Daily Archive: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

CARICOM today expressed regret at the forced withdrawal of a mission to recount votes at the March 2nd general elections and it said that it is clear that there are forces here who do not want the votes recounted for whatever reason.

President David Granger tonight said that he was “deeply disappointed” that a vote recount initiative by CARICOM has been stalled by court action.

(Jamaica Star) Would you buy a COVID DEAL? We are actually talking about food!

(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica has another recorded another case of the coronavirus.

(Trinidad Express) Golden Grove Prison in Arouca was locked down on Tuesday, as prisoners attempted to escape claiming they were fearful of contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The CARICOM high-level team that was due to oversee a recount of votes cast at the March 2 elections has decided to call it quits and will today depart Guyana as a court order today blocked the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from proceeding although both President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo agreed to the process, sources this afternoon confirmed.

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo today warned that there will be serious consequences for persons here engaged in electoral fraud and seeking to establish an illegitimate government.

(Trinidad Guardian) Tobago Police are probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a 56-year-old man who died at French Fort, Scarborough on Monday evening after having sexual intercourse with a woman in a WASA vehicle.

Director General (DG) of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Egbert Field today said that major ports of entry will be closed from midnight tomorrow for 14 days to combat the coronavirus menace.

The Guyana Elections Commission today said it is in receipt of a copy of the Aide Memoire signed by President David Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and witnessed by the Caricom Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque.

(Trinidad Express) A Manzanilla man was killed in a car crash in Sangre Grande on Monday night.

Minister of Health and Wellness Jeffrey Bostic has confirmed that Barbados recorded its first two cases of COVID-19.

MUMBAI,  (Reuters) – India closed the Taj Mahal, its top tourist site, and the financial hub of Mumbai ordered offices providing non-essential services to function at 50% staffing levels as efforts to control the spread of coronavirus in South Asia ramped up.

 (Reuters) – Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc said today it had identified hundreds of antibodies that could potentially treat the coronavirus.

TORONTO,  (Reuters) – Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, banned gatherings of more than 50 people and ordered the closure of bars and restaurants today in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

(Jamaica Observer) The support Zandriann Maye gave her daughter Jahzan McLaughlin during Sunday night’s audition round of American Idol, was the perfect boost for the 18-year-old Jamaican singer.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidadians are far too complacent when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Trinidad Guardian) Emergency isolation mode!   From midnight tonight, non-nationals won’t be allowed entry into Trinidad and Tobago for two weeks, schools will remain closed until April 20 and bars are being asked to close for two weeks to prevent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread.

At midnight tonight the 15 days provided for the declaration of results in the March 2, General and Regional Elections expires but Guyana is no closer to a new government.

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday charged that the governing  A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) is “mortally” afraid of the recount of votes of Region 4 and has blamed them for the constant delaying of the process.

A man who was quarantined in Guyana as part of measures to isolate potential novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases has managed to leave the country.

HOUSTON, (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil yesterday said it will make “significant” cuts to spending in the face of the unprecedented slide in oil prices due to the global coronavirus outbreak, which sent its shares to a 17-year low.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) yesterday announced that it has taken the stance of closing all facilities under its purview amidst concerns surrounding the spread of the deadly COVID – 19 (Coronavirus) in Guyana. 

The confirmation of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases here has already caused a sharp decline in business, compounding the slowdown that began after the March 2 elections.

As the Coronavirus continues to alter the 2020 sporting calendar, president of Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) K.A

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has notified Guyana that the hearing planned for March 23, 2020 on whether it has jurisdiction in the case pertaining to this country’s border controversy with Venezuela has been deferred due to the coronavirus pandemic.

An unbeaten century from Guyanese Junior Sinclair followed up by an 11-wicket match haul from his older brother, Keon intimidated Clark Road into handing a forfeit victory to Diamond United over the weekend.

Consequent on medical advice, the High Court at Suddie, Essequibo Coast and the Anna Regina Magistrates’ Courts will be closed with immediate effect. 

The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the National Parks Commission (NPC) yesterday advised the general public that the Georgetown Zoo will be closed beginning today until further notice.

Several events across the globe have been affected by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, which has been declared a pandemic this week.

The Guyana Police Force Traffic Department has suspended all learner-drivers theoretical classes with immediate effect in light of the recent novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

The CARIFTA Chess Championships has officially been postponed due to the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak across the region.

In an effort to protect the prison environment from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Guyana Prison Service will be implementing special arrangements at all of its prisons, including a reduction in visits.

Jacobs Jewellery and Pawn Shop, owned by Former National Cricketer Steven Jacobs, Monday inked a deal with National Cricketer Kevin Sinclair for the latter to become the company’s Brand Ambassador.

CAPE TOWN – West Indies Over-50s middle order batsman Azad Mohammed hit a fluent century against Canada on Sunday in round three of the Over-50s Cricket World Cup at Western Province Cricket Club just before tournament organizers pulled the curtains on the 12-team show piece due to the threat of the Coronavirus.

In recognition of health risks linked to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Guyana Power and Light Inc.

PAHO/WHO representative Dr William Adu-Krow is urging that Guyanese begin practicing social distancing immediately in wake of a recent study finding that China could have stopped 95 per cent of its coronavirus infections if social distancing and quarantining had been initiated just three weeks earlier.

Dear Editor, Never has it been more apparent the unacceptable levels of callousness and incompetence in Guyana’s modern healthcare system, than with the post and pre-events surrounding the discovery of ‘Patient Zero’ in the first confirmed case of the deadly Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Guyana’s shores.

MANCHESTER, England, (Reuters) – FIFA is urging all football assocations to publicise the World Health Organization’s preventive measures against the spread of the coronavirus, Gianni Infantino, president of world soccer’s governing body, said in a letter to its members yesterday.

PARIS, (Reuters) – The coronavirus pandemic must have reached its peak and be on the wane by the end of May otherwise the Tokyo Olympics cannot be staged on schedule, the head of the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) said yesterday.

Dear Editor, Stakeholders and observers of our electoral process might have noted the idea of the blockchain, said to be a foolproof basis for digital business, by which every transaction is posted to an open site, where any subsequent alteration to its details is equally evident.

The U.S. Embassy Guyana is suspending all routine visa services in order to comply with Government of Guyana guidance on preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Barbados Pride have virtually sewn up the Regional first class title after opening up a 40-point lead at the top of the standings, following their crushing win over reigning champions Guyana Jaguars last weekend.

Dear Editor, I read with great interest and concern a recent Kaieteur News article about the Ministry of Public Health’s efforts to track persons who had mingled with the family of the first person to test positive for the Coronavirus in Guyana (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2020/03/16/health-ministry-tracks-hundreds-who-mingled-with-relatives-of-dead-coronavirus-victim/).

Yesterday, several Governments in jurisdictions into which Caribbean Airlines (CAL) operates including Canada, the Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, St.

(Reuters) – World soccer governing body FIFA said yesterday that it was looking into the potential impact postponed fixtures would have on player contracts after the coronavirus outbreak suspended leagues across Europe and the rest of the world.

The fire which gutted the Raja Yoga Centre at Kingston, Georgetown late last month is suspected to have been electrical in origin, according to Fire Chief Marlon Gentle.

(Reuters) – Coronavirus fears led to a historic drop in U.S.

Dear Editor, I welcome the high level Caricom team. Please proceed to make yourselves useful in our dear land.

LONDON, (Reuters) – The European, Americas and final world qualifying boxing tournaments for the Tokyo Olympic Games were suspended yesterday after falling victim to the coronavirus outbreak sweeping the globe.

A young robbery accused had his bail revoked yesterday after being held for questioning at the Sparen-daam Police Station in relation to a similar attack.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Major U.S. airlines sought a government bailout of more than $50 billion as the White House is urgently drafting a financial assistance package in the wake of the steep falloff in U.S.

LAHORE, (Reuters) – The final leg of Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan, which involved a test match and a one-day international next month, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the cricket boards said yesterday.

Dear Editor, The PNC’s counting agent comrade Aubrey Norton appeared on NCN TV and taught me that the Statements of Poll are compiled from the polling places’ Tally Sheets.

Dear Editor, A new catch phrase coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic is “social distancing” which simply means self-quarantine.

(Reuters) – England’s Premiership Rugby season has been suspended for five weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak, the league announced yesterday.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has presented the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service with a proposal for a stimulus package for the tourism industry amid the global downturn in travel resulting from the novel coronavirus outbreak.

SAO PAULO,  (Reuters) – Brazil is set to hire more doctors to fight coronavirus and the drive will include Cuban doctors in Brazil as part of a medical program that was canceled in late 2018 amid a diplomatic spat between Havana and Jair Bolsonaro, the health ministry said on Monday.

Amid coronavirus concerns, the Ministry of Education yesterday urged against private lessons.

As fears continue to rise over the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the Peace Corps has announced the temporary suspension of its activities and the withdrawal of its volunteers worldwide.

LIMA/ASUNCION/SANTIAGO,  (Reuters) – Countries around Latin America tightened restrictions further yesterday to try to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, with Peru deploying military personnel on the streets, Costa Rica closing borders and Paraguay imposing an effective curfew.

Dear Editor, Amidst all the outright democratic assaults foisted by APNU on this country in the last two weeks, the statement from Charlene Phoenix, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is right up there with one of the most dangerous signals of where this country may be heading.

MANILA/SINGAPORE,  (Reuters) – The Philippine Stock Exchange closed indefinitely yester while currency and bond trading were suspended, the first market shutdowns worldwide in response to the coronavirus, with authorities citing risks to the safety of traders.

CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) – Cricket South Africa (CSA) yesterday suspended all forms of the game in the country for 60 days after the government banned gatherings larger than 100 people in response to the threat of the coronavirus outbreak.

LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain’s most iconic steeplechase the Grand National has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Jockey Club said yesterday as the country ramped up its response to the crisis.

(Trinidad Guardian) Trinidad and Tobago has a fifth confirmed case of coronavirus COVID-19.

Dear Editor, When Mr Arokium taught me in sixth standard in Sacred Heart in 1960, his maths was clear on a. 

Four witnesses are still to testify for the prosecution in the preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the charge against Osafo Grundell called ‘Curl Up,’ and James Fraser, called ‘Damo,’ who are charged with the murder of taxi driver Marlon Seon Rodney.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A federal judge approved U.S. prosecutors’ request last night to dismiss the criminal case against a Russian firm accused of funding a propaganda operation to meddle in the 2016 presidential election to sway it in President Donald Trump’s favor.

SANTO DOMINGO,  (Reuters) – The Dominican Republic has registered its first death from coronavirus, a 47-year-old woman who recently returned from Spain, the health ministry said yesterday.

In normal times a sudden drop in the price of oil would elicit a collective sigh of relief among Caribbean governments and Central Bankers.

Otis Pearson, known as ‘Otisha’, was yesterday granted reduced bail on a charge of robbery with violence.

Dear Editor, I am a local election observer accredited by GECOM.

The Ethnic Relations Commission, (ERC) has welcomed the decision by President David Granger and Leader of the Opposition, Dr.

(Reuters) – American Tiger Woods sought to put the cancellations of a slew of golf tournaments due to the coronavirus into perspective yesterday, saying the well-being of others trumped the sport.

RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Hundreds of prisoners broke out of four Brazilian jails yesterday, the day before their day-release privileges were due to be suspended over the coronavirus outbreak, Sao Paulo state prison authorities and local media reported.

By Hans-Werner Sinn MUNICH – The fight against COVID-19 is a full-on war.

With all schools closed from yesterday for two weeks over the coronavirus concerns, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is sanitising all school and MoE buildings.

Towards the end of last week, after it had been announced that a Guyanese woman who had traveled home from the  United States  and shortly afterwards had become the country’s first coronavirus fatality, the national mood underwent a perceptible shift.