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Desperate for food, Gazans turn to mulberry leaves to survive Jul 12, 2024 News Palestinians in Gaza are eating whatever they can find to avoid death from starvation (Reuters) – Palestinians in Gaza are eating whatever they can find to avoid death from starvation. Like many others there, Ahmed Al-Shanbari and three of his sons risk their lives to pick mulberry leaves to eat. And even these are not easy to find. They have to struggle through rubble and buildings shattered by Gaza’s war, to feed a family of eight. This is a common sight across the enclave as Palestinians face a hunger crisis. Nearly 2.3 million people here live in one of the world’s most densely populated places facing shortage of food, water, medicine and fuel. “It is scary to walk when the bombing is still happening,” said Al-Shanbari, who like many Gazans risks Israeli bombardment in the search for food. Ahmed’s wife Fatima cleans the leaves and boils them over a makeshift stove. “Nothing in it is tolerable, neither its taste nor its colour,” she said. Fatima stuffs the leaves with rice and spices, hoping to get her children to tolerate the sour taste. Yet the bitterness remains. The mulberry leaves are animal’s food, she says. “But what can we do? Ever since the war started, we did not taste anything, we’re living on the few things we find,” said Fatima. The war began when militants from the Palestinian militant group Hamas burst across the Gaza border and attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage, according to Israeli tallies. Nine months on, Gaza health authorities say at least 38,000 Palestinians have been killed. In a July 9 statement, a group of independent human rights experts mandated by the United Nations said that famine has spread throughout the enclave. The experts said that the recent deaths of more Palestinian children from starvation despite medical treatment in central Gaza, leaves no doubt that famine has spread across the entire Gaza strip. “Fayez Ataya, who was barely six months old, died on 30 May 2024 and 13-year-old Abdulqader Al-Serhi died on 1 June 2024 at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Nine-year-old Ahmad Abu Reida died on 3 June 2024 in the tent sheltering his displaced family in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis. All three children died from malnutrition and lack of access to adequate healthcare,” the experts said. The UN experts added, “We declare that Israel’s intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza. We call upon the international community to prioritise the delivery of humanitarian aid by land by any means necessary, end Israel’s siege, and establish a ceasefire.” Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva said the statement amounted to “misinformation”. “Israel has continuously scaled up its coordination and assistance in the delivery of humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip, recently connecting its power line to the Gaza water desalination plant,” it added. At least 33 children have died of malnutrition, mostly in northern areas which had until recently faced the brunt of the Israeli military campaign, according to Gaza health authorities. Gaza remains at high risk of famine as the war continues and aid access is restricted, said a U.N.-backed global monitor called the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), last month. More than 495,000 people are facing the most severe, or “catastrophic”, level of food insecurity, the IPC said. Related Similar Articles

Three-month-old dies in Enmore fire Jul 12, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Three-month-old dies in Enmore fire A three-month-old baby died on Thursday morning in a fire at Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) that destroyed a two-storey wooden and concrete house. The infant, Leroy Archer, was asleep in the house at the time of the fire. Kaieteur News understands that the house was occupied by four persons including the baby. Leroy and his two-year-old sibling Lorenzo, were home with his mother, Chandroutie Manickchand when the fire started. The children’s father, Leon Archer was at work. Neighbours recalled that the fire started around 10:00hrs. Kaieteur News understands that Manickchand told investigators that she was showering in the lower flat of the house while the baby was asleep in the upper flat. The distraught mother reported that someone alerted her to the fire and she ran to the bedroom to remove the baby but the room was already engulfed in flames. This forced her to exit the house leaving the infant. Neighbours said too that the fire spread quickly even damaging the guttering of a neighbouring two-storey building. An inconsolable Manickchand collapsed and was rushed to a medical facility. Similarly, upon arrival at the scene, Leon Archer fainted and was whisked away by an ambulance. While the cause of the fire is unknown, a neighbour recalled Manickchand saying that she left a fan on in the bedroom which the baby was sleeping in. “The fan was on but she said nothing was wrong with the fan so she don’t know,” the neighbour told reporters. The owner of the house said that Archer and Manickchand started renting the property six months ago. Meanwhile, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) in a statement said that it received a call alerting to a fire at 10:25hrs. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 10:35hrs and the first jet went into action at 10:36hrs. The response team included Water Carrier #16 from the Melanie Fire Station and Water Tender #106 from the Mahaica Fire Station, carrying a total of 9,463.5 litres of water to extinguish the fire. Investigations are ongoing. (Shania Williams) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Pic saved as: fire1 Caption: Enmore home gutted Tags: Fire, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, baby, dead Lede: A three-month-old baby died on Thursday morning in a fire at Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) that destroyed a two-storey wooden and concrete house. Key focus:  Three-month-old dies in Enmore fire Related Similar Articles

Mother who chopped 9-year-old daughter remanded Jul 12, 2024 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News Kaieteur News – A 33-year-old housewife from Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) who chopped her 9-year-old daughter was remanded on an attempted murder charge on Thursday when she appeared at the Leonora Magistrates’ Court. The remanded woman, Bibi Fareena Joseph The woman, Bibi Fareena Joseph, also known as Christine appeared virtually before Magistrate Faith McGusty where the attempted murder charge was read to her. Joseph is accused of attempting to kill her 9-year-old daughter. According to the police report, on Sunday, July 7, at approximately 21:30h, Joseph was allegedly in a heated argument with her boyfriend, during which he told her and her child that they were “wastes” and that he no longer wanted them. Following the argument, Joseph reportedly called her daughter and informed her that her father was already dead and that her stepfather did not want them anymore. Joseph then allegedly took a chopper and chopped her daughter on her left arm in an attempt to kill her. However, the child managed to escape and was taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital by a neighbour. The child was examined by a doctor, who listed her condition as stable. Joseph was also found with a chop wound to her left arm, having reportedly inflicted the injury on herself. She was arrested and escorted to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where she was examined. She is scheduled to return to court on August 2, 2024, for a report. Related Similar Articles

President Ali meets with USAID delegation to discuss bilateral relations Jul 12, 2024 News President Irfaan Ali and USAID Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming, Isobel Coleman Kaieteur News – President Irfaan Ali, on Thursday, met with a high-level United States Agency for International Development (USAID) delegation to discuss the continuing relationship between the agency and Guyana. The USAID delegation, which was led by the Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming, Isobel Coleman, engaged the President and other officials on “continued collaboration and strengthening of the bilateral relationship between. The two delegations engage in a discussion on Thursday. and USAID, and on how the organisation can help the country to grow and expand its capacity to deal with the rapid and expansive growth of its current development trajectory,” according to a statement from the Office of the President. Apart from the Deputy Administrator, the USAID team included its Regional Representative for the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Mervyn Farroe; Senior Advisor Rob Berschinski; Special Assistant Jocilyn Estes and Senior Development Advisor Aaron Spencer. Additionally, the United States Ambassador to Guyana, H.E. Nicole Theriot, accompanied the USAID delegation. The Guyanese officials that joined President Ali were Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Honourable Hugh Todd; Foreign Secretary, Mr. Robert Persaud and Director of Presidential Affairs, Mrs. Marcia Nadir-Sharma. The meeting was part of a three-day visit to Guyana by Coleman and her team in the interest of reaffirming USAID’s commitment to promoting democratic governance and economic sustainability in the Caribbean region. Related Similar Articles

GNBS seizes, destroys over 11,000 electrical fittings and equipment Jul 12, 2024 News Kaieteur News – The Product Compliance Department of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) destroyed 11,660 pieces of substandard electrical fittings and equipment on Thursday in a bid to tackle the sale and distribution of substandard electrical fittings and equipment. The GNBS in a statement said that the items including wires, cables, lamp holders, circuit breakers, extension cords, power outlets, receptacles, knife switches, and plugs were seized from importers and dealers during surveillance activities conducted during May and June in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Nine. The seized items failed to meet key labelling requirements of the relevant National Standards. The non-conformances included the lack of certification marks, country of origin and manufacturers’ name, while some of the items were incorrectly labelled, and others were without any label. According to the Head of the Product Compliance Department (Ag) Lorenzo Gill, the dealers and importers were given twenty-one (21) days to submit Test Certificates, Declaration on Conformity of Origin and other documents. However, these were not provided leading to the destruction of the items on July 11, 2024, at the GNBS’ Head Office, National Exhibition Complex, Sophia, Georgetown. He added that there were many unregistered dealers selling non-compliant products which were seized. Those persons were urged to register with the GNBS to import and sell electrical fittings and equipment using the prescribed forms on the Bureau’s website (gnbsgy.org). The GNBS as of February 2020, commenced the monitoring of several electrical fittings and equipment based on the requirements of thirty-one mandatory national standards. These electrical products include Decorative Lighting Products, Lamp Holders, Armoured Cables, Panel Boards, Knife Switches, Conduits, Tubings, and Cable Fittings, Surge Protective Devices, Molded-Case Circuit Breakers, Molded-Case Switches, and Circuit-Breaker Enclosures, Cord Sets and Power- Supply Cords, Thermoset- Insulated Wires and Cables, Attachment Plugs and Receptacles, Dry-Type General Purpose and Power Transformers. Importers and dealers of these products are required to take the necessary steps to ensure their products meet the respective requirements outlined in the standards. Products monitored by the Bureau are flagged for examination at the time of importation. Inspectors also visit sale outlets across the country to examine products which are offered for sale to ensure compliance. Importers and dealers are required to take the necessary corrective actions when substandard products are encountered by the GNBS Inspectors. Importers and dealers are urged purchase a copy of the relevant national standards from the GNBS to familiarize themselves with the requirements. This will allow them to buy and sell products that meet labelling and quality specifications. This can tremendously reduce the likelihood of electrical fires caused by the installation and use of substandard products. Lastly, the GNBS encourages importers to provide manufacturer’s warranty and timely redress to their customers regarding defective products purchased. The GNBS also monitors Domestic Electrical/Electronic Appliances, Weighing and Measuring Devices, Textiles, Garments, Footwear, Safety Helmets, Safety Matches, New and Used Tyres, Gas Stoves, Cigarettes, PVC Pipes, Furniture, Christmas tree and Decorative Lighting Outfits, Cellular Phones and Gold Jewellery. Related Similar Articles

Agri. Ministry seeking new contractor for A-Line pump station project Jul 12, 2024 News The construction site where the A-Line Pump Station at Versailles, West Bank Demerara was initially being built. (Photo courtesy, Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul) – new works estimated to cost $420M Kaieteur News – With the first project terminated, the Ministry of Agriculture through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is again seeking contractors to construct the A-Line Pump Station in Versailles, West Bank Demerara, Region Three. This is according to an invitation for bids issued by the ministry which was published in Thursday’s edition of this newspaper. The document stated that the new project is estimated to cost $420,335,740. It was previously reported that the Agriculture Ministry terminated a $717 million contract for the construction of the A-Line pump station. The Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha had told Kaieteur News that the contract has been terminated and the project halted due to non-performance by the contractor. The Minister explained that due to this set back, his ministry will re-start the tender process in search of another contractor to complete the project. Late last month, Minister Mustapha visited Region Six where he said that there are several pump station projects ongoing across the country that is near completion. “There are a number of contractors who are delinquent, I think the President (Irfaan Ali) at his press conference spoke about it, we have already started to charge liquidated damages on those contracts and I am hoping those contracts are completed shortly so we can commission them,” he said in a statement published by his Ministry on Facebook. It was reported previously that following a national bidding process, the NPTAB in April 2022 awarded a $717,095,940 contract to contractor Civcon Engineering Contractors for the A-Line pump station project. The project was expected to be completed in June 2023. With the delay in completion of the project, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul publicly highlighted the slothfulness of that project, among others. “While he (Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha) made a show of visiting the Canal No. 1 pump station, conveniently ignoring its neighbouring A-Line station and Pouderoyen Pump Stations, the truth is clear: projects across the region languish in a state of abandonment and disrepair,” Mahipaul said in a statement back in April. Responding to the Opposition MP, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in a statement at the time stated that over the years, the Ministry and the NDIA crafted programmes aimed at delivering quality drainage and irrigation infrastructure across the country, especially in vulnerable areas. These efforts, however, have been met with challenges as, oftentimes, the NDIA encountered contractors who have underperformed. The Authority had further disclosed that these instances have been and are being addressed on a case-by-case basis. In some instances, the NDIA applied liquidated damages to contractors who have not been able to complete projects according to the contractual time period, the statement disclosed. “In the case of the A-Line pump station, the contractor has not been able to complete the project on time. As a result, liquidated damages are now being applied. The NDIA has noted that the contractor demobilized several pieces of equipment from the site. As such, the NDIA has notified the insurance company providing bonds on this project, and a file on the current situation has been sent to the Office of the Attorney General for advice on the way forward,” NDIA said back in April. Kaieteur News had reported that the ministry through NDIA had also terminated a pump station contract ($978.7 million) for Black Bush Polder front-lands in Region Six due to poor quality and performance. That project has since been retendered and is now being executed by Quality Deliverer for $799 million. Meanwhile, bids for the A-Line pump station project are expected to open on August 06, 2024 at the NPTAB office. Related Similar Articles

Gail Teixeira appointed Vice Chair of Constitutional Reform Commission Jul 12, 2024 News Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC …at first meeting of body since appointment Kaieteur News – Members of the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) met for the first time on Tuesday, three months after they were appointed, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC disclosed during his July 9 episode of Issues in the News. Nandlall began his programme by announcing that the Commission met for the first time at 15:00hrs on Tuesday afternoon at its Middle Street, Georgetown location. He disclosed that at the said meeting, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira was elected as the Vice Chairman. Though the Vice Chairman was appointed, the Commission is yet to appoint a secretary. “The Commission also begun to consider the appointment of a Secretary of the Commission, who shall be the head of the secretariat of the Commission, the Commission has not concluded on that appointment as yet, as a decision has to be made in respect of the remuneration package and the terms and conditions of employment for that post, and then the Commission will decide on a process of how a secretary to the Commission will be appointed,” Nandlall said. The Commission has agreed that the discussions in relation to the terms and conditions of employment and the remuneration package of the secretary will continue via email in what the AG described as a ‘Round Robin’ basis. The Commission is scheduled to meet once more to determine how they would go about the appointment. “All other business of the Commission was suspended until a secretary is appointed because there is no one currently to administer the affairs of the Commission other than the chairman. The commissioners are all part-time commissioners, the only person who is a full time member of the Commission is the chairman, and the chairman has no staff, the Commission has no secretary and there is no one to administer the affair of the Commission including the day-to-day running of the Commission,” he further stated. The appointment of a secretary is critical to the recruitment of staff. “So shortly we will meet and the question of the appointment of the Secretary to the Commission will be addressed and hopefully concluded. After that, at least the Commission will have one officer to administer the affairs of the secretariat so that the commission can begin its work,” Nandlall added. Related Similar Articles