Guyana News

Approaching three years since the United States placed a ban on catfish imports from Guyana, the government here is still to comply with regulatory requirements and fishing businesses have had to downscale or export to Canada while they await the reopening of the lucrative New York market.

Eight new cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were confirmed by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) yesterday.

Two weeks after being discharged from the Kumaka District Hospital isolation facility, the Secretary of the Santa Rosa Village Council Zebedee Williams is still suffering from the mental effects of being a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient and he is encouraging persons to continue adhering to precautionary measures and rules that have been instituted for their protection.

Still reeling from the fallout of the closure of the Rose Hall Estate, in Region Six, some East Canje, Berbice residents say the effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic have added to their woes, leaving them in an almost daily struggle to survive.

Up to last Thursday, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) had only five active cases of COVID-19 that originated in the region.

The Small Business Bureau (SBB) has assisted approximately 49 local small businesses that were affected by COVID-19 with relief grants amounting to a total of $7.7 million sourced from the bureau’s own accounts. 

A Leonora, West Coast Demerara resident, who was wanted by the police for the alleged sexual abuse of a child, was yesterday arrested after he was allegedly found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

A 24-year-old labourer is currently nursing injuries to his head while another was taken into police custody after two boats collided in the Lower Pomeroon River on Friday night.

A convict serving time at the Mazaruni Prison is likely to face new charges after he was allegedly found in possession of a bucket containing parcels of suspected cannabis last Tuesday.

Last Update: 614.06                               Movement: 0.59% Current Update: 610.46 YTD                 Movement: 0.74% The Lucas Stock Index (LSI) fell 0.59% during the fourth period of trading in July, 2020.

The Ministry of Social Protection has announced that the payment of old age pensions for August will begin on Tuesday at all post offices countrywide.

The Guyana Court of Appeal is to rule on Thursday, July 30th  at 11 am in the appeal brought by Misenga Jones against the use of the votes from the recount of the March 2nd elections as the basis for the declaration of the result.

Noting that more than four months have elapsed since the general elections and a result is still to be declared, India today said that it looks forward to the early conclusion of the electoral process and that the outcome will be respected by all parties.

The Guyana Court of Appeals’ proceedings in the Misenga Jones v The Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) continues with oral submissions.

Counsel for Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairperson Claudette Singh has asked the Appeal Court to dismiss the challenge to the national recount of votes from the March 2nd polls being mounted by Misenga Jones and Attorney General Basil Williams, saying the grounds cited lack merit.

Lawyers for the opposition PPP/C are maintaining that issues raised by Misenga Jones in her challenge to the recount of the March 2 polls can only be dealt with by way of an elections petition and as a result have urged the Court of Appeal to “respectfully step aside” and allow the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to finalise the results.  

As promised, Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams SC has filed a cross appeal in the challenge to the Chief Justice’s ruling on the elections recount, citing the same grounds listed by the applicant, Misenga Jones.

Conservationist Annette Arjoon-Martins says that satellite imagery from Skytruth, an environmental group, shows that ExxonMobil was flaring gas at its offshore operations when it said it wasn’t but the company has denied the claim.

Australian mining company Troy Resources has complained to President David Granger about criticisms levelled against it by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Dr Vincent Adams, which it has dubbed excessive and unfair—claims Adams has dismissed as seemingly personal and intimidatory.

Embattled Chief Election Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield was yesterday formally read private criminal charges alleging that he engaged in fraud and misconduct in his handling of the results of the March 2nd elections and he was granted his release on a total of $450,000 bail.