The Culture Digest - Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Proposed DNA law raises serious issues... MOH Shutting Down Vax Sites over Blue Book Racket… Gridlock at GECOM continues… Chuck E. Cheese comes to Guyana.
Good morning Guyana!
Welcome to the Wednesday, December 8, 2021, edition of The Culture Digest.
Did you miss me? I was feeling a little under the weather for the past few days but I’m back and ready to tell you about what new foolishness is happening in the news.
Here’s the latest in the news. Proposed law could allow police to take your DNA without consent…MOH Shutting Down Vax Sites over Blue Book Racket… Gridlock at GECOM continues… Chuck E. Cheese comes to Guyana.
TOP STORY
PROPOSED LAW COULD ALLOW POLICE TO TAKE YOUR DNA WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT
When Parliament reconvenes on Monday, the government wants to vote on an amendment that allows officers to take the DNA of a detainee they consider to be in lawful custody. (I don't think I need to break down just how insane of a concept that is, seeing as the GPF is about as trustworthy as a daycare owned by Jeffrey Epstein.) Worse yet, Nandlall went back on his word. When it was first proposed, he promised to review that part of the amendment recognizing the complaints about its potential for abuse and the fact that it was APNU's idea in the first place. But it seems like he now feels that the law in its current proposed form is acceptable.
And they'll beat you senseless too...
IF that wasn't bad enough, Parliament is also going to vote on an amendment to the Police Act to allow police to legally carry “less-lethal weapons” such as nightsticks, batons and clubs, chemical irritants, conducted electrical weapons, kinetic impact projectiles, and water cannons, which means that instead of shooting you to death, the cops will just beat you like a runaway slave. (First a cybercrime bill, now this. I hope y'all are going to speak up about the rapid deterioration of your civil liberties.)
MOH Shutting Down Vax Sites over Blue Book Racket
Public Health advisor and part-time Bond villain Leslie Ramsammy is declaring that the government has shut down some of the 100 vaccination sites across the nation in response to reports of the sale of forged as well as blank unmarked vaccination cards. Because of an apparent lack of scrutiny, they have decided to shut down some of the sites and arrest those MOH employees implicated in the racket. So instead of instituting better oversight and better communicating to the public the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, they will make it harder for people to get REAL vaccinations by limiting the available sites. (REAL BIG BRAIN MOVES)
Business/National Development
A New Rat Comes to Town
What does burnt pizza, a filthy playpen, involuntary manslaughter, and a six-foot-tall talking animatronic rat have in common? You're about to find out as Guyana will soon have its first Chuck E. Cheese. (Brace yourself for a spike in the murder rate cause I really wish I was joking about that manslaughter thing...)
In a show of good faith to Ghana, the President has promised to eliminate almost all the bureaucratic red tape holding them back from fully investing in Guyana. This is on the same day that Nandlall announced that the government is moving to amend the Deeds Registry Act to make it harder to grant a power of attorney. Both parties will have to appear before a Notary Public either here or overseas. They will also have to provide several forms of identification. (Meaning that the government is subsequently making it easier for foreigners to do business in Guyana while subsequently making it harder for local Guyanese and the diaspora. More big brain moves)
Exxon's oil buddies gave them a pat on the back for their "good work" in Guyana. Some call it social responsibility; others call it greenwashing. Either way, they are proud of it.
Fun Fact: Miners declared over 500,000 ounces of gold for 2021, making it one of the best years on record.
Sad Stat: Despite once being known as the “Food Basket of the Caribbean,” Guyana currently imports 40% of its food.
POLITICS
GECOM Gridlock Continues
The political gridlock at GECOM continues, as expected. Talks regarding the interviews conducted on Monday have been deferred to Friday. Former GECOM Deputy CEO Vishnu Persaud and former Jamaican electoral official Leslie Harrow were interviewed for the GECOM Chief Election Officer position.
Shuman criticizes the government over their treatment of the Indigenous People of the South Rupununi. PM Philips subsequently gaslights him, calling him inconsistent.
Do fuh do...
Last Thursday, Rickford Burke threatened to slap Jagdeo with a GYD 100 million libel lawsuit one day before the GPF issued a wanted bulletin for him. Burke believes that his threat to sue Jagdeo may have triggered the wanted bulletin to be issued for him.
Aubrey Norton dismisses suggestions that the PNCR biennial delegates congress could be postponed. This comes after PNCR Vice-Chair, Annette Ferguson moved a motion to postpone the congress. It is scheduled for this Saturday.
HEALTH/PUBLIC SAFETY
Wait... Ecstasy and Meth were Legal the Whole Time?!?
This country's drug laws are a joke and not even a funny one. Because of a loophole in the current drug laws, the possession of so-called "designer drugs" is not illegal in Guyana, only marijuana and cocaine. Because of this, the school kids are dropping meth and ecstasy like crazy, and the unscrupulous persons selling the drugs to the kids are getting away with it. But, instead of educating the children, offering drug rehab services, and giving them better things to do with their time than get high all day, the government is passing legislation to now make these drugs illegal too.
After all the complaints of the river of sewage flowing at St. Rose's, Aunty Priya went down to the school to demand that GWI and the contractors clean up their act. Literally.
CRIME
23-year-old former GDF rank Shafeer Sanichar was remanded to prison after he was busted by CANU cultivating a huge marijuana camp at St. Cuthbert’s Mission last Friday.
21-year-old nurse Olivia Bonus, 29-year-old nurse Teneka Pollard, and 32-year-old MOH screening personnel Andel Valentine were charged with fraud over their alleged sale of vaccination cards.
You’re all caught up with your news for the morning. You’re welcome.
Let us know what you think in the comments, or just hit reply and send an email to aniraguyana@gmail.com.
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