Francoise Musabyimana, 29, was allegedly, trafficking and selling the outlawed polythene bags as well as using them for packaging.
According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, Musabyimana was allegedly trafficking the non-biodegradable products from Uganda.
“Residents suspected that Musabyimana sells plastic bags. They also continued to see her using the outlawed products as packages, which prompted them to report the illegal acts,” said CIP Twizeyimana.
He added: “At about 5pm on Wednesday, Police officers searched her shop where 1200 pieces of plastic bags (six cartons) were recovered. She was immediately taken into custody for the unlawful act.”
Article 10 of law N° 17/2019 of 10/08/2019 relating to the prohibition of manufacturing, importation, use and sale of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items, states that any person, who imports plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to the dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items, and to an administrative fine equivalent to ten times the value of those plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items.
In article 11, a wholesaler of plastic carry bags and single use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf700, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.
In article 12 of the same legal instrument, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf300, 000 and seizure of those plastic carry bags or other items in the same category.
Meanwhile, Musabyimana admitted, after her arrest, that she is supplied by other traffickers, who sneak polythene bags into Rwanda through porous borders and transport them on bicycles through Ngarama Sector, also in Gatsibo.
CIP Twizeyimana thanked the residents for their community policing spirit and neighbourhood watch against such acts of environmental degradation and other criminal acts.
New cases were found in Kigali:85, Gatsibo: 57, Ngoma: 41, Gicumbi: 27, Huye: 18, Rulindo: 11, Karongi: 11, Musanze: 10, Nyagatare: 9, Gisagara: 7, Nyanza: 6, Kirehe: 6. Burera: 5, Rubavu : 5, Muhanga: 3, Rusizi: 2, Kamonyi: 2, Nyamagabe: 2, Ruhango: 2 and Nyamasheke: 1.
It is the first time Rwanda records the highest number of COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic emerged.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March 2020. Since then, 12 170 people have been tested positive out of 812,943 sample tests of whom 7973 have recovered , 4035 are active cases while 162 have succumbed to the virus.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) officials as well as family members have received the fallen peacekeeper at Kigali International Airport.
Sgt Nsabimana was killed on 13 January 2021 during an attack by elements of an armed group opposed to the peace process in CAR.
RDF has expressed heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the fallen soldier.
Sgt Nsabimana will be laid to rest at Kanombe Military Cemetery.
The body of Late Sergeant Nsabimana arrives in Rwanda, one day after the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the Government of CAR paid last respects to him.
The Mission bid a final farewell to the fallen peacekeeper yesterday in a memorial ceremony held at MINUSCA force Headquarters. In attendance were the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in CAR Denise Brown, the MINUSCA Force Commander General Sidiki Traoré and CAR Army Chief of Staff, General Zephirin Mamadou.
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Denise Brown saluted Sgt Nsabimana Jean D’amour: “United Nations appreciates his sacrifice to fight for the protection of civilians, peace services, stability and CAR population dignity” she said while also appreciating the dedication of Rwandan Contingent.
Rwanda has been contributing to CAR peacekeeping mission since 2014.
For those that have survived the cruel jaws of the virus, to see another day and tell how they have have had a terrorizing blush with death, relate horrendous experiences.
At the beginning of this week, the Governor of Northern Province, Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi told IGIHE that he is among people who recently recovered from COVID-19.
“I was tested positive and got shaken. I now know well its devastating effects. People should understand that Coronavirus is a severe disease that kills. Avoid complacency and speculations that it is for Kigali residents,” he says.
Jean Léonard Dukuzumuremyi, 31, of from Cyuve sector of Musanze district in Northern Province has also recovered from Coronavirus. Featuring in a talk show dubbed ‘Amahumbezi’ on Radio Rwanda, he has narrated endured ordeal.
He started developing fever and suffering from flu but didn’t give much attention.
Dukuzumuremyi sought treatment from a private clinic from where he was diagnosed with blood infection. After taking prescribed drugs for three days, his health continued to deteriorate that he decided to go for COVID-19 testing in December 2020.
Dukuzumuremyi tested positive and felt uncomfortable whenever he could remember that he respected health guidelines.
“Sometimes, the youth think doing physical exercises or building six-pack muscles develops strong immune systems. It is wrong. I would like to remind them that that I was hit hard and felt much pain. I felt distressed when I received COVID-19 positive results. I was among patients in critical conditions using ventilators to breathe,” he said.
Dukuzumuremyi had lost hope for recovery but he is thankful to God that he recovered.
“When I was on ventilator, I felt closer to the doors of the Heaven. I was very weak and suffering, feeling that death was knocking. I was in distress,” narrates Dukuzumuremyi.
He advises the youth to take advantage of his and other testimonies to strengthen preventive measures.
“Covid-19 is a dangerous killer disease that firstly affects you psychologically. Relatives can pay visits to patients suffering from other diseases but Coronavirus leaves a patient into depression. A patient lives out of family contact knowing that she/he might succumb to the virus anytime,” reveals Dukuzumuremyi.
Sandrine Tukayisabe has also recovered from Covid-19. As the pandemic emerged, she couldn’t believe that everyone can catch it until she tested positive.
“You might not succumb to the virus but can transmit it to relatives and other members of the community. I have not yet fully regained strength but my health conditions are improving,” notes Tukayisabe.
She advises the public to respect instituted health guidelines because Coronavirus sometimes leaves side effects after recovery.
“A patient can recover from Coronavirus but sometimes with health complications. For instance, my body is still weak after recovery,” says Tukayisabe.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
{{Far reaching}}
The pandemic’s unprecedented effects have not only affected cultural bonds but also had a huge devastating impact on the global, business and individual economies due to measures implemented to contain the spread of the virus.
Since the first COVID-19 patient was confirmed in Rwanda on 14th March 2020, new infections have been on rise; 11,860 people tested positive out of 808,584 sample tests. Of them, 7812 patients have recovered, 3895 are still getting medical attention while 153 have succumbed to the virus.
As Coronavirus emerged in Rwanda, all schools halted activities; students were facilitated to return home. A lockdown that lasted for 40 days was also imposed allowing only essential services to continue operating while adhering to heath guidelines. These include food markets, pharmacies and health facilities among other essential services.
The lockdown was eventually discontinued that travel services, hotels and restaurants, wedding ceremonies, tourism activities, businesses, sports, gaming activities among others were gradually allowed to reopen adhering to Coronavirus preventive measures.
Schools were among other latest activities allowed to reopen. After universities reopened in September 2020, secondary and primary schools subsequently resumed activities in November and December 2020.
The reopening schedule for the remaining nursery and primary school learners in P1 to P3 was set for Monday 18th January 2021.
However, the reopening didn’t go into effect in all parts of the country as planned.
The upsurge in Coronavirus cases in December 2020 had triggered stringent measures that saw the Government extending curfew hours from 10pm to 8pm and prohibited all forms of social gatherings (in public or private settings).
Early January 2021, the Government imposed inter-district lockdown that was later followed by the imposition of lockdown in Kigali as per resolutions of the cabinet meeting held on 18th January 2021. The decision is driven by the fact that Kigali has been a major hotspot for new Coronavirus cases.
For instance, Rwanda registered 1402 new COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths from 11th to 17th January 2021. The majority of new cases were found in Kigali City with highest figures of new infections which started increasing gradually towards the end of last year. The Ministry of Health shows that 862 of these cases and 19 deaths were recorded in Kigali in the same week.
Considering the socio-economic adverse effects brought by the pandemic, everyone should own the fight against Coronavirus as the world strives to distribute recently manufactured vaccines. It has been evident that everyone has risks to catch the virus if preventive measures are not appropriately adhered to. Thus far, stressing the need for consolidated efforts to defeat the pandemic which has affected the world in many aspects of life.
Initially, the public didn’t draw much attention to the virus with some speculations that it is a disease for wealthy people. This might have been among other causes driving complacency and violating instituted health guidelines.
As days go by, it is becoming evident that the pandemic was wrongly perceived considering the steadily rising new Coronavirus cases and deaths registered countrywide.
Dr. Kigabo, the former chief economist at the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) breathed the last on 15th January 2021 in Kenya where he was getting treatment.
His body was flown to Rwanda yesterday and taken at Kacyiru Hospital.
Dr. Kigabo’s relatives have told IGIHE that burial is planned next week when his wife is expected to be out of quarantine.
“We have to wait until his wife is out of quarantine but his burial is arranged on Tuesday next week. She might be released on Sunday,” said Pastor Irakiza Rweribamba Isaac, Dr. Kigabo’s elder brother.
Dr. Kigabo was also a board member of Economic Policy Research Network Rwanda (EPRN). Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Dr. Kigabo died at the aged of 57. He left a wife and five children.
Dr. Kigabo holds a Ph.D in monetary, finance and international economics at University of LYON 2/France and Masters in Applied Mathematics. He joined the National Bank of Rwanda in 2007 as Chief economist, after serving many years as Director, academic affairs and Rector of Kigali Independent University.
Kigabo has been teaching following courses at the same university but also at University of Rwanda and Jomo Kenyata University at bachelor, masters and PHD levels: econometrics, monetary economics, applied mathematics and microeconomics.
He has an extensive experience in research in different areas including monetary policy, financial inclusion, issue related to financial sector development, development economics and regional integration among others.
Kigabo supervised or co-supervised PHD students in Rwanda and in different universities in Europe.
As chief economist of the National Bank of Rwanda, Dr. Kigabo played an important role in formulation and implementation of monetary policy in Rwanda and Government of Rwanda economic policies as well as the development of financial sector.
He also played important role in negotiation of policies with different stakeholders including the International Monetary Funds and the World Bank.
Bisate Lodge is part of Wilderness Safaris which runs 40 luxury lodges across Africa.
The ranking was made by Elite Traveler, company that writes about luxury lifestyle news and travel among others that listed the hotels by continent.
Grootbos a Private Nature Reserve in South Africa, and Bisate Lodge two facilities on African continent appearing on the list.
Elite Traveler has revealed that listed hotels below have the credentials to prove that they are operating in a way that protects the natural world, not just hopping on a trend.
“From caring for the immediate surrounding landscape and its wildlife to operating at a fully carbon-neutral level, our top picks of the world’s most luxurious prove that hotels can be eco-friendly without needing to sacrifice the impeccable levels of service and comfort that discerning travelers are accustomed to,” reads part of introductory message introducing the top ten hotels.
Bisate Lodge was inaugurated by President Paul Kagame on 1st September 2017.
In 2019, it was upgraded to five star, becoming the second upcountry facility receiving the ranking following One & Only Nyungwe House.
It is among 40 hospitality establishments awarded between 1 (one) to 5 (five) stars by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) during the 2019 Hospitality Grading ceremony held at Kigali Convention Center. The 1-5 star grading system helps to differentiate the quality of services that establishments render to their clientele.
The criteria used to grade the establishments range from their location, site, and environment, architectural design and features, capacity, reception area, information services, hours of service, decor, amenities and accessories and regulation of temperature among others as per the ‘East African Criteria for Standardization of Hotels, Restaurants and other Tourist Accommodation Facilities’.
Bisate Lodge is a natural fit on a roundup of the world’s best eco-friendly hotels. Nestled into the heart of a natural amphitheater formed by an eroded volcano, the design of Bisate Lodge is impressively unique. A series of nestlike thatched forest villas form the lodge’s luxurious accommodation, all of which boast spacious verandas offering enchanting views of the surrounding hillside.
Aside from the distinctive architecture, rare wildlife sightings are the main appeal at Bisate Lodge. Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is famously home to the endangered mountain gorillas, with guests invited to experience a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the majestic animals. In addition to the mountain gorilla, the park is also a critical habitat to a variety of other mammals, including the side-striped jackal, buffalo, golden monkeys, elephants and Egyptian mongooses, among others.
In addition to providing unrivaled guest experiences, Bisate Lodge is working hard to protect and preserve its surrounding landscape as well as the animals that inhabit it.
Its various environmental initiatives include habitat reforestation with the intent of recreating the indigenous rainforest as well as mountain gorilla conservation, with the aim of becoming a Centre of Excellence for great-ape research. Holding on to the belief that every guest is a philanthropist, Bisate Lodge encourages tourists to actively engage with these initiatives during their stay and beyond.
Other hotels that appeared on Elite Traveler’s list include, Pikaia Lodge from Galápagos, Habitas Tulum from Mexico, Whitepod from Switzerland, Borgo Pignano from Italy, Song Saa Private Island Resort from Cambodia, Soneva Fushi from Maldives and Kokomo Private Island from Fiji.
The meeting also decided that only essential services will continue to be offered.
As Rwanda National Police (RNP) continues to facilitate residents of Rwanda to access essential services following the lockdown in City of Kigali and movement restrictions in other parts of the country as one of the measures to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic; the force has urged the public not to abuse the platforms put in place to assist those seeking movement clearance permits.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera has said that there are some individuals, who seem to be using the platforms for no good reason, thus affecting others seeking clearance for urgent or emergency reasons.
The movement clearance can be applied through the web platform www.mc.gov.rw or dialing *127# and follow the instructions.
In the first 24 hours of the lockdown in Kigali, RNP received 11,928 movement clearance requests of which 9,359 were approved while 2,569 others rejected.
“The approved requested had valid grounds like those going for shopping, banking and medical services as well as other emergencies. However, the challenges we face are people, who seem to be playing with the platforms giving no reasons or baseless grounds for the movement permit,” CP Kabera said.
He added: “Some people seem not to understand what essential services are or the purpose of the permit. For example, someone applies for movement clearance permit to go to Nyagatare or Rusizi arguing that they will go there on foot, which is literally impossible. Others request for a one month clearance when the lockdown or restrictions will be reviewed in the next 15 days.
A movement clearance is for one day to facilitate the applicant to go for essential services. Different relevant institutions have released detailed lists of essential services.”
According to the spokesperson, the process of reading and responding to such “unserious” applications affects others with sound and emergency reasons.
“You can imagine how many people were affected in the process of reading and responding to the 2,569 rejected applications! We urge the public to read carefully and understand the national directive and other guidelines issued by different institutions especially the Ministry of Local Government.
We also provided contact lines; 0788311606, 0788311456, 0788380841 and 0781753090 for the people to get further clarification and assistance because we know there might be those with valid reasons but fail to provide enough information required to get the movement permit.”
Among others, 312 new cases have been found out of 4247 sample tests while 232 have recovered.
The statement released last night shows that new cases were found in Kigali: 186, Gicumbi: 22, Nyanza: 18, Rulindo: 13, Musanze: 13, Ngoma: 11, Gatsibo: 9, Karongi: 8, Muhanga: 7, Nyagatare: 4, Rubavu: 4, Gakenke: 4, Nyamasheke: 4, Rusizi: 2, Kamonyi: 2, Nyamagabe: 2, Gisagara: 1, Ruhango: 1 and Huye: 1.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 patient on 14th March last year. Since then, 11860 people have been tested positive out of 808,584 sample tests of whom 7812 have recovered, 3895 are active cases while 153 have succumbed to the virus.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The Mission bid a final farewell to the fallen peacekeeper yesterday in a memorial ceremony held at MINUSCA force Headquarters. In attendance were the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in CAR Denise Brown, the MINUSCA Force Commander General Sidiki Traoré and CAR Army Chief of Staff, General Zephirin Mamadou.
The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General Denise Brown saluted Sgt NSABIMANA Jean D’amour: “United Nations appreciates his sacrifice to fight for the protection of civilians, peace services, stability and CAR population dignity” she said while also appreciating the dedication of Rwandan Contingent.
On behalf of the President of the Republic of CAR, the Inspector General of Central African Armed Forces, Major General Leopord Bruno Izamo, posthumously awarded Late Sgt NSABIMANA Jean D’amour ‘Medaille de chevalier d’ordre de la reconnaissance Centrafricaine’, one of the highest honor in the CAR.
Biden, sworn in at 11:49 a.m. ET, used a 21-minute inaugural address to call for unity and offer an optimistic message that Americans can get through dark moments by working together. The ceremonies were scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic, with heightened security measures arising from the Capitol riot exactly two weeks ago.
“Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew, and America has risen to the challenge,” Biden said early in his address. “Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause: the cause of democracy.”
Biden pivoted to the challenges ahead, acknowledging the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States and become a polarized issue unlike in most other countries. Biden looked out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemic’s deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nation’s renewed reckoning on racial injustice.
“Those 400,000 fellow Americans — moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbours and co-workers — we’ll honour them by becoming the people and nation we know we can and should be,” he said, before asking for a silent prayer on their behalf.
Biden called on Americans to overcome divisions, declaring that “without unity, there is no peace.”
“We must end this uncivil war that pits red versus blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal,” he said. “We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.”
There was, he said, “much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain.”
“Few people in our nation’s history have been more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we’re in now.”
Biden also hailed the historic achievement of his Vice-President Kamala Harris. Harris took the oath administered by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, becoming the first Black, South Asian and female vice-president.
Harris, who spent some of her teen years in Montreal, was said to be using a Bible in the swearing-in ceremony that belonged to Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court justice.
Biden and his wife, Jill, began the day by attending a service at Washington’s Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Along with Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, those in attendance included: both Senate leaders, Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Chuck Schumer, as well as Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Biden is only the second Catholic president in U.S. history after John F. Kennedy, and St. Matthew’s is the seat of the Catholic archbishop of Washington.
A Capitol police officer hailed as a hero for his actions during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol accompanied Harris and Biden at the west front. Officer Eugene Goodman, a Black man, confronted the overwhelmingly white insurrectionists and led them away from Senate chambers.
{{Family Bible brought out again}}
Prominent U.S. politicians past and present proceeded to the west front shortly before 11 a.m., with 44th president Barack Obama and wife Michelle getting a notable round of applause. Two other past presidents arrived with their wives — Bill and Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush and his wife, Laura — while the oldest living president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, had sent his well wishes.
Vice-President Mike Pence was the highest-ranking official from Donald Trump’s administration to attend the inauguration, but not Trump, the first outgoing president to skip the ceremony since Andrew Johnson more than a century and a half ago.
Biden used a Bible for his swearing-in that has been in his family since at least 1893. Several inches thick, it is the same Bible he used twice when being sworn in as vice-president and seven times as a senator from Delaware.
Although the festivities were radically scaled down due to the pandemic as well as security threats, a steady stream of A-list names signed on, headlined by Lady Gaga singing the national anthem, with Jennifer Lopez singing This Land Is Your Land and America the Beautiful and Garth Brooks performing Amazing Grace.
An invocation was given by the Rev. Leo O’Donovan, a former Georgetown University president, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Andrea Hall, a firefighter from Georgia. Amanda Gorman, the first national youth poet laureate, gave a riveting address, while the benediction was given by a Biden family friend, Rev. Silvester Beaman of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Wilmington, Del.
Biden, Harris and their spouses paused on the steps of the U.S. Capitol while leaving to observe the procession of ceremonial military regiments. Several groupings passed by the steps, with military members saluting the new president and musicians playing traditional patriotic tunes such as Yankee Doodle Dandy.
The couples were then joined by the three former presidents and their wives at Arlington National Cemetery for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner by a brass band and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
As Biden was ushered in, congratulations poured in from around the world, including statements from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Pope Francis sent a message to the second Catholic U.S. president, saying he hoped Biden’s decisions would be guided by justice, freedom and respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those with no voice.
{{Long political career}}
Biden becomes just the seventh person to have served as senator, vice-president and president and the first to achieve that feat since Richard Nixon. While on paper that wealth of previous experience may give the impression of inevitability to his becoming president, there were two failed bids and multiple points along the way where one could reasonably doubt he’d ever become commander-in-chief.
Biden took his first oath of office as a Washington politician just over 48 years ago, in a hospital room in Delaware as his two sons recuperated from a car crash that killed Biden’s first wife, Neilia, and their baby daughter, Naomi.
During his years in Congress, he earned the slings and arrows that come along with serving in the Senate — a strong reputation for bipartisan work and criticism for his handling of Anita Hill’s testimony at Clarence Thomas’s confirmation hearings from both parties. There were also a pair of brain aneurysms in the late 1980s, one of which was life-threatening.
In 2008, he was picked by Obama to serve as his running mate. Biden, not thrilled with playing second fiddle, later wrote of being persuaded to take the VP job in no small part by his 91-year-old mother, Catherine, who impressed upon him the history of serving under the first Black president. Catherine Biden died in 2010, eight years after her husband, Joe Sr.
Biden had every intention of running for president in 2016, but was waylaid by another tragedy. His oldest son, Beau, expected to become a prominent national politician himself, died at 46 of brain cancer.
As in the past, Biden proved a survivor in the 2020 Democratic race after a slow start, winning the nomination and the general election on Nov. 3.
In addition to his wife Jill, whom he married in 1977, their son Hunter, daughter Ashley and several grandchildren were on hand to watch him become the next U.S. president.
A slimmed-down version of the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue did take place in the end. The Bidens, wearing masks, walked an abbreviated part of the parade route, and then through a military cordon lining the White House driveway with the flags of U.S. states, leading the first couple to the main entrance under the North Portico.
Harris and Emhoff followed shortly after, also walking the abbreviated route wearing masks, accompanied by their extended family.
The inaugural parade featured 1,391 virtual participants, 95 horses and nine dogs.
{{Democrats take control of Senate}}
Biden was expected to immediately begin working, with a stack of executive orders on immigration and other matters awaiting his signature.
One of Harris’s first orders of business was to swear in three new senators, giving Democrats the majority in the Senate and across a unified government to tackle the new president’s agenda at a time of unprecedented national challenges.
Harris drew applause as she entered the chamber to deliver the oath of office to Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock and Alex Padilla just hours after taking her own oath at the Capitol alongside Biden.
The three Democrats join a Senate narrowly split 50-50 between the parties, but giving Democrats the majority with Harris able to cast the tie-breaking vote.
