Daily Archive: Wednesday, March 18, 2020

(Jamaica Star) The Government is intent on having discussions with Cuba to get more information about its antiviral drug, Interferon Alpha 2B, which is among medications being tried in the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

(Jamaica Gleaner) A woman has been named by the police as a person of interest in the murder of businessman Roger Chang.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica has reported its first death from COVID-19. The 79-year-old male patient, who is from Lionel Town, Clarendon and recently returned from New York, died at an isolation facility at Mandeville Regional Hospital this afternoon.

The Commonwealth Observer Group to the March 2nd general elections today said that two purported tabulations of the Region Four vote by Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo were not credible or transparent.

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) today called on Police Commissioner Leslie James to conduct himself professionally.

(Trinidad Express) The Trinidad and Tobago nationals who returned home after being stranded on a cruise ship with passengers who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, have been taken from the Piarco International Airport to a quarantine location in Toco.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The police have identified a man as a person of interest in the case of missing University of the West Indies, Mona student Jasmine Deen.

Major General (Ret’d) Joe Singh today called on President David Granger to call off the “Dogs of War” and to enable GECOM to complete an orderly recount of the ballots cast at the March 2nd general elections.

(Jamaica Star) “I would come back to Jamaica if I could,” said a terrified Janet, who left the country in search of a better life in the United Kingdom in 2018.

(Jamaica Star) Commercial sex workers who ply their trade on the popular ‘Back Road,’ in Portmore, St Catherine, say the area has become almost a ghost town since COVID-19 emerged in Jamaica.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Though issued a strict warning on the weekend that their licences could be confiscated, some taxi operators have continued to deny nurses their services.

(Trinidad Guardian) The two latest novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases announced by the Ministry of Health on Tuesday night were two Trinidadian women who were aboard the Costa Favolosa cruise ship that was anchored off Martinique for several days.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – The U.S. government canceled all deportation hearings for immigrants not in detention after immigration judges and government prosecutors complained busy courts were putting them at risk of COVID-19 infection.

(Trinidad Express) A man known to police for robbery offences was killed in Ste Madeleine on Tuesday night.

(Trinidad Guardian) Republic Bank managing director Nigel Baptiste says the Finance Committee announced by the Prime Minister has met and had healthy discussions.

As the country ramps up its response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), authorities yesterday announced that the two major airports would be closed to incoming international flights from midnight tonight for the next two weeks.

CARICOM’s electoral rescue mission collapsed dramatically yesterday after legal action against it and Chair of the movement, Mia Mottley charged that there were forces here that do not want the votes from the March 2nd general elections recounted and she warned again that a government sworn in without a credible tabulation would not have legitimacy.

High Court judge Franklyn Holder has granted an injunction restraining the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) from authorising a recount of ballots cast at the March 2 elections based on the agreement between President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Uitvlugt Estate has suffered breakdowns amounting to some 204 hours for its first crop.

ExxonMobil is continuing to monitor the possible implications of the post-elections situation and the global coronavirus pandemic on its operations in Guyana.

A young man was yesterday morning sentenced by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow to three years and three months behind bars after taking responsibility for the crime of raping his 10-year-old cousin when he was 13 years old.

According to opposition-nominated member of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Sase Gunraj, the country is in a very precarious place which requires careful thinking and mature leadership.

(BBC) The England and Wales Cricket Board will discuss the possible rescheduling of the domestic season in response to the coronavirus outbreak tomorrow.

A young man who raped his seven-year-old cousin when he himself was 14 years old was yesterday sentenced to spend the next two years behind bars and ordered to undergo counselling while in prison and even after his release.

(Reuters) – England fast bowler Jofra Archer has posted an image of racist abuse he received on social media and called on authorities to deal with the issue properly.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has asked its supporters to remain vigilant and calm and to stay home until guidance from the Party.

An autopsy has confirmed that Rosignol businessman, Tony Bishnauth, died as a result of the single gunshot injury he sustained to his head during a suspected robbery on his business last Friday evening. 

LAHORE, (Reuters) – The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been postponed with immediate effect after an overseas player showed symptoms of coronavirus, the country’s cricket board said yesterday.

(Reuters) – The International Olympic Committee does not plan any “drastic” decisions about the Tokyo 2020 Games, saying yesterday it remains fully committed to the event being staged in four months’ time despite the global spread of the coronavirus.

The political crisis over the March 2 elections results has further contributed to uncertainty about the future for the 326 workers that were sacked by the RUSAL-owned Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI) in January, General Secretary of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU) Lincoln Lewis has said.

(Reuters) – Roger Mayweather, trainer to nephew and champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, has died at 58 after a long battle with diabetes, his camp said yesterday.

Dear Editor, It is clear to me that GECOM is in collusion with militant elements of the PNCR to rig the election.

As part of measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) the Guyana Police Force will not process applications for Barbecue permits, fairs, parties and any other public event According to a release from the GPF Regional Police Commanders across the country would not entertain such requests until further notice as part of mitigatory measures to dissuade large gatherings and assemblies.

(Reuters) – The Euro 2020 soccer Championship, trumpeted as a continent-wide feast of football to mark the 60th anniversary of UEFA’s flagship tournament, was postponed for a year yesterday as the coronavirus pandemic claimed its biggest sporting casualty yet.

An Alness, Corentyne, family has been advised by regional health officials to self-quarantine themselves after they returned home on the said flight with the first victim of the coronavirus, who died at the Georgetown Public Hospital last week.

Dear Editor, The struggle between the values of high morality versus those of unworthiness and selfishness are self-evident in the pitched battle for a transparent and credible region four vote re-count in order to arrive at who is the victor and the vanquished.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Roadblocks across Venezuela snarled the transportation of goods yesterday and businesses in the capital Caracas reported that food deliveries failed to arrive, in signs that a national coronavirus quarantine could worsen a humanitarian crisis.

Dear Editor, We are dismayed and concerned by the Spotlight Initiative advertisement in the press on Sunday March 15 for a consultancy for the assessment and development of policy options on restorative justice (specifically for domestic violence) and for support for the implementation of the practice in Guyana.

In response to the concern of its many stakeholders in relation to the threat of the Covid-19 (Corona virus), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is assuring the general public that the Authority under advice from the Ministry of Public Health, has implemented and will continue to improve the necessary precautions so as to maintain a safe and healthy work environment for both its staff and taxpayers who do business at its various offices.

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has tested positive for coronavirus, the Athletic reported yesterday, less than a week after the global outbreak prompted the suspension of the NBA season.

MEXICO CITY,  (Reuters) – The econo-mies of Mexico, Chile and Argentina will all likely shrink this year while Brazil should expect no growth as the coronavirus pandemic ravages supply and demand around the world, Credit Suisse said in a note to clients.

The Management of the Guyana/ Suriname Ferry Service wishes to notify the general public that MB Sandaka will be departing Moleson Creek, Corentyne  today, Wednesday, 18th March, 2020 at 9:00 am, while check-in commences at 6:30am-8:00am.

Dear Editor, The Guyana-Canada Business & Professional Corporation (GCBPC) calls upon the Canadian Government to immediately suspend all economic and financial relations with Guyana until a democratically elected Presi-dent and Government are installed in Guyana.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Mar 17, CMC – Cricket West Indies says it will face a logistical nightmare in rescheduling its international home series if the coronavirus pandemic results in a disruption to these fixtures.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 17, CMC – West Indies opener John Campbell says he is pleased with his form in the Regional Four-Day Championship even though he did not achieve his personal targets. 

Dear Editor, It is unbelievable that President David Granger invites the Chair of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, to send a Caribbean delegation to our country to “supervise“ a recount of the electoral results and then his party’s lawyers proceed to challenge the Elec-tions Commission from conducting the recount.

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – The Trump administration said yesterday it was pursuing a $1 trillion stimulus package that could deliver $1,000 checks to Americans within two weeks to buttress the economy as the number of deaths from coronavirus nationwide crossed 100.

The police have ruled out that Sunday’s shooting incident which saw a Leopold Street man being targeted was gang related, Regional Commander (ag) Phillip Azore said.

(Reuters) – Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser, a six-time Olympian, has accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of being insensitive and irresponsible for pushing ahead with the Tokyo Games in the face of a growing threat from the coronavirus outbreak.

Five Cuban nationals were yesterday remanded to prison after each of them pleaded not guilty to illegally entering Guyana by way of Springlands, Corentyne.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Joe Biden coasted to a blowout victory over Bernie Sanders in Florida’s Democratic presidential primary and was projected to win Illinois yesterday, edging closer to the nomination to face President Donald Trump in November’s election.

(Reuters) – The PGA Championship scheduled for May 14-17 has been postponed over coronavirus concerns, the PGA of America announced yesterday saying it hoped to reschedule the event for the summer.

Dear Editor, This letter is addressed to GECOM and the powers that be in the Government.

Dear Editor, I deliberatively muffled my lips long enough, for fear of losing a friend.

Bids were yesterday opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board for consultancy services for geological, geotechnical and topographical surveys for the 1.5 megawatt Kumu Hydropower project and for the provision of security services for a number of locations that fall under the Ministry of Education.

RIO DE JANEIRO/ BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro said yesterday his second coronavirus test was negative and his government asked Congress to authorize a state of emergency that would allow it to scrap fiscal targets and free up funds to combat the virus’ spread.

(Reuters) – This year’s Copa America has been postponed until 2021 due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said yesterday.

The police are awaiting legal advice on the way forward in the matter involving the South Ruimveldt businessman who indiscriminately fired gunshots from his home on Sunday night.

Dear Editor, The PPP’s evergreen legal champion Anil Nandlall has proven himself for the umpteenth time to be an invaluable cog in the party’s wheel.

SYDNEY/CHICAGO  (Reuters) – Australia and Taiwan joined a growing list of countries offering financial aid to their ailing aviation sectors as global airlines announced deeper capacity cuts due to plummeting demand and stricter border controls associated with the coronavirus.

BARCELONA, (Reuters) – Spain’s Olympic Committee (COE) president Alejandro Blanco said he would prefer this summer’s Tokyo Olympics to be postponed because his country’s athletes are unable to train due to the coronavirus pandemic.

(Barbados Nation) Effective immediately, a limit will be placed on the quantity of toilet tissue to be purchased by a single customer.

The city magistrates’ courts have put precautionary measures in place to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Dear Editor, I note that the Sunday Stabroek of February 23 carried a notice by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) viz.

SAO PAULO,  (Reuters) – With alcohol gel supplies increasingly stretched, Ambev SA said yesterday it will use one of its Brazil beer breweries to produce half a million sanitizer bottles for public hospitals to fight the spread of coronavirus.

A friend of mine told me that I was out of touch with the national mood: ‘people voted and they want to know who won’.

MELBOURNE, (Reuters) – New South Wales have been named Australia’s Sheffield Shield champions for the first time in six years after the competition’s final was called of due to the coronavirus, governing body Cricket Australia (CA) said yesterday.

Occupational burnout, fatigue and stigma  must not make health workers  mistreat their parents cautioned Dr Veronica Griffith, Deputy Director of Regional and Clinical Services (RHS), according to a statement from the Ministry of Public Health.

The Transitional Management Committee (TMC), University of Guyana has advised that staff and students of both campuses (Turkeyen and Tain) and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) will be absent from campus and working online for the next two weeks, until March 30, 2020.

Dear Editor, The Ministry of Public Health is metaphorically equated with the heartbeats of the populace and maybe being at the helm of the political party could decrease the efforts Minister Volda Lawrence is able to channel to the health sector.

On Monday, Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister announced that Canada was closing its borders to non-Canadian citizens, with limited exceptions, as of 12.01 am  EDT, on the 18th March, in the hope of restricting the spread 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.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Correia Group of Companies, which includes Trans Guyana Airways (TGA), has implemented an immediate and comprehensive programme to ensure the maximum possible protection and safety of its staff and customers.