Guyana News

Supporters of the APNU+AFC coalition yesterday harassed representatives of rival political parties, observer groups and members of the media as they stood behind the security barriers outside Guy-ana Elections Commission (GECOM) offices.

Saying that it has no faith in the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) use of Statements of Poll (SOPs) for the tabulation of Region Four votes, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) yesterday called for a recount of all ballots for the electoral district.

The Organization of American States (OAS) Election Observation Mission yesterday withdrew from the country saying that the tabulation process for Region Four was not transparent and it has warned that the legitimacy of any government installed in these circumstances will be open to question.

On the heels of the withdrawal of the Organization of American States (OAS) electoral observer mission over concerns about the lack of transparency in the Region Four vote count, the missions from the Commonwealth, the European Union and The Carter Center yesterday expressed grave concern about the process being used to determine the March 2 election results for Region Four.

Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland yesterday warned that if the voter tabulation for Region Four was not completed in accordance with Wednesday’s ruling by Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, it would constitute a “serious violation of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth”.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire yesterday emphasised that in the tabulation of votes for Region Four, the Statements of Poll (SOPs) must be displayed for all observing the process to see.

The two women who were responsible for the distribution of a sex tape that went viral on social media in January were yesterday each sentenced to three years in jail and fined $5 million after admitting to the crime.

A 27-year-old lumberjack is now dead while another is injured after they were struck by a falling tree at Kumung-Kumung Backdam, Puruni on Thursday afternoon.

Enmore labourer Errol Khan was yesterday morning handed a life sentence for the May 2, 2014 murder of a man with whose wife he had a relationship.

A Friendship, East Bank Demerara resident is wanted by the police in connection with the murder of a gold miner, Akeem Caesar, who was fatally shot more than a week ago.

A minibus conductor was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment for unlawfully and malicious wounding a woman on whom he poured hot water.

The police are currently seeking legal advice in relation to the alleged assault of APNU+AFC activist Vivian Henry, Divisional Commander of Region Two Crystal Robinson has confirmed.

Alliance For Change (AFC) executive Dominic Gaskin today said he was not “sufficiently convinced” that the results declared by the Returning Officer (RO) for Region Four on March 5th accurately reflected the statements of poll from the 879 polling stations.

Region 4 Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo completed the count of votes cast in the General Election just after 7 pm this evening amidst objections from several political parties as well as international and  local observers.

Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland today warned that if the ongoing voter tabulation for Region Four is not completed in accordance with Wednesday’s ruling by Chief Justice Roxane George it would constitute a “serious violation of the fundamental political values of the Commonwealth”.

The Management of the Guyana/Suriname Ferry Service today advised the general public that its services will be suspended from tomorrow, Saturday, 14th March, 2020 until further notice.

On the heels of the pullout today of the OAS observer mission, the missions from the Commonwealth, the European Union and the Carter Center today expressed grave concern about the continued lack of transparency in the determination of the March 2nd election results for Region Four.

In a sign of the deepening crisis for Guyana and the caretaker Granger administration, the OAS election observer mission today announced it was withdrawing from the country as the tabulation process for Region Four is not transparent despite the many complaints about it.

The envoys of the US, UK, the EU and Canada today ratcheted up the pressure on the Granger administration and GECOM by warning that the swearing in of any President on the basis of flawed results could lead to Guyana’s isolation.

The Ministry of Education today advised that with effect from Monday, March 16, 2020, all schools will be closed for two weeks.