Guyana News

The March 16th Aide Memoire governing the recount of votes at the March 2nd general elections at which a CARICOM team was to be present had recognised the supremacy of the constitution in this matter (see below).

Additional kits to test for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are being procured by the Ministry of Public Health, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle confirmed last night.

As of yesterday six persons were being processed for court in Berbice after they breached the partial lockdown order that was recently issued.

A day after Quincy Braithwaite publicly complained of health officials refusing to test him for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) despite displaying severe symptoms, he was tested on Friday.

Since the COVID-19 hotlines were set up, operators have been receiving prank calls which has made contact tracing for the surveillance team and the job of the hotline operators difficult.

In light of the newest confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Guyana, the Supreme Court of Judiciary yesterday updated Emergency Directions for all Courts in Guyana.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) yesterday began the distribution of relief hampers to vulnerable communities as part of the government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Men’s store Urban Life and Sports store MVP Sports, both located at Giftland Mall, have thrown their support behind the Ministry of Public Health’s effort to fight the current COVID-19 pandemic by  donating in excess of 5000 pairs of gloves valued just over $500,000  to be used by the frontline health workers at this critical time. 

Five more cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed by the Ministry of Public Health, bringing the total to 29 cases.

The Guyana Court of Appeal today appears to have cleared the way for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to proceed with a recount of the March 2nd general elections.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo yesterday said that the emergency measures ordered by Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are aimed at avoiding people clustering and not at stopping the economic activity of the country entirely.

Two days after the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) decided to have a recount of votes cast, it remains unclear when, where and how it will be undertaken.

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Keith Rowley yesterday expressed disappointment and concern at the ongoing delay in executing a credible tabulating of the votes cast in Guyana’s March 2 general and regional elections.

There are now 24 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Guyana, while the number of persons who have been tested for the respiratory disease have increased from 83 to 95.

Despite the government’s institution of a partial countrywide lockdown and a curfew in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), some citizens were still slow in fully complying with the emergency measures yesterday. 

A number of buildings, including the former Ocean View International Hotel, are being examined by the government to be dedicated facilities for persons diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) through the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) is mobilising relief items, including masks, hygiene products and food supplies, for vulnerable families and communities expected to be affected by the institution of the nationwide emergency measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Warning that social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could create hardships for public transport operators, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has called for measures to be put in place in order to assist them and other affected workers.

While welcoming the emergency regulations instituted by government to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) on Saturday called for measures to be taken to reduce overcrowding in prisons given the potential risks to prison staff and inmates. 

The Canadian High Commission is continuing to assist Canadians who wish to return home from Guyana with flights out of the country amidst the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.