Black Immigrant Daily News
Tekst en beeld Audry Wajwakana PARAMARIBO — “Het was ontzettend spannend om samen te werken in het traject van graven,
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<>, a annonc? ce dimanche 20 novembre 2022 le premier ministre canadien Justin Trudeau qui participe au Sommet de la Francophonie en Tunisie.
Quelques minutes apr?s cette annonce, les noms ont ?t? d?voil?s. Il s’agit de l’ancien pr?sident Michel Martelly et des anciens premiers ministres Laurent Lamothe, nomm? par Martelly et Jean Henry C?ant qui fut premier ministre sous la pr?sidence de Jovenel Mo?se.
Lors de la conf?rence de presse au Sommet de la Francophonie, le ministre Jean V. G?n?us qui se trouvait aux c?t?s du premier ministre canadien en a profit? pour lancer un appel ? la communaut? internationale face ? l’urgence de la situation en Ha?ti. <>. <>, a-t-il dit
Comme pour r?pondre ? l’appel du ministre G?n?us, la ministre M?lanie Joly a demand? au Mexique, ? l’Argentine et au Rwanda de soutenir la demande d’aides techniques d’Ha?ti pour neutraliser les bandes arm?es
La ministre des Affaires ?trang?res du Canada, M?lanie Joly, a cependant continu? d’insister sur le fait <>. Elle ?tait pr?sente ? la conf?rence de presse au Sommet de la Francophonie en Tunisie, tenue dimanche 20 novembre 2022.
L’annonce de ces sanctions s’ajoute ? d’autres d?j? prises. Ces derni?res semaines, le Canada et les ?tats-Unis d’Am?rique ont sanctionn?, des chefs de gangs, des ministres en exercice qui ont ?t? depuis remplac?s, le pr?sident du S?nat ha?tien, un s?nateur en exercice et d’anciens parlementaires qui ont occup? les plus hautes fonctions au Parlement ha?tien.
Toutes ces personnes devraient bient?t se retrouver sur une liste que les Nations Unies pr?parent o? d’autres noms vont s’ajouter y compris des hommes d’affaires ?voluant en Ha?ti, selon des sources diplomatiques.
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A policeman who has been charged in relation to the death of his 18-month-old daughter after he reportedly locked her inside his car for hours, is to learn early next year whether the case will be sent to the Circuit Court for trial.
Detective Sergeant Sheldon Dobson, who is charged with manslaughter, appeared in the St Elizabeth Parish Court on Thursday.
The prosecution made full disclosure of its case files to the defence prior to Senior Parish Judge Broderick Smith setting the matter for committal hearing on January 24, 2023.
During that hearing, the judge is to determine whether there is enough evidence for the matter to be tried in the Circuit Court.
Dobson’s bail was extended until that time.
Shaleah Dobson died two days after she was left in her father’s car for several hours.
Following a ruling by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Dobson was charged in connection with the January 17, 2022 incident in which he left his daughter inside the car while at work in Black River in the parish.
It was reported that the detective sergeant was to take the child to a day care centre, due to the child’s grandmother being unwell.
However, he forgot to drop off the child, and went straight to work.
The child was found unconscious in her father’s vehicle hours later.
She was rushed to hospital, but died two days later.
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Antigua and Barbuda: Prime Minister Gaston Browne had the pleasure to meet
with a young entrepreneur and professional sneaker enthusiast, Amari SneakerHead Thomas, earlier this week.
This young entrepreneur’s journey started with his first business in 2010, Kickz’ R’ Us – 268,
where they pride themselves on offering guaranteed authentic and rare sneakers.
Since then, he has found himself evolving his business model to fit an ever-changing market and has diversified his portfolio with
a few new ventures, the latest being Necessary Accessories – 268, a wholesaler of mobile device essentials.
His products can be found in most supermarkets and convenience stores.
During the meet and greet, Prime Minister Browne inquired about the difficulties Amari faces in plying his trade and how this administration could assist.
Among the things discussed was the banking sector and how processes could be made easier for entrepreneurs.
PM Browne also took the opportunity to speak on the Entrepreneur Development Fund and how that can assist in further developing his business.
PM Gaston Browne reiterated his administration’s commitment to assisting entrepreneurs where they can and extended
an invite to Mr Thomas to speak more about his endeavours on our local airwaves.
We look forward to seeing him grow and prosper.
Kickz’ R’ Us – 268 is Antigua’s top spot for rare and unusual footwear.
PM Gaston Browne was also seen holding a shoe in a picture published by Kickz on their official Facebook account.
They sell a unique set of authentic footwear in Antigua and are famous for featuring several favourite brands, which include:
Nike
Reebok
Timberland
Adidas
Vans
Supra
Clarks
They also accept special requests and demands of customers as they can export anything one wants, such as:
-Clothing
-Cellular Phones
-Game Consoles
-Jewelry
PM Browne is always at the forefront of helping and supporting entrepreneurs in his country.
Source: WIC News
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Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda is all set to host the Art in Antigua Exhibit from November 20, 2022, to November 26, 2022.
The visual arts exhibition will be hosted by the rocks group.
The art exhibition will be featured local artists, Guava, Emile Hill, Bert Kirchner Candi Coats and Dylan Phillips and many more.
Art in Antigua and Barbuda would like to warmly invite people to a special week-long art exhibition at Catherine’s Cafe.
ART EXHIBITED AT CATHERINE’S CAFÉ will be free to guests, and it will include special guest artist mark brown.
The art Catherine’s cafe will be held on 23RD November 2022.
There will also be a grand finale lunch at Rokuni on November 25, 2022.
Art and Jazz night dinner at Catherine’s Cafe will be held in the art exhibition in Antigua and Barbuda.
The timings will be 6 pm to 9 pm, and there will be XCD $325 PER PERSON.
GLASS OF SEGURA VIUDAS CAVA and FOUR COURSE MENU ON 25TH NOVEMBER
ART and MOULES FRITES DINNER AT CATHERINE’S CAFE at 6 pm – 9 pm XCD $275 PER PERSON
The viewing for art exhibition will be held from 11 am from November 21 to 25, 2022.
There will be all six of our exhibiting artists, including an exclusive from Mark Brown.
There will be presenting incredible works of art for sale.
There will be free pouring muscadet and moules frites.
On November 26, 2022, the grand finals of the art in Antigua Exhibit in Antigua.
There will be GRAND FINALE LUNCH AT ROKUNI from
3 pm – 6 pm and XCD $250 PER PERSON WELCOME DRINK NIBBLES and FEAST.
People can also make a RESERVATION, CALL (268) 463-6161 OR WHAT’S APP (268) 464-5283.
The PRICING SUBJECT of art in Antigua Exhibit will be stood at 12.5% SERVICE CHARGE.
Source: Associated Times
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The identities of all the Africans who built Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua may remain obscure in the annals of history.
Their names were poles apart from what they were known and referred to in their homelands in Africa.
Their biblical names, names derived from their owners or slave ships that brought them, may still remain unknown.
Nelson’s Dockyard, the historical relic which is now a UNESCO world heritage and
yachting bay, bears testimony of the sweat and toil of hundreds of enslaved Africans
are who made the dockyard a reality, according to the BBC.
It has become a popular tourist attraction that commands a lot of attention in the Western Hemisphere.
The project to uncover the names of the enslaved Africans who worked on the dockyard started with the unearthing of the names of eight men who lost their lives in a gunpowder explosion at the dockyard in 1744.
It was known to the researchers because some plantation owners had taken the pains to keep records on it because of associated compensation for loss of property.
The victims and their loss never mattered.
The hypothesis of the researchers was that if they could lay hands on eight names, they are bound to find more.
The quest to find more will determine the heroes who saw to the fruition of Nelson’s Dockyard,
a safe harbor for the Royal Navy warships that offered protection to Britain’s sugar-producing islands.
The researchers sought to find out more and put faces to the enslaved Africans involved in the construction of the historic dockyard.
They spent hours delving into London’s National Archives where they pored over the archival records leading to the discovery of 700 names.
The local historians are seeking to establish the genealogy of the enslaved Africans and
their linkage to modern inhabitants who share surnames like James, Henry, Gardner and Joseph.
One of the historians, Desley Gardner, said the exercise is to validate this important gap in history.
He said many people are at a loss for who their ancestors are so that they could pick inspiration from the spirit of the names.
He said it is important that the ancestors behind historic achievements are honored in modern history for their contributions.
One of the researchers, Justine Henry, said he has spent years trying to determine his ancestry but with little success.
According to him, the work would enable him to draw some link to his African ancestors.
The head of the project representing the
National Parks Authority, Dr. Christopher Waters, said the names of these enslaved
Africans have been buried because of the limited research directed to this work.
He said they were determined to establish whether the names found in the registry were what the enslaved Africans provided as part of the system put in place to strip their dignity from them.
He said depending on the situation it is important to know their names because those names carried what is left of their dignity.
It is against this background that artists were tasked to put faces on the eight persons who lost their lives in the explosion.
Source: Face 2 Face Africa
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…draft report to be submitted by next month
Work by an American-Guyanese consortium of auditors, to audit approximately US$7.2 billion in ExxonMobil cost oil claims, is nearing completion, with the head of the consortium saying that a preliminary report could be presented to the Government in the early part of next month.
This was revealed by Professor Floyd Haynes, in an exclusive interview with this publication. The RHVC consortium he leads (Ramdihal and Haynes, Vitality Consulting) and Eclisar Financial & Professional Services (EFP), joined forces for the audit with United States (US) based companies Martindale Consultants Inc, and Squire Paton Boggs, earlier this year.
Work on the audit of fiscal years 2018, 2019 and 2020, started in August. According to Haynes, they have almost completed their field work and will now move into preparing an interim draft report. Once that draft report is submitted, the Government is expected to examine it and provide their feedback.
“We expect to wrap up field work early next week. By the end of next week for sure. Most of it we’re already done. And then we expect to have an interim draft report submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources, in the first week of December. That is the plan,” Haynes said.
It was explained by Professor Haynes that after they put together the local consortium, they went out and found an international auditor in the form of Martindale, with the requisite experience. According to the Professor, the goal was to work alongside them and learn. It is a goal that Haynes believes was accomplished.
“The goal is to build local capacity, with the idea that over a period of time, we could have the talent here that could take on the audit, on behalf of the Government. The way we went about doing that, we had two of our staff, local guys, embedded in the audit team. They flew to Oklahoma and have been there for six weeks, working side by side alongside Martindale consultants, the lead auditors.”
“Our guys just returned, I think, last week… and going forward, we intend to increase that number. We may be able to accelerate the pace at which that knowledge and skills are transferred. But as of now I think we’re accomplishing those objectives,” Professor Haynes explained.
Fully cooperating
Haynes also emphasised that ExxonMobil was fully cooperative and willing to provide information to the auditors upon request. According to Haynes, the process went smoothly under the circumstances.
“I would say they’ve been extraordinarily cooperative. The process of itself went very smoothly. With these types of things, back and forth. So, in all that I would say it went well. They were forthcoming with information.”
“We had questions. They were willing to provide explanations. Some of the explanations we may or may not have agreed with. But nonetheless they were provided to us. And all of the information we requested, they responded,” he said.
Haynes also cautioned that the cost oil audit was not a witch-hunt. While he assured that they left no stone unturned in their quest for the truth, he called it a mistake to accuse an oil company of inflated costs without first examining their books. As he put it, it is not something that can be litigated on the pages of a newspaper.
“I want to make sure, in fact I think it’s a little reckless for any audit, to go into an audit with a preconceived notion that the party under audit is guilty. It’s just not how it’s done. Unless you’ve looked at the books, examined it in details, no one can arrive at that conclusion,” Professor Haynes said.
The US$751,000 cost recovery audit contract, which covers profit oil from the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, was signed in May of this year in a room full of stakeholders and suppliers, during a workshop on local content. Preceding fiscal years have already been audited.
According to Annex C of the PSA Guyana signed with Exxon, pre-contract costs “shall include four hundred and sixty million, two hundred and thirty-seven hundred thousand and nine hundred and eighteen United States Dollars (US$460,237,918) in respect of all such costs incurred under the 1999 Petroleum Agreement prior to the year ended 2015”.When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government assumed office in 2020, it took over the shepherding of audits for ExxonMobil’s pre-contract and other pre-2017 costs. The pre-contract cost audit was conducted by the UK firm, IHS Markit, which was hired by the previous Administration four years after oil was first discovered offshore.
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…assures salary, other benefits will continue to be boosted
The announcement of an eight per cent salary increase for public servants is premised on the long-term sustainability of salary increases, with Public Service Minister Sonia Parag assuring that the Government has the long-term interest of public servants at heart.
During a recent broadcast, Parag alongside her Cabinet colleague Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, spoke about the salary increases and referenced some of the calls from others like the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), for Government to grant a dramatically larger increase.
“You’re looking at a long-term situation. So, if you have a group of persons that fall within $40-$50,000, you have to be very economical in the way that you increase salaries. Because if something is to happen to any one of the sectors that help us to earn, tomorrow, how do we sustain it? So, sustainability is a big deal.”
“Therefore, when people argue that there should be this amount of increase and a 50 per cent increase, as the GPSU called for last year, I don’t believe it’s economical because you have to sustain it,” Parag said.
Minister Parag explained that the Government will be expected to roll out another increase next year. She assured that the Government will continue to improve the overall welfare of public servants and will not only be looking to provide them with an increase.
“Then next year you still have to give an increase, because the public servants are looking forward to them because they deserve it for the work that we do. But I want to say to public servants that this is of course just one phase. And next year comes again and we will continue to look after their lives.”
“And what is important to note is that when a country has to manage its purse, it has to manage it in a very smart and economical way. So, while you may give a cash grant to a specific category of workers, to cushion everything happening in the sector, with increases in wages and salaries, it’s a different thing,” Parag said.
On Thursday, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced an eight per cent salary increase for all public servants as his Government continues to implement measures to improve the lives of all Guyanese. He also explained that this increase will be retroactive to January 1, 2022.
“My Government will be paying an across-the-board increase of eight per cent to public servants, teachers, members of the Disciplined Services, constitutional office holders, as well as Government pensioners,” he declared.
According to the Head of State, work will commence immediately to ensure that this increase is processed and paid to eligible employees together with their December salary. In addition, the President also indicated that further announcements will be made regarding specific categories of public sector employees.
“I have instructed those options be identified for adjustment to the salaries paid to a number of specific categories of public sector employees. These include, in the first phase, ranks of the Police Force, Prison Service, and Fire Service.”
“Additionally, a similar exercise is currently being conducted and recommendations being made in relation to specific categories of employees in our public healthcare system, including nurses, interns, doctors, and other healthcare professionals,” the Guyanese Leader said.
President Ali posited that his Administration continues to place high value to the hard work that Government employees do every day in delivering services to the People of Guyana. To this end, he contended that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regime is resolutely committed to ensuring that the lives of all Guyanese are improved steadily in a tangible and demonstrable manner as they work towards realising national prosperity for the benefit of everyone.
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…as veterans complain of bottlenecks, red tape faced at entity
After being informed of a host of issues being faced by veterans at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), President Dr Irfaan Ali has stepped in to arrange a special three-day engagement at the Guyana Defence Force’s Headquarters to address these matters.
While speaking at the 13th annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Veterans’ Monument located at GDF’s Base Camp Ayanganna on Friday, the Head of State recognised that there are issues at the NIS that Government needs to look into and resolve.
To this end, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces committed to put together a team of NIS officers to conduct an exercise at the GDF Headquarters to specifically tackle challenges faced by veterans.
“Yes, NIS is a problem. I am offering now… to have the NIS team here for the next three days – from Monday to Wednesday – to sort out all the outstanding NIS issues that you have here with the veterans. You do not have to go line up and wait [at the NIS office],” President Ali indicated.
His intervention was in response to pleas by the President of the Guyana Veterans’ Legion (GVL), Retired Lt Col George Gomes, who requested assistance in addressing the various challenges veterans confront at the NIS.
Guyana Veterans’ Legion President Lt Col (ret’d) George Gomes
One of the issues he raised is the policy at NIS whereby if a person never made any claims at the NIS during their working years, when they retire and their health deteriorates, they are unable to make claims at the institution.
“People get sick when they get old. Before I retired from army, I don’t even believe I went to the army for anything – not even a spectacle. But now as a result of diabetes and these things, people are suffering [such as the] dialysis cases. But if you never reported it, and you never went to the NIS with it while you were working and while you were young, the NIS cannot give you anything.”
“Sir I am asking you to look into this. People are now getting sick when they are old and that rule at the NIS needs to be changed. We have to cater for our people in their old age,” he contended.
Another issue with the NIS that was highlighted by Gomes has to do with claims by newly retired veterans. He explained that during the massive 2005 floods in Guyana, many of GDF’s records were destroyed.
As a result, he pointed out that when persons now reach the retirement age and go to NIS to make their claims, they are being told that there is no record of their contributions.The GDF, he noted, has since come up with a system where they prepare letters indicating that the individual in question actively served as a soldier within the requisite years. However, Gomes said that the NIS does not recognise this letter.
“Once you were in the GDF, NIS was being deducted from you but the NIS administration is disrespecting and not honouring those letters. The GDF is a reputable organisation and I’m certain no officer would just give somebody a letter here to take to NIS if they were not a serving soldier,” the GVL President stated.
To this end, the veteran implored with the Head of State to have the NIS accept the GDF letters as a credible record for retirees to make claims on their contributions.
Meanwhile, President Ali further committed to implementing programmes and policies for the upliftment of Guyanese especially the men and women in uniform.
President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at Friday’s wreath-laying ceremony
Only Thursday evening, the Guyanese leader announced an eight per cent salary increase for all public servants and revealed that the permanent salaries of public healthcare workers and members of the disciplined services are being reviewed. An announcement on the latter intervention is expected in the coming days.
Nevertheless, the Commander in Chief on Friday reminded of the steps already taken by his Government to enhance the lives of the serving members, particularly in the areas of housing and education.
“We have embarked on a programme that is allowing men and women in uniform today to own their own homes. I took a personal interest in ensuring that there is a special window to allow them to own their own homes, both at the Ministry of Housing and through the banking system…”
“I took a personal interest to ensure that their educational upliftment is being guaranteed. Never before did we ever have so many men and women in uniform doing a degree, a diploma or post-graduate training or a specialised training in the history of the Joint Services—never before,” he contended.
Moreover, President Ali reassured that his Administration intends to do a lot more for the country’s pensioners and elderly.
“We raised pension by 40 per cent. Yes, it’s still not enough. We will do more… We must do more for our pensioners and elderly, and we will do more. We will do a lot more. In my announcement, you heard me say that we are progressing in a very phased manner and the next set of announcements will shake some heels in this country,” the Head of State posited.
Since the PPP/C Administration took office in August 2020, senior citizens have benefitted dramatically from a number of initiatives including the increase in old age pension from $20,500 to $28,000. This measure alone placed $22 billion annually into the hands of pensioners.
Additionally, last year, this segment of the population benefitted from a one-off grant of $25,000. To further offset the rising cost of living, President Ali, for a second year, announced last month a $28,000 one-off cash grant which is currently being distributed to pensioners across the country.
Pensioners have also benefitted from the reintroduction of the water subsidy as well as easier access to their entitlements under the current Government.
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…says teachers must explore civilised ways to discipline students
Education Minister Priya Manickchand has warned teachers against abusing or beating students in the classrooms, as she urged them to find new and civilised disciplinary methods.
It was explained by the Education Minister that on any given day, she is notified through social media of teachers abusing students. As she was speaking to young trainees of the Cyril Potter College of Education, Manickchand said the evolving world requires new approaches.
“You can’t beat people’s children black and blue. You can’t abuse people’s children and believe, somehow or the other, that is the order of the day. Look at you; young, fresh citizens of this world who must inform yourselves of what is the new, civilised behaviour,” she expressed.
Moreover, she sounded a warning that the Ministry will come after those teachers displaying such behaviour.
“I say that to say that it is not the Ministry of Education alone that will come after you, because we will come after you! It’s a different order in the world. People are going to demand more of you because people want to see a better world, a better country.”
Speaking on the conduct of teachers, the Minister underscored that whatever behaviour is presented in the classroom would affect children, either positively or negatively.
“You have to understand that every single child in there could be adversely affected by your terrible attitude or really feel like the most valued human being by your good attitude. Sometimes it’s not even what you teach, it’s how you make children feel. The world is riding on your shoulders. What Guyana looks like is dependent on you.
Minister Manickchand cautioned that these educators will be held accountable not only by the Ministry.
“The nation will hold you accountable because people want a better, nicer, more developed Guyana.”
Just this week, it was reported that a three-year-old child has been out of school for almost two weeks and is now being forced to relocate. This is after the little girl alleged that she and her friends were beaten by her teacher, resulting in officials at the Ankerville Nursery School refusing to allow her back at the public institution.
The child had complained that the teacher used a ruler to beat her. After refusing to return to school, the parent visited the Department of Education, where the Education Officer made a decision to have the child placed into another class.
The following morning when the mother went to drop off her daughter, she was reportedly greeted at the door by the Head Teacher, who allegedly told her that the teachers had a meeting and decided that they no longer want the child to attend the school and as such the mother would be given a transfer letter.
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