Guyana News

Residents of Number 5 Village, West Coast Berbice this morning blocked the public road with burning tyres.

Despite government’s threats of sanctions against health workers who have been protesting for better benefits for those on the frontline in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) yesterday signalled that it intends to proceed with planned industrial action this week unless its demands are met.

Yuri Garcia Dominguez, one of the principals of Accelerated Capital Firm Inc (ACFI), the company which has been at the centre of what is being described as a huge Ponzi scheme, yesterday announced plans to commence repayment of invested capital to 17,000 clients from October 12th since the firm is not licensed to operate here and has been forced to cease all of its operations.

While saying that political parties have to address needed reforms to avoid a repeat of the impasse that occurred after the March 2nd elections, United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch has emphasised the importance of civil society’s input in inclusive governance, which she said would be supported by Washington.

President Irfaan Ali is insisting that he will not meet with the main opposition until it accepts his government as legitimate, which Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Friday dismissed as a hypocritical attempt to avoid scrutiny.

Dismissing calls for any renegotiation of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil and its partners, Vice President Bharrat on Friday defended the government’s decision not to use the Payara project as leverage to improve the deal as he said it would not be an acceptable business practice.

Given until the end of today to vacate, some squatters at Success, on the East Coast of Demerara, yesterday said they had no plans to leave as they have nowhere else to go. 

As Guyana’s total number of COVID-19 cases rose to over 3,000, the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday reported that a 74-year-old woman from Region Four is the latest casualty.

Twelve-year-old Akazea Austin, who was struck down by a speeding car while crossing the Supply Public Road on the East Bank of Demerara in February, has died.

A youth is now dead after he and other motorcyclists collided along the Friendship, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Railway Embankment on Thursday evening.

An autopsy conducted on the remains of Ronaldo Favourite, the two-year-old who succumbed more than a week ago, almost one month after he allegedly consumed milk laced with a methamphetamine, was inconclusive, according to Police Commander of Region 4(a) Assistant Commissioner Simon McBean.

Region Nine Chairman Bryan Allicock is attributing the control of the spread of COVID-19 in the region to strict enforcement of the COVID-19 emergency measures.

With the country’s major airports due to be reopened to commercial traffic from next week, Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony has said travellers will not face any restrictions once they have returned a negative PCR test for COVID-19 within 72 hours before their arrival in the country.

The Supreme Court of Judicature is moving ahead with the planned restart of criminal trials, which have been on hold since the local COVID-19 outbreak in March of this year and it is assuring that all necessary arrangements have been made to ensure the safety of court users.

Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, the Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), yesterday submitted a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan to Prime Minister Mark Phillips.

Dr Narine Singh has been appointed acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Guyana as Dr Shamdeo Persaud has proceeded on pre-retirement leave.

Over 195 Nappi (Region Nine) residents were able to benefit today from the $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief cash grant announced by President Irfaan Ali earlier last month.

The PNCR today responded to remarks made by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday over a vehicle being used by former President David Granger.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) today said that as of  2 pm today, one other person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died.

Prime Minister, Brigadier Mark Phillips this morning received an initial copy of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan.