Black Immigrant Daily News

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VIDEO BY ELEXZINE BISSOO

A close-knit community of approximately 100 people who live and farm off Rincon Road, Las Cuevas is cut off from the rest of the country whenever it rains heavily.

Picturesque with lush green trees, wild coffee, clear waters, friendly dogs and welcoming people, the residents of Texas Trace say they become stranded at their homes or outside after torrential rain which sometimes floods the river to over ten feet.

They say they are marooned for anywhere between three-four hours, but it could be longer. This was their experience on Friday after thundershowers swamped most of the country. Their plight has been left unfixed by politicians for more than two decades.

Read the full interview by Nicholas Maraj here.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Children are at risk of contracting the novel coronavirus and now that schools are closed, parents are asked to take their children to the vaccination sites to get protected.

Authorities have been aiming to up the vaccination numbers for the children population, after recording a slothful uptake.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared during the COVID-19 update that vaccination sites remain active now that schools are closed.

“Now that school is closed, they can come to one of the vaccination sites and get their children vaccinated,” he shared.

He debunked the myth that children are not affected by the coronavirus. Statistics have shown that in Guyana, several children have died after being infected while many were hospitalised. It is recommended that minors with underlying illnesses take the vaccine since they are at higher risk of developing a severe form of COVID.

“There is a myth that has been going around that children really don’t get COVID and if they do, it won’t be severe. That is really a myth because for some children, they can get severe infections and we’ve had on occasions, children coming into the hospital. Those particular children were vulnerable because they had other underlying illnesses.”

The Health Minister expressed that with the support of parents, the country’s vaccination of children in the five to 11 age group can move beyond the current mark. As of now, only about 4000 children have taken their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, with some 200 returning for the second shot.

“If we have closer collaboration with parents, we can get much more vaccinations done…We can do much better than that but we require the collaboration of parents because we cannot go and administer vaccination to a child without parental consent. There’s an opportunity here because we should really encourage the parents to bring their children to be vaccinated.”

Guyana has enough vaccines to immunise the younger age groups. The United States has also committed to delivering vaccines for everyone to be vaccinated, as well as boosted.

The World Health Organisation has published data, indicating that if children with mild or no symptoms transmit the disease, they may act as drivers of transmission within their communities.

“Understanding symptoms, infectivity and patterns of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in children and adolescents is essential for developing, adapting and improving control measures for COVID-19 across all ages,” the agency had stated.

After schools were opened fully a few months ago, both the Health and Education Ministries were collaborating to get children immunised. However, there were challenges relating to the consent forms, which parents need to sign before the vaccine can be administered.

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Yahandje Daniel and Shontae Alleyne-Clarke emerged as the victors of the 2022 Scotiabank Junior Monarch Competition just after midnight today, Saturday, July 17.

Yahandje, finally claimed the crown for the Calypso Category with her song ‘It Wasn’t Easy’, in her last bout as a “junior” in the competition – she was a runner-up in the 2018 Junior Calypso Monarch Competition. The tune written and arranged by Arik Creative Services spoke of the tribulations that students faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 18-year-old Christ Church Foundation School student, was beyond elated and in tears as she accepted the trophy from Minister with the responsibility for Culture, Shantal Munroe-Knight at the Wildey Gymnasium.

“It has been quite a while, [that] I have been knocking at the door. I have paid my dues and I am very very proud of this moment today.

“This song tonight resonated a whole lot more, the first verse especially because I’ve been through that the last two years and this song was really personal and I am just ecstatic at the outcome,” said the first-time Junior Monarch, who will also be competing for a place on the Pic-O-De-Crop stage.

Meanwhile, Shonate Alleyne-Clarke, known on stage as Tae, reclaimed her crown. Tae won the 2019 Junior Calypso Monarch title in the 11 to 14 age group. The 14-year-old wowed judges and the audience, receiving a standing ovation for her delivery of the catchy and aptly named tune Party Nice Again, to win the soca category.

The Combermere student told local media despite her apprehension, she was “happy to get back her crown”.

“When I sing my song, I like to sell my message that we blessed. We outside again and it has been two years and party nice again and also be safe because a lot of stuff going on,” Tae said while sharing that she will be releasing more music Crop Over 2023.

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This week’s featured development as Newsmaker of the Week just ended is the announcement that paternity leave will soon become a reality in the public sector.

The disclosure was made by Finance and the Public Service Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke, while speaking on the Government’s restructuring of public sector compensation at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

Clarke also disclosed that the Government intends to increase maternity leave from 40 days to three calendar months, and also provide leave for adoptive parents.

However, it is the planned paternity leave introduction that has led to a range of discussions across the country, with some persons questioning whether it is necessary for fathers to be granted leave, or whether men who have multiple children with different women will have access to such leave.

Some commentators have, however, scoffed at such views, arguing that the Government will likely implement provisions for fathers not to abuse the paternity leave.

There are also some who suggest that men who have multiple children should not be discriminated against if they should apply for such leave.

Dr Nigel Clarke

Clarke, on Tuesday, said the Government intends to update the Public Sector Staff Orders of 2004 to introduce paternity leave “for the first time in the public service, for fathers of new-borns, for a specific time and on specific terms to be finalised.”

According to him, paternity leave, as well as maternity leave and leave for adoptive parents in the public service, are components of the public sector compensation review.

A 2020 online survey conducted by the Hugh Shearer Labour Studies Institute at the University of the West Indies Open Campus, in collaboration with the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA), showed that more than 90 per cent of public servants in Jamaica would support the idea of paid paternity leave in the public sector.

For his part, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the planned introduction of paternity leave is another step by the Government to improve the lives and working environment of public sector employees locally.

He made the declaration at Wednesday’s launch of the Cabinet’s Service Excellence Policy, where he also described the paternity leave push as being “innovative”.

“I think it’s (paternity leave) quite good and welcomed. I think there will be a lot of debate, but the public debate will resolve… and we will come to a good equilibrium in this regard, but the country would be advanced,” said Holness.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

“My job, however, is today to make another announcement parallel to that, which is we are improving how workers are able to live and work, but also the standard that we require of them in terms of performance and productivity to serve the public, of which they are a part, and the very public sector workers complain about,” he added.

Several commentators have been weighing in on the planned introduction of paternity leave, a first in the public service’s history.

Social scientist and commentator, Dr Orville Taylor, welcomed the announcement in an interview with Loop News, claiming that it is overdue in Jamaica.

Taylor, who has himself recommended leave in several publications, said it is a very good idea, but it is the unions’ idea and part of their claim.

Dr Orville Taylor

But he said it ought not to have been announced until the negotiations are complete.

“Nonetheless, paternity leave is overdue. I’ve advocated it since my days at the ministry in the 1990s. In any event, this is a case of an employer giving his workers a benefit. I want to see statute from the minister of labour,” he said.

President of the University and Allied Workers’ Union, Lambert Brown, also welcomed the minister’s announcement on paternity leave.

“I appreciate the announcement that there will be paternity leave for Government workers. Clearly the details have to be worked out. Just as the maternity leave where the unions called for three months’ maternity leave in the public sector and that has now been granted, we’d also called for paternity leave to be granted,” Brown said in an interview with Loop News.

Brown, who is also an Opposition Senator and Spokesman on the Public Service, said he anticipates meeting with the minister to discuss the length and frequency of the maternity leave.

Lambert Brown

Still, there are some negative comments concerning some men who have impregnated multiple women. Some persons say paternity leave would be open to abuse by men claiming more than one woman pregnant in the same period.

However, Taylor rubbished those arguments as nonsense, with some bordering on stupidity.

“At present, there is maternity leave for women. There is no rule that says that the employer is responsible for giving maternity leave indefinitely to a woman. In fact, the current status of the law is that a woman can only claim maternity leave with pay three times per employer,” he highlighted.

He suggested that the Government could easily put restrictions in place similar to what obtains for maternity leave.

“What people are attempting to do is build up the negative stereotype about careless Jamaican fathers. That stereotype is the exception, not the rule. The average Jamaican man who impregnates a woman will claim that she is his woman 97 per cent of the time, and 92 per cent of the time the woman says it is her man,” he posited.

Taylor, however, acknowledged that there will be the exceptional cases where a man would get multiple women pregnant at the same time.

“What would one say in a country where there is a high degree of paternity fraud, would the employer attempt to rescind the amount of leave a person got when it is discovered that it is not his child?” Taylor asked.

He said society must not take something that is good and make it into something bad because of exceptional cases.

Attorney-at-law Gavin Goffe, speaking in a media interview this week, cautioned against barring Jamaican men who have children with multiple women from paternity leave.

“It is absolute nonsense. The fact that women can have multiple partners and baby fathers and that doesn’t affect their rights, it shouldn’t affect a man’s right either,” he argued, adding that, “We are in modern times now and families look a lot different than they used to.”

Goffe, however, said he expected that the provisions that govern paternity leave would have restrictions on the number of time men could access it.

Prominent trade unionist Vincent Morrison also welcomed both the Government’s changes to maternity leave and the introduction of paternity leave in the public sector, though he argued that it is “too late”.

Still, he expressed satisfaction that the Government is “finally getting on board with respect to paternity leave”.

“We do believe that every worker… every man in Jamaica, when his wife is about to deliver his child, he should be at the bedside giving her support; he should be in the house support(ing),” said Morrison.

The paternity leave issue has led to a range of views across various social media platforms.

“What about fathers who get jacket?… We need extra leave to deal with the emotional stress,” joked Facebook user, Don Reid.

Another user, Beverly Harris, found nothing logical with the introduction of paternity leave in the public sector.

“The Government loves to make grand announcements without explanations, because as far as I am aware, the terms and conditions of paternity leave have yet to be decided on. And why on earth is a father getting (paternity) leave? To do what? For how long?” she questioned.

Similarly, Kandy Davis had some questions on paternity leave.

“But some of these men have six or more women preggo (pregnant) in one year, so how is that going to work out? He only gets leave for the main woman or wife, I guess? This type of thing is not for careless people; this will lead to non-productivity,” she opined.

Another Facebook user, Bruce Smith, had no issue with men being granted paternity leave.

“Why is this even a discussion? If women are getting leave beyond what is typically required for physical recovery, then in the interest of fairness and equality, men should also be getting the same paid leave,” Smith indicated.

Tina Fenton shared: “Thanks for making this move. Now fathers should have to prove paternity by having their names on the birth certificates and (be) held liable for upbringing the children as well.”

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With the Guyana Government going ahead with a Commission of Inquiry into the attempts to rig the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, President Dr Irfaan Ali has outlined the need for a “delicate balance” given that several cases relating to this matter are currently pending in the courts.

Speaking with reporters recently, the Head of State explained that despite these pending court matters, Government had promised a CoI into the 2020 elections hence he still went ahead to announce the probe to deliver on that commitment.

“I came under criticism for not bringing the CoI into operation… [But] it is difficult to have the CoI running concurrently with an ongoing criminal case. So, now you have to find that delicate balance to satisfy all of what is ongoing. The team is now working on documents to ensure that the ToRs (Terms of Reference), while all-encompassing, does not interfere with the court case,” the President pointed out.

Only last Monday, the Guyanese leader told reporters that the ToR for the CoI must be in-depth and deal with all the issues that surrounded the conduct of the elections, according to President Dr Irfaan Ali.

President Ali noted that it is important that the scope of the ToR – which will set out the task and jurisdiction of the Commission – is all-encompassing. However, he could not give a definitive timeframe for when the CoI would be ready to begin.

“The names are now out there. So, the commissioners… the Chairman, I’m sure. I spoke to him a week ago. They are now working together, talking to each other and crystalising the Terms of Reference.”

“The Terms of Reference have to be in keeping with all the issues around the elections… this is a process with the commissioners. So, I won’t be able to give you the date now (for the start of the CoI). But definitely work has started,” the posited.

Long-awaited CoI

Last month, President Ali had announced the long-awaited CoI. The inquiry will be chaired by Retired Justice of Appeal Stanley John of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The other members are former Attorney General, High Court Judge, and acting Justice of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean, Justice Godfrey P Smith, SC; former Chair and Chief Elections Commissioner of India, Dr S Y Quraishi; and former acting Chancellor of Guyana’s Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh.

Additionally, it has been noted that former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr Nasim Zaidi; and Ghanian Election Administrator Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, who was appointed a Commonwealth Advisor to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) leading up to the 2020 elections, will both serve as resource personnel to the CoI.

Since the announcement of the CoI, stakeholders from several sections of society have noted the importance of a comprehensive inquiry into the elections, which resulted in an over five-month delay before President Ali could be finally sworn-in on August 2, 2020.

In fact, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Paul Cheong had welcomed the inquiry and the chance it presents to better understand what happened and strengthen institutions including the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Cheong also said that the CoI could also play a part in holding those who attempted to delay the elections, accountable.

Tumultuous five months

Following a largely smooth polling day on March 2, 2020, Guyana was thrown into a tumultuous five-month political and electoral impasse after the then incumbent APNU/AFC regime attempted to steal the election.

It was found during a subsequent national recount process that former Returning Officer for Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Clairmont Mingo had heavily inflated the votes in favour of the coalition party.

Since the election fiasco unfolded, several persons that served within the apparatus of GECOM have already been charged with electoral fraud. These include former Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield, former Deputy CEO Roxanne Myers, former PNCR Minister Volda Lawrence, and Mingo, among others.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to further strengthen GECOM to prevent a reoccurrence of the 2020 election fiasco and restore public confidence in the entity, the Guyana Government has proposed a series of amendments to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA).

Those changes were released for public consultation before the document is finalised and taken to the National Assembly.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration had said it wanted to have the widest possible engagement with stakeholders including the various political parties on the proposed amendments to RoPA.

But the only political party to make recommendations on the proposed RoPA changes is the A New and United Guyana (ANUG) – one of the new parties formed to contest the 2020 elections. Additionally, Opposition-nominated GECOM Commissioner, Charles Corbin has also made a submission.

An overhaul of the country’s electoral laws can see, among other things, the Chief Elections Officer at GECOM facing as much as life imprisonment for committing fraud, while others can similarly face hefty fines and jail time for any related offence.

Moreover, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, had disclosed in May that Government is finalising a second set of amendments that will be released to the public soon. These new reforms are proposed changes to the Registration Act.

The PPP/C Administration is looking to put in place laws that would allow the Election Commission to transparently remove the names of dead persons from the voters’ list, amid concerns of it being bloated.

The proposed methodology would see these changes to the list being done on a large scale starting with the Chief Election Officer obtaining a list of all the dead people for every year as well as historically. These names will have to be shared publicly before they are removed from the voters’ list.

Back in August 2019, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George ruled that GECOM cannot deregister persons from the National Register of Registrants (NRR) – from which voters’ list is compiled – unless they are dead or otherwise disqualified under Article 159 (2), (3) and (4) of the Constitution.

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