Guyana amended law ‘Our record of progress to give Haitians is there for all to see’ Jordan says there was no six months stay abuse of the Contingency, Former AG Basil Williams Consolidated Funds SUNDAY, 06th DECEMBER, 2020 Follow or contact at: [email protected] / facebook.com/villagevoicegy / www.villagevoicegy.com ‘Reject the NEWSPAPER invite’ coalition supporters tell Granger ex-presidents confab is for PPP propaganda say Ali is playing games GPL in 9.6MW boost for holidays A resident of Canje carefully weaving a basket made from the leaves of coconut. (Vandel Park photo) 2 NEWS SUNDAY DECEMBER 06, 2020 Guyana’s COVID death rate within acceptable margin those who are positive; the 103,877 cases and 913 right now, the cleaners, the up dying in our institution, case fatality rate, even in deaths, has a rate of 0.9%. attendants, the pharmacists, were severely symptomatic – Dr. Carpen says the best places in the world, Suriname has a case-fatali- the doctors, the nurses, before they experienced By Svetlana Marshall and by extension, the Peo- the most advanced medical ty rate of 2.2%. everyone is putting in an that unfortunate outcome,” ple’s Progressive Party/ societies, it is between two- Dr. Carpen said Guy- effort, often beyond the he said. ead of Medical Civic (PPP/C) Government. three percent, [and] we are ana is fortunate that de- call of duty. So, it would Services at the well within that margin,” spite limited resources, its be completely inaccurate INCREASED TESTING Georgetown Pub- CASE FATALITY Dr. Carpen explained. case-fatality rate remains for anyone to have that In addressing the con- H According to Johns under the 3% mark. He assumption that our mor- cern that Guyana in the lic Hospital Corporation RATE (GPHC), Dr. Mahendra But Dr. Carpen, in an Hopkins University, Guy- rebutted the claims that tality rate is as a result of past four months has ex- Carpen said Guyana’s exclusive interview with ana, with 5,601 confirmed COVID-19 patients are not poor management,” the perienced a rapid increase Coronavirus Disease Village Voice News, said cases and 151 deaths, being properly managed GPHC Medical Services in the number of recorded (COVID-19) case-fatality Guyana’s COVID-19 has a case-fatality rate of resulting in their deaths. Head said. COVID-19 cases, Dr. Carp- rate remains within accept- case-fatality rate remains 2.7%. Mexico, with a total “I can tell you that there In explaining the en said among factors in- able margin, as he allayed well below 3%. According of 1,156,770 cases and are committed, dedicated, deaths, the Health Minis- fluencing the number is the the fears of Guyanese, to Johns Hopkins Univer- 108,863 deaths, has the highly skilled persons with- try, had said that the ma- number of tests being done. many of whom believe, sity and Medicine, case-fa- highest case-fatality rate in the healthcare sector in jority of the patients, who “The spike around that that the pandemic here is tality ratio or rate is the of 9.4%, followed by Iran Guyana who are focused on succumbed to COVID-19, time [August-September], spiralling out of control, number of deaths per 100 with 4.9% and the United improving our response and had co-morbidities or in I believe, is secondary to with more and more per- confirmed cases. Kingdom, 3.6%. outcome to the COVID-19 other words, preexisting a number of factors. One, sons dying. “If you look across the Brazil, with 6,533,968 pandemic. And this is not conditions. we started doing a lot more Since the first world, the case fatality confirmed cases and an idle statement or without Those admitted to testing [and] we started COVID-19 case was rate, which is usually the 278,932 deaths, has a facts or without any foun- GPHC were severely ill, finding more cases,” he recorded in Guyana on number of persons or the case-fatality case of 2.7%; dation. If you go any part Dr. Carpen said. “Every- said. March 11, 2020, the coun- percentage of persons who while Venezuela, with of this country, in hospitals one who actually ended TURN TO PAGE 04► try has recorded 5,601 would have died versus confirmed cases, of which 151 persons have died. The country’s Opposition – the A Partnership for Nation- al Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), in particular, has repeatedly pointed out that, Guyana, within a four-to-five-month span (March 11-July 30), recorded a total of 430 cas- es of the disease, of which 21 persons had died. Since the change in Government on August 2, 2020, the country has recorded 5,171 additional cases, and 130 additional COVID-related deaths. In the eyes of the Opposition, the pandemic is being poorly managed by the Ministry of Health, Head of Medical Service, GPHC, Dr. Dr. Mahendra Carpen PCR Test being administered by a healthcare worker (DPI File Photo) The COVID-19 Dashboard published by the Health Ministry on December 4 SUNDAY DECEMBER 06, 2020 NEWS 3 Guyana amended law to give Haitians six months stay a copy of a letter, dated Haitian nationals, including January 25, 2019, in which children,” the alliance said. –– Former AG Basil Williams he had informed the then It said the attempt to de- President that the Immi- port 26 Haitians, who gained gration Order, amending legal entry into Guyana and the Immigration Act, was permitted six months stay, ….AFC condemns Gov’t ‘anti-black agenda’ gazetted. The Immigration smacks in the face of re- Order was published in the gional integration and goes By Svetlana Marshall Official Gazette on January against the intent and prin- 11, 2019. ciples of the Revised Treaty n condemning attempts The A Partnership for that established the CSME. by the People’s Progres- National Unity + Alliance “The Alliance For Isive Party/Civic (PPP/C) For Change (APNU+AFC) Change (AFC) notes the Administration to deport 26 Administration had amend- serpentine position of the Haitians, former Attorney ed the Immigration Act to Attorney General in the mat- General and Minister of Le- provide Haitians with an ter and wishes to remind gal Affairs, Basil Williams automatic six-month stay, the holder of that esteemed S.C said contrary to the ut- approximately one month office that the CSME was terances of the current At- after the CARICOM Heads designed to accommodate torney General Anil Nand- of Government had agreed the aspirations of all the lall, Guyana’s Immigration to an implementation plan, peoples of the region for has- Laws provide for Haitians in December 2018, for the sle-free intra-regional travel. to remain here for up to six full inclusion of Haiti in the It is the unconquerable Ca- months. CSME. The CARICOM ribbean people, including Chief Justice (ag) Rox- Secretariat has been actively many Guyanese, who were ane George has suspended working with Haiti to have undaunted by unwelcom- the deportation orders grant- it fully integrated into the ing officials, that forced ed by the Magistrate’s Court CSME. governments of the region against the Haitians, pending Here in Guyana, Princi- to adopt hassle free travel her decision in the High pal Magistrate Sherdel Isaa- and non-discrimination as Court on whether the rights cs-Marcus, on December 1, principles of the CSME,” the of the Caribbean Commu- Attorney General and Minister of Legal Former Attorney General and Minister 2020, granted the State the party said. nity (CARICOM) nationals Affairs, Anil Nandlall of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams deportation orders against AFC said the sub-hu- are being violated by the the group of Haitians, even man conditions under which order, and or their detention Tobago are the additional grant’s request for the permit Williams submitted that as the High Court was adju- Haitians are being held – at the Hugo Chavez Centre countries, whose nationals is made in good faith.” because the group of Hai- dicating on the initial court without running water, lim- for Rehabilitation and Rein- are entitled to automatic six The Haitians arrived in tians legally entered Guyana, action, which sought to have ited food and no medical tegration. months of stay. Guyana from Barbados on and met the requirements them released from the Hugo attention or counselling – During the virtual hear- Section 12 (1) (b) of November 7, 2020, and were for a six-month stay, in ac- Chavez Centre. leave much to be desired, ing before the Chief Justice the Immigration Act states: reportedly granted a six- cordance with Schedule 1 The Home Affairs Min- especially during the on- (ag) on Thursday, Decem- “(1) an immigration officer, month stay by immigration Part B of the Immigration istry had said that the 26 going Coronavirus Disease ber 3, 2020, the Attorney without deciding whether or officers at Eugene F. Correia Act, it was unlawful for the Haitians, inclusive of seven (COVID-19) pandemic. General told the Court that not an immigrant is a pro- International Airport at Ogle. Guyana Police Force and or children, were part of a Hu- Further, it challenged the Haiti is not covered under hibited immigrant, may at “The fact that the Hai- the Ministry of Home Affairs man Trafficking ring, but regional and international the CARICOM Single Mar- the request of the immigrant, tians were let into Guyana, to remove them from their the Association of Haitian communities to condemn ket and Economy (CSME), who is… (b) a national of a and they were at hotels and hotel rooms and other plac- Nationals in Guyana in re- the PPP/C Government’s which allows for the free country mentioned in Part different places, it meant that es and treat them as though jecting the claim, said the violation of the rights of the movement of people, goods, B of Schedule 1 grant him the immigration officers felt they are “refugees” or in a Haitians were all granted a Haitians.