Tragedy
Five GDF servicemen died in copter crash: Tributes and condolences poured in yesterday for the five members of the Guyana Defence Force who perished in a helicopter crash on last Wednesday. Dead are veteran aviator, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Brigadier (Ret’d) Gary Beaton, Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan. The survivors are Lieutenant Andio Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Irfaan Ali led the tributes. In a press statement yesterday he said that it was with an “indescribable” heaviness in his heart and profound anguish that he shared the devastating news of the death of the five “bravest” sons from the Guyana Defence Force. He said that these valiant men met their untimely end when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in the rugged and challenging terrain of the interior amidst treacherous weather conditions. There has been no word yet of the investigation that will have to be mounted into this crash. Nor has there been word on the condition of the remains of the chopper and whether there had been a fire upon impact. Ali said that he knew each of the individuals personally, and his respect for them was boundless. The Head of State noted that the soldiers were not just military men; but were guardians of Guyana’s sovereignty, defenders of values, and champions of freedom. “Their commitment to duty was unwavering, as evidenced by their willingness to embark on missions even in the most treacherous conditions to ensure the safety of our Motherland,” Ali remarked. According to the President, the pain, felt at the loss of these dedicated servicemen is “immeasurable.” The flag being flown at half-mast yesterday at the Lethem Regional Hospital in honour of the men who perished in the helicopter crash. He said that this is a blow to the Guyana Defence Force as the sacrifice, made in the line of duty, will forever be etched in the annals of Guyana’s history, which is a testament to the courage and devotion of the GDF ranks. The President also extended condolences to the families of the fallen heroes. “I cannot fathom the depth of your grief, but please know that our entire nation mourns with you”.
Survivors of chopper crash brought to city: The two survivors of last Wednesday’s helicopter crash in Region Seven were brought to the city last Friday and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Unit has begun its probe into the tragedy. This is according to Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA), Lt. Colonel (Rtd) Egbert Field. Field noted that the investigation unit, which is an independent unit of the GCCA is answerable to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill who will be provided with updates on the investigation. He said that while the probing unit consists of experts from the local aviation authority, it will be assisted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent US government investigative agency, responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. “We will get assistance from the NTSB, and when I say we, I mean the Accident Investigation Unit, which is answerable to the Minister of Public Works. The body is an independent annex of us [GCAA]. “They will help us in areas where we don’t have the requisite equipment to complement the investigation, [also] the accident investigation unit is required to report to the minister and not the director general of the GCCA,” he explained. The Director General disclosed that if the GCAA doesn’t follow international civil aviation standards, as required during the accident investigation, the investigation unit can summon the Authority for questioning. “Let’s say the GCCA, doesn’t follow international civil aviation standards, it can be called for questioning by the unit, and the other parties like the Guyana Defence Force can be summoned as well if the unit realises that certain operational procedures were not followed.” Edghill when contacted for comment on the modalities of these investigations, said that “There is standard procedure, every time there is an aircraft accident or incident, there is a probe by the accident investigation unit [aircraft accident investigation unit]. “I have appointed the investigators of the unit and that work has begun”, Edghill noted. The GCCA is responsible for conducting initial inspection, registration, and airworthiness certification, as well as continued surveillance and annual re-inspection and recertification, for all Guyanese registered aircraft. The body is also tasked with maintaining the Guyana Civil Aircraft Register and database of aircraft accidents and incidents. Questions will asked about why a new Bell 412 Army with the GDF’s most experienced pilot at the helm crashed.
Border controversy
President denounces Maduro referendum steps: In defiance of the ICJ, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro last Tuesday announced a series of steps following Sunday’s referendum on Essequibo including handing out of exploration licences in the county and President Irfaan Ali last night said Guyana has contacted the UN Secretary General on this “imminent threat” and the army is on full alert. Ali in an 11.20 pm statement said, “I address you on an unsettling development in relation to the unlawful claim by Venezuela to Guyana’s Essequibo region which constitutes more than two thirds of Guyana’s national territory. (December 5th ) President Maduro announced several measures which his government intends to take in enforcing the outcome of the referendum held on December 3, 2023.” Ali said that since the announcement of the referendum he had made it clear that it was a direct threat to Guyana’s territory, sovereignty and political independence. He stressed, that the measures announced are in “blatant disregard” of the order given by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on December 1, 2023 which had said that the Caracas should do nothing to tamper with Guyana’s control of Essequibo. The ICJ had also called on Guyana and Venezuela to desist from taking any action which would aggravate the case presently before it. “Guyana views this as an imminent threat to its territorial integrity and will intensify precautionary measures to safeguard its territory”, Ali said in a Facebook address. According to Ali, last evening he spoke to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres and several leaders “alerting them of these dangerous developments and the desperate actions of President Maduro that fly in the face of international law and constitute a grave threat to international peace and security.” Additionally, Ali said that today Guyana will bring the matter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) “for appropriate action to be taken by that body” adding that they have also engaged Caricom, OAS, the Commonwealth and other bilateral partners including the United States of America, Brazil, the United Kingdom and France. Guyana will take up a seat on the UNSC in January. With tension between the two countries at the highest it has ever been in decades following Sunday’s referendum and bellicose statements from Caracas, Ali also assured that the “Guyana Defence Force is on full alert and has engaged its military counterparts including the US Southern Command”.
Venezuelans voted in favour of referendum questions – electoral council: While Guyanese held unprecedented gatherings all across the country to emphasise that Essequibo was an indivisible part of its territory, Venezuelans on December 3rd approved a referendum called by the government of President Nicolás Maduro to claim sovereignty over the mineral rich region, Caracas’ electoral authority announced last week. All questions passed with more than 95% approval, according to electoral authority president Elvis Amoroso, who said at least 10.5 million votes were cast for ‘yes’ but did not confirm the number of voters, according to a Reuters report. Some political and security analysts have called the referendum a show of strength by Maduro and a test of support for his government ahead of a planned 2024 presidential election. Maduro cheered the “total success” of the vote late yesterday, Reuters said. “The Venezuelan people have spoken loudly and clearly,” he told a cheering crowd. According to the Associated Press (AP), few voters could be seen at voting centres throughout the voting period, but the National Electoral Council claimed that more than 10.5 million voters cast ballots. Reuters witnesses visited voting centres across the country – many had few or no people waiting in line, the news agency reported. In Maracaibo, in the oil-rich state of Zulia, poll workers told Reuters that turnout was low. The referendum vote was held in the backdrop of Friday’s ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Venezuela must do nothing to interfere with Guyana’s control of the Essequibo. Guyana had made an emergency application for provisional measures in the light of yesterday’s referendum which threatened the creation of a state out of Essequibo. Georgetown argued before the ICJ that this constituted annexation.
Wages
Gov’t announces 6.5% wage hike for public sector workers: Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh on Saturday announced that the government has granted a 6.5% increase across-the-board for public sector workers along with a one-month tax-free bonus for the Disciplined Services with civilian members of the GDF receiving the bonus for the first time. The award was again made without any free collective bargaining with the public service unions. Singh, in making the announcement yesterday, stated that the Government of Guyana continues to work to advance the country’s national development agenda and to improve the wellbeing of Guyanese. He announced, “We will be paying in 2023 an across-the-board salary increase of 6.5% to all public servants, teachers, members of the Disciplined Services, constitutional office holders as well as government pensioners. This increase will be granted retroactively to the 1 January, 2023.” Singh stressed, that the “consequential salary adjustment will benefit over 54,000 public servants, teachers, members of the Disciplined Services, and government pensioners and will place an additional $7.5b in disposable income annually in the hands of these employees.” Further, the minister stressed that the government continues to recognize the dedication of the country’s men and women in uniform, as such members of the Disciplined Services will receive a one-month tax-free bonus. This initiative is expected to benefit some 12,000 members and will place an additional $1.5b of disposable income in their hands. He also announced that for the first time the bonus will be paid to the civilian employees of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The finance minister explained that, “Work will start immediately to ensure that all persons receive their salaries together with the retroactive amounts, and in the case of the Disciplined Services together with the one-month tax free bonus no later than the designated pay day in December.”
Accountability
PPC vows `thorough’ probe of Tepui contract award: The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) last Monday stated that a “thorough” investigation will be done of the awarding of a pump station contract to the Tepui group and that responses are expected in a fortnight from the NDIA and the national tender board. In a press release, the PPC was responding to a Sunday Stabroek news item headlined `Stop playing games with Tepui contract’ in which Member of Parliament David Patterson lamented that five weeks had elapsed without an update on the controversial awarding of the $865m Belle Vue pump station contract to Tepui. Patterson had been pressing the PPC on this matter for two months. In its release yesterday, the PPC said that with “regard to the Tepui matter in particular, which the commission notes has excited public interest, the commission at its last meeting of December 1, 2023 having received a copy of the tender proceedings from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) on or about November 10, 2023, considered the Report of its Operations Department thereon and decided to put certain matters arising therefrom to the procuring entity (National Drainage and Irrigation Authority) and NPTAB for response in accordance with due process. It is expected that the request and response ought to be forthcoming within the next fourteen (14) days. “The commission wishes to assure the general public that no stone will be left unturned in a full and thorough investigation into the matter as is done with all investigations of the commission in discharge of its constitutional mandate”. It was noted in the release that Patterson had accused the PPC of evading the matter when he stated “One week they cancelled the statutory meeting, another week they said they will discuss the matter but they been evading the subject.” “It is farthest from the truth, and wholly illogical to contend that the commission having taken the decision to launch an investigation would then evade a determination of same. “There is absolutely no basis for such a contention. Any insinuation that a meeting of the commission was cancelled to avoid consideration of the matter is mendacious and mischievous”, the PPC said. It added: “During the interim, a meeting of the commission scheduled for Friday, November 24, 2023 was postponed (not ‘cancelled’) to the next working day, that is, Monday, November, 27, 2023, to facilitate the presence of all commissioners as the commission endeavours to do. “The award of the Tepui contract has engaged the attention of the commission at each and every meeting of the commission since it received a request for an investigation thereto from Mr. David Patterson, MP on October 3, 2023, as is reflected by the Minutes of the commission”. The PPC added that notwithstanding its limited resources, it endeavours to complete reviews of all complaints and requests for investigations within the shortest possible time frame. It said that this varies “depending on what arises, and which may or may not be limited to the issue raised in the original request but which the commission in its wide constitutional powers can investigate”.
Development
Electronic case management system launched at Diamond/ Grove magistrate’s court: The Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court is now the first in the country to employ a sophisticated electronic Court Case Management System (CCMS), following the launch of the pilot initiative last Tuesday. The Department of Public Information (DPI) said that the system was developed through the efforts of the governments of Guyana and the United States. It is supported by the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and was implemented by the National Centre for State Courts and the Judiciary of Guyana. Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, said that the system, once successful, has the potential to revolutionise the way cases are handled by the courts. Through shared, open-source technology, the new system will enable the swift handling of court cases, reducing the backlog and enhancing the efficiency of court operations, DPI said. The minister alluded to the gradual modernisation of Guyana’s legal framework. He cited legislation such as the recently passed Planning and Development Single Window System Act, the Data Protection Act, and the Electronic Communications and Transaction Bill. “With the efficient management that I know the judiciary is capable of, this pilot project will be successful and we will move to replicate it across the country at the other magistrate’s courts, and we will engage the entire judicial system in a similarly constructed and designed management information and case filing system. We have no choice. That is the direction that the world is going and fortunately at this point in time, with our improved financial and economic fortunes, we are able to push Guyana rapidly along that transformational road,” the attorney general was quoted as saying. The AG added that the government recognises the importance of a modern and efficient judicial system, and will continue to support the judiciary in realising this goal.
Framing
President turns sod for $200m multi-purpose farm in Region Two: President Irfaan Ali on December 3rd turned the sod for a $200 million multi-stage and multi-purpose farm at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) branch in Region Two. In the first phase, a hydroponic farm will be constructed for the purpose of planting crops such as lettuce, bell pepper, kale, celery, pak-choi and tomatoes. The second phase will be geared towards animal husbandry for different breeds of animals. Both facilities will be constructed on one acre of land. Speaking to a large gathering early yesterday morning, the President said the project is geared at pushing economic growth in the region. The project, according to Ali, will focus on empowering over two hundred youth, women and local entrepreneurs in the region. It is also intended to focus on high-value crops that are needed primarily within the hospitality sector thus adding revenue to the region. Ali said revenue is expected to start to flow in the second year and the projection is estimated at $65 million. The facility is designed to be self-reliant and will supply food sustainably throughout the region. Ali said the project will open opportunities for youths to become involved in Agri-tech, business and high value production. Hydroponics is known as a soilless cultivation method and is described as the future of agriculture due to its efficiency and sustainability and crop yield. Currently over 15 herbs are being cultivated at a hydroponic farm operated by the National Agricultural and Extension Institute (NAREI) at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The herbs include mustard, basil, thyme, and local and foreign varieties of pak-choi. The project falls under the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP). The AIEP is expected to be rolled out also in Region Five. The President also addressed the current imbroglio over Essequibo with Venezuela and said that despite the challenges Guyanese will stand united and will continue to invest in Essequibo. He said that Essequibo is rich in natural resources and in food production, and that the Government of Guyana will continue to invest in its development. He said that his government is building a stronger, more sustainable, better and resilient Essequibo. Guyanese, Ali said, stand firm and united in face of the Essequibo controversy; Essequibo will take up the important challenge in becoming the food basket of the Caribbean.
In the courts
Venezuelan charged with murder of Kilcoy labourer: A Venezuelan man was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with the murder of Kilcoy labourer Chetram Ramjattan who went missing two Saturdays ago. His body was discovered in a drain under a clump of grass where the accused along other Venezuelan nationals were residing. Simone Wills, 28, appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh via Zoom where it was stated that between Saturday, November, 25, and Thursday November, 30 at Fyrish Village, Corentyne he murdered Ramjattan. Wills was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison. He will return to court on December, 27. The body of Ramjattan, 43, a labourer of Lot 53 Kilcoy Settlement, Corentyne, was discovered on Thursday last and although riddled with chop and stab injuries a post-mortem examination revealed that he died as a result of a fractured skull and blunt trauma to the head.
