MONDAY 18

Brigadier (rtd) David Arthur Granger duly elected Executive President
BRIGADIER (rtd) David Arthur Granger, has been duly elected and sworn in as the 8th Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.Granger was administered the Oath of Office by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, in the presence of thousands at the Public Buildings. Head of State, Granger has since pledged to work together with the ousted Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and its leader former President Donald Ramotar, towards building a brighter future and achieve the promise of a “good life for all.”
APNU+AFC leader being ‘disingenuous’
OFFERS for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to form a national unity Government were not made as is being claimed, according to its leader Mr. Donald Ramotar. Reports from local media outlets have reported that the new Head of State, Brigadier (rtd) David Granger, made the offer. Mr. Granger is reported to have expressed his disappointment that Mr. Ramotar has not accepted his offer for close working relations. “Guyana has turned the corner. It will be better Government…we are not in the business of winner takes all and locking people out. I would like a Government of all the people and that is why I would like to ask former President Ramotar to reconsider his position,” Granger was quoted by an online site as saying. However, the PPP/C leader noted that this was not so and contends that Mr. Granger is being ‘disingenuous’ in asserting any other position.
Harmon…
APNU+AFC 100-day plan will be delivered
ASSIGNED Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Joseph Harmon, said the APNU+AFC overall 100-day plan has to do with commitment and confidence building. The new APNU+AFC administration, as part of its immediate plans, will seek to reduce the Berbice Bridge toll, significantly increase salary for public servants, implement a phased reduction of VAT, remove VAT from food and other essential items, set the date for the early holding of Local Government Elections, establish the Public Procurement Commission, call a National Cane Workers and Cane Farmers Conference, arrange a National Rice Farmers and Rice Millers Conference, set up an Investigative Commission on Corruption, Task Forces on Crime & Security and on Road Safety, a National Conference for Women, and a bi-partisan Women’s Working Group.
TUESDAY 19

President Granger meets OP staff
–urges professionalism
ADDRESSING staffers at the Presidential Complex, President David Granger, two days after taking office, reminded employees that the entity is a very important branch of the Public Service and the hub of Government, hence it is very important that it functions efficiently. “You’re all professionals, and I am not going to enquire into your political leads, I am not going to enquire into your business leads, I don’t know if you belong to the lodge, I don’t want to know if you put your head in a turban, (or) burn candles at night. When you come in to work, I want you to understand you’re serving the people of Guyana without fear or favour, affection or ill will,” the Head of State said.

President Granger names Harmon Minister of State
HEAD of State Brigadier (rtd) David Granger is in the concluding stages of finalising his Cabinet Council of Ministers and has announced the creation of a new Ministry, naming Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Lieutenant Colonel (rtd) Joseph Harmon as Minister of State. He has proposed to have the Office encompassing a ‘Ministry of the Presidency.’ And it will be headed by Harmon. On his re-entrance to the National Assembly, in the 11th Parliament, Harmon will be designated Minister of State, and as such will be Head and hold the portfolio as Minister in charge of the Ministry of the Presidency. President Granger has also indicated that from time to time, other ministers will be appointed in the Presidency, “but Mr. Harmon will be the person who will be exercising the ministerial function under my directions of this ministry.”

Five bodies recovered from Mowasi mining pit disaster
THE bodies of five men were brought to the city following a disaster at Mowasi, Konawaruk, North West District on Sunday, when a mining pit caved in and buried ten persons. The Guyana Chronicle has been informed that while the five bodies were being transported to the city, other miners continued their efforts trying to pull the other trapped miners to safety. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the men were working in the pit shortly after a heavy and continuous downpour, when the walls of the pit caved in, trapping them. Among those who went into the area are President of the GGDMA, Patrick Harding; President of the WMA, Simona Broomes; three other officers and the Minister of Natural Resources designate, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

Brian Joseph now Presidential Guards head
–Wendell Blanhum new Crime Chief
ASSISTANT Police Commissioner (ACP) Brian Joseph took over the helm of the Presidential Guard Service, which is responsible for the security detail of the President and Prime Minister. Mr Joseph who, prior to 1994 had provided protection for Presidents Forbes Burnham, Desmond Hoyte and Cheddi Jagan respectively, will be replacing Mr. Rohan Singh. Meanwhile, Police Superintendent Wendell Blanhum was elevated to the post of Crime Chief; while his former boss, Leslie James, now serves in the Office of the Commissioner of Police.
WEDNESDAY 20

President believes ‘someone’ instigated land grabbing saga
PRESIDENT David Granger is of the view that the decision by some sections of society to illegally occupy State and private land in several parts of the country was at the instigation of someone who is well placed. The President said that while he is not sure who is behind it, he is convinced that the move was a well-orchestrated one. With respect to the enforcement of the laws of Guyana which speak to the issue of trespassing, the President said that once the laws are being broken, he would expect that the police will take action.

CDB president renews call for Global Partnerships
PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Warren Smith, is urging regional governments to set aggressive timelines for implementing reforms that create more “business-friendly” environments. Speaking at the official opening of the 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the CDB in Basseterre, St. Kitts, Dr. Smith said fiscal rules, backed by tough legislation, must become the norm rather than the exception, adding that the building of fiscal buffers should also become an integral component of every national sustainability strategy.

PPP/C accuses APNU+AFC of ‘political gimmickry’
PRONOUNCEMENTS by the leader of A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), David Granger, regarding an invitation for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) to join a “national unity” movement has been dubbed a political gimmick.The party, in a statement, said: “The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) wishes to label as deceptive, the pronouncements made in the press by Leader of the APNU+AFC coalition, David Granger, that he has invited the PPP/C to join “a national unity movement.” It added that to date there has been no formal or informal invitation from the APNU+AFC on the matter. “The pronouncement therefore of Granger, is a political gimmick and nothing else,” the PPP said.
THURSDAY 21

PM, several Cabinet members sworn in
HIS Excellency Brigadier (rtd) David Granger administered the Oath of Office to 15 Cabinet Members to serve in the Executive Government’s Council of Ministers. Moses Nagamootoo was sworn in as Prime Minister and First Vice President; Carl Greenidge as Minister with responsibility for Foreign Affairs; Winston Jordon as Finance Minister; Rupert Roopnarine as Minister of Education, with Nicolette Odella Henry as minister within that Ministry; Volda Lawrence as Minister of Social Protection and Simona Broomes as Minister within that Ministry; David Patterson as Minister of Public Infrastructure and Annette Ferguson as Minister within that Ministry; George Norton as Health Minister and Karen Cummings as Minister within that ministry; Ronald Bulkan as Minister of Communities; Basil Williams as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs; Amna Ally as Minister of Social Cohesion and Cathy Hughes as Minister of Tourism. Other appointments will be made soon.

ExxonMobil makes significant oil find
THE Exon Mobil Corporation has announced a significant oil discovery on the Stabroek Block, located approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana. The well was drilled by ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, and encountered more than 295 feet (90 metres) of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. It was safely drilled to 17,825 feet (5,433 meters) in 5,719 feet (1,743 meters) of water. The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers).The well was spud on March 5, 2015 and the well data will be analysed in the coming months to better determine the full resource potential.
In light of rigged elections claim…
PPP/C to mount protest action
MAINTAINING its contention that the 2015 General and Regional Elections were rigged, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) was expected to mount protest action outside offices of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Thursday. The discovery of falsified Statements of Polls (SoPs); the refusal of GECOM to have public vetting of polling day staffers, many of whom were discovered to be activists of the political Opposition; misdirection by some GECOM staffers who “advised” voters; damaged stamps that saw some ballots not being properly stamped; the fact that persons without identification cards were allowed to vote even though their images did not match those in the files of GECOM staff; and the denial of proxy holders to use their proxies, are among the irregularities the party will be protesting.
FRIDAY 22

Venezuela’s objection to Guyana’s oil search will meet stiff US resistance
GUYANA must forge ahead with its search for oil in the Stabroek Block, despite recent objections by neighbouring Venezuela claiming that Guyana was in violation of its sovereign territory. Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Rashleigh Jackson is of the firm conviction that the exploration is being conducted in Guyana’s waters and must proceed; and that any military intervention on the part of Venezuela will not be tolerated by the United States of America, as it is a US company that is conducting exploration.
President Granger pays visit to ExxonMobil’s Deepwater Champion
WITH Guyana set to join the group of oil producing nations, President David Granger paid his first visit to the ExxonMobil oil drilling ship, the Deepwater Champion. The President expressed his gratitude to the ship’s crew for their recent discovery of hydrocarbons. “We are one of the Guianas, and it is a rich part of the world, in terms of rainforest, current, minerals, so I am glad that we have opened the door, I am glad that you are a part of opening the door for us,” the President said. He also mentioned his earlier commitment, prior to assuming office, of the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund, so that the disposal of any natural resource will go towards benefitting the people of Guyana.

Ramotar declares…
Struggle will continue ‘for as long as it takes’
CONCERNS raised by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) without success were taken to another level yesterday by way of the staging of a protest march outside the Commission’s High Street, Kingston head office. Placards borne by scores of PPP/C supporters screamed a number of objections, including: ‘These elections were not free and fair’; ‘Where did the fake SoPs (Statements of Poll) come from’; ‘Recount the votes, this is no joke’; ‘We need impartiality from GECOM’; ‘Shame on the diplomats from the ABC (United States of America, Britain, Canada) countries’; ‘Surujbally must go’; and ‘PPP/C were cheated, but we are not defeated.’

Finance Minister Jordan…
Budget preparations moving apace NEWLY-appointed
MINISTER of Finance Winston Jordan has already begun extensive consultations with high-level ministry staffers with a view to completing and presenting the National 2015 Budget. The minister, who is a highly qualified financial expert, said that he inherited some of the groundwork which was already laid out by the previous sector minister, Dr. Ashni Singh. These preparations were made based on the previous Government’s priorities, but now the focus will be changed to reflect the agenda of the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration.

Speeding, inattentiveness still leading causes of accidents, fatalities
TRAFFIC Chief Ian Amsterdam said that speeding and inattentiveness remain the leading contributors to general road accidents and fatalities, with pedestrians being the most vulnerable to fatalities. Giving statistics, the senior officer disclosed that so far this year 32 road accidents have been recorded with 41 deaths, while for 2014 they tallied 40 accidents with 43 deaths with a 5% decrease in deaths and 20% in fatalities. Amsterdam stated that as for serious accidents, they saw a 20% decrease with 148 in 2015 and 134 for 2014, when there was a 20% decrease in minor accidents which stood at 189 for 2014 and 174 in 2015. He added that they recorded an 8% decrease in that category, but with regard to “damage” accidents, there were 290 in 2015 with 296 in 2014, a 2% decrease.
SATURDAY 23

Ramjattan is Vice President, Minister of Public Security
–nine more Cabinet Ministers sworn in

ALLIANCE For Change (AFC) Leader, Attorney-at-Law, Khemraj Ramjattan, was sworn in as Guyana’s Second Vice President and Minister of Public Security. Noel Holder was sworn in as the Substantive Minister of Agriculture; Sydney Allicock as Minister with responsibility for Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs; former Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, as Guyana’s Minister of Governance; Winston Felix as Minister of Citizenship; Dominic Gaskin as Minister of Business; Jaipaul Sharma as Minister within the Ministry of Finance; Valerie Garrido-Lowe, another AFC member, as Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs; and Keith Scott, another long standing Member of Parliament in the opposition benches, as Minister within the Ministry of Public Works.

Ramotar…
Imposition of ‘de facto’ gov’t to be internationalized
SOME 30 regional and international agencies will be approached by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) with detailed dossiers evidencing what the party maintains were rigged elections that produced a “de facto” government. Regional and international authorities will be informed of the PPP/C’s position, which details its concerns about the results declared last Saturday, supported by evidence. These include: the discovery of falsified Statements of Poll (SoP); the refusal of GECOM to have public vetting of polling day staffers, many of whom were discovered to be activists of the political Opposition; misdirection by some GECOM staffers who had advised voters; incidents of multiple voting; incidents when persons turned up at polling stations and were told they had voted already; damaged stamps that saw some ballots not being properly stamped; the fact that persons without identification cards were allowed to vote, even though their images did not match those in the files of GECOM staff; and the denial of proxy holders to use their proxies, among others.

Baishanlin plugs G$1M into clean-up efforts
BAISHANLIN International Forest Development handed over a cheque for $1M to the coordinators of the government-led clean-up efforts which began at the Independence Arch. Managing Director of Baishanlin, Chu Hongbo, handed the cheque over to Chief Coordinator Larry London in the presence of Assistant Coordinator, Bobby Vieira. Hongbo was accompanied by Eddie Wang, the company’s Forestry Development Department Director.