Daily Archive: Saturday, March 7, 2020

Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire will on Sunday afternoon rule on whether the High Court has the jurisdiction to hear an application seeking to have the tabulation of votes in Region Four at Monday’s general elections done according to the law prior to the declaration of a final result.

CARICOM Chair, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley today called on electoral officials here and other stakeholders to ensure the transparent conclusion of the tabulation of votes at Monday’s elections by using Statements of poll. 

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire hears an injunction against GECOM. Justice Navindra Singh on Thursday granted an injunction in the matter against the Guyana Elections Commission, Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield and Returning Officer for Region Four Clairmont Mingo.

The Guyana Police Force today said Sewdat Hansraj, the Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice youth who was fatally shot last night, had been attacking ranks with a cutlass.

Homeline Furnishing and Digicel located in Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, were looted last night, while a number of persons were attacked amidst ongoing political protests in the region.

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire will this morning preside over an emergency hearing on an application seeking to have the tabulation of votes in Region Four at Monday’s general elections done according to the law prior to the declaration of a final result.

A Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice youth was fatally shot last night as violent protests that gripped the area earlier in the day continued and another teenager was also critically injured but was unable to be transported to the hospital in Georgetown for further medical care due to the roads being blocked by protesters.

Dear Editor, The events that have unfolded since the general and regional elections of March 2, 2020 bring shame and disgrace to our country.

Scenes of violence unfolded and a bus transporting schoolchildren was attacked, police were stoned and chased, motorists were harassed and roads were blocked and set afire as rioters, protesting what they claimed were “rigged” elections, rampaged at several locations in Berbice yesterday.

Vishual Singh’s second half century in successive matches led Guyana Jaguars to 261 all out while Leeward Islands Hurricanes closed day two at the Providence National Stadium on 73 for two from 45 overs.

Dear Editor, Congratulations to APNU and AFC. More so, AFC. I truly believed they would not have done it, especially Khem with whom I sat for five courses at UG, and found him, then, to be a most diligent and intelligent person.

Protests at Lusignan and Mon Repos on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) erupted into violence and three persons were injured after being shot by pellets fired by the police as hundreds of persons gathered to demonstrate against what they claimed was the “rigging” of Monday’s elections. 

The tense political climate has forced the closure of several places of business and the postponement and cancellation of several events planned, sports notwithstanding.

Dear Editor, I am making an appeal to the chairwoman of GECOM.

KANDY, Sri Lanka, CMC – All-rounder Andre Russell put to rest any lingering fears over his fitness with an exhilarating Man-of-the-Match performance as West Indies swept their Twenty20 International series with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second match here yesterday.

Voicing their concern over “credible allegations of electoral fraud” that they say could influence the results of Monday’s general and regional elections, the heads of the western missions in Guyana yesterday urged President David Granger against a potentially unconstitutional transition of government.

Dear Editor, When a person feels that he has been cheated, he will protest.

The United States Department of State yesterday warned against any declaration of victory or swearing in as a result of Monday’s polls while questions remain about the credibility of the process.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – Having won a slew of major trophies on foreign shores, champions Australia will look to triumph in front of home fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tomorrow when they meet maiden finalists India in the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup decider.

TAROUBA, Trinidad,  CMC – Test wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich fell agonisingly short of an eighth first class hundred while Ashley Nurse belted an aggressive half-century as the pair rescued leaders Barbados Pride on the second day of their seventh round match against Trinidad and Tobago Pride.

Dear Editor, Andaiye often said that silence could be construed as a political act.

The APNU+AFC coalition yesterday called on citizens to remain calm and not engage in any act to disrupt national life or cause any strife or inconvenience even as it noted that the final declaration of results of Monday’s general election by the Guyana Elections Commission is still being awaited.

Dear Editor, Like many Guyanese, I strongly condemn all acts of violence, intimidation, racial slurs and threats carried out by supporters of the two main parties at this tense time in our nation.

A woman of many talents, Natasha Azeez is adept at storytelling, henna artistry, face painting, and crafting, though she has a career as a radio broadcaster.

With protests against the announced unverified election results for Region Four erupting into violence in some cases, the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) yesterday urged its supporters against breaking the law, while saying that it was working to thwart attempts to undermine the vote count.

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Left-hander Paul Palmer struck his second first class hundred and second of the season to pass 400 runs but veteran opener Devon Smith answered with an unbeaten half-century to leave the seventh round contest between Windward Islands Volcanoes and Jamaica Scorpions in the balance yesterday.

Residents of Lethem are anxious for all the roads in the town to be upgraded after seeing the effect that the new asphalt road has had on the town.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has identified Guyana as one of several countries in the Americas that are at high risk of contracting the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to its weak health system.

Every time general elections come around in Guyana, we find ourselves in the same place – shaking our heads as we wait for days for the official results to be announced, the country filled with unease and tension and suspicion rife.

Dear Editor, In light of the posturing of several commentators on social media regarding my words and actions on 5th March, 2020 at the Gecom Command Centre on High and Hadfield streets, Georgetown I feel constrained to provide the following contextual observations.

Inspector Junior Blair, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), on Thursday continued his testimony at the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the charge against Devon Johnson, who is accused of murdering vagrant Andrew Benjamin.

LONDON, (Reuters) – The British government has called a meeting with its sports authorities and broadcasters to discuss how events could be staged without fans present if the coronavirus outbreak escalates, two people familiar with the matter said.

Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points, Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell posted double-doubles, and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers drubbed the Houston Rockets 120-105 on Thursday night.

Now more than ever I believe we are scrutinizing appearance and beauty standards.

Dear Editor, The People’s National Congress must be held accountable in our court of law for their actions. 

The international observer missions from the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States (OAS), the European Union (EU), and The Carter Center, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) yesterday said the results of the general and regional elections cannot be credibly declared unless the count for Region Four is lawfully completed.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) yesterday called on GECOM to complete the tabulation of the Region Four vote at Monday’s general elections utilising the statements of poll.

LONDON/LOS ANGELES,  (Reuters) – Twenty-one people aboard a cruise ship that was barred from docking in San Francisco have tested positive for coronavirus, U.S.

PALM BEACH, Fla./WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – President Donald Trump parted ways yesterday with acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and replaced him with conservative lawmaker and close ally Mark Meadows, who was a strong Trump defender during the Democratic impeachment drive.

LUXEMBOURG,  (Reuters) – At almost 57, Ni Xialian, knows Tokyo 2020 could be her last chance to compete in an Olympic Games and the threat to the event from the coronavirus outbreak is on her mind as she practices her table tennis drillsThe former world champion – she won team and mixed gold for China in 1983 – would be the oldest table tennis player to compete in an Olympic Games by the time the tournament is due to open on July 24.

United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka yesterday called on Guyanese authorities to ensure that the process for finalising the tabulation of results is done in a manner that leaves no doubts about its credibility.

Dear Editor, What’s David Granger and the PNC’s end game here?

Warning about the possible blacklisting of the country, the miners association yesterday called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conclude the tabulation of results for Region Four in accordance with the law.

For the second year, Impact Promotional Models agency hosts its fashion show and fundraiser at the Umana Yana next Saturday.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress  (GTUC) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) yesterday condemned the invasion of GECOM’s High and Hadfield streets office by opposition leaders and supporters on Thursday.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) yesterday flayed GECOM over its handling of the tabulation of results for Region Four at Monday’s general elections and called for a credible declaration using the Statements of Poll.

MEXICO CITY, (Reuters) – Mexico’s president sells himself as lifelong champion of the rights of women, who he calls “more honest” than men.

VIENNA, (Reuters) – A three-year pact between OPEC and Russia ended in acrimony yesterday after Moscow refused to support deeper oil cuts to cope with the outbreak of coronavirus and OPEC responded by removing all limits on its own production.

Five days after Monday’s general elections, the country is still waiting for a final declaration of results and the swearing in of a President.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Edgar Thomas has been relieved of his command as the head of Region 4(A) after reportedly failing to clear the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) command center of all persons in wake of a bomb threat that was reported on Thursday.

Photographs by Keron Bruce and Shaun Edwards Twelve young women have been shortlisted as semifinalists for the Miss World Guyana pageant from a cohort of 25, after competing in a series of challenges.

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa, (Reuters) – Australia will be without fast bowler Mitchell Starc for today’s final one-day international against South Africa after he was given permission to leave the tour to watch his wife Alyssa Healy compete in the women’s T20 World Cup final.

Drawing a link between the oil curse and GECOM’s failure to lawfully tabulate the elections results for Region Four, the Justice Institute of Guyana (JIG) yesterday said that the rule of law is the first casualty of the ‘oil curse’.

In this post-elections drama, the sheets feel cold as restless nights and tension grip us.

Dear Editor, The current attempt by the APNU+AFC party to steal the General and Regional Elections is more cause for relief than worry. 

GUATEMALA CITY, (Reuters) – Guatemala’s government yesterday said it will respect a ruling by the nation’s Constitutional Court that overturns a law allowing the government to pry into the affairs of and even dissolve non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

(Trinidad Express) A man who is seeking a separation from his wife is not prepared to return a Mercedes Benz he said he received as a gift from her father.