Section 10 (3) of the Sexual Offences Court, Cap. 8:03. Following a trial, a jury found Chan guilty as charged for committing the offences. At his sentencing on Thursday morning, Justice Jo-Ann Barlow imposed a prison term of 17 years. The trial proceedings were held in-camera at the Sexual Offences Court of the High Court at Suddie.