Destruction of mangrove on the WBD will not have any effects on environments or resident, Minister Edghill said

Objections to the destruction of the mangrove plants at  Malgre Toute/Versailles are heating up but Guyana’s Minister of Public Work Bishop Juan Edghill has said that the USD$100 million  shore base project will not have any debilitating effects on the environment and residents. Edghill said sturdy sea defence structures will be constructed in the vicinity.

On Monday, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon called for the immediate suspension of works at Malgre Toute/Versailles where mangroves have been destroyed to facilitate a private project.

Harmon said it is shocking because this crude and unconscionable destruction of several acres of mangroves will directly jeopardize the lives of thousands of people of Malgre Toute and Versailles and other villages along the West Bank of Demerara – Pouderoyen, Goed Fortuin, Phoenix Park, Plantain Walk and here in Vreed-en-Hoop.

 According to Harmon the destruction of the mangroves will now make families, their properties and businesses vulnerable to extreme flooding from high tides and spring tides. He noted that we have seen what has been happening in other parts of the country, particularly at Little Diamond on the other side of the Demerara river where residents suffered millions of dollars in losses and damage to property, furniture, appliances and household items.

Inmates riot at Brickdam lockup over not being able to use bathroom facilities

Riot broke out at the Brickdam lockups after inmates said they were not getting to use the washroom facilities. The police in a press statement said ranks at the Brickdam Police Station were called into action to extinguish a fire at the lockups after inmates mounted protest action.

The incident occurred between 9:00 and 9:27 pm on Sunday. According to the police, eleven male prisoners started a protest in the lockups by setting fire to their jerseys and food boxes. The prisoners claimed that they were not being allowed to use the toilet nor take a shower.

The police report noted that no one injured nor were there any damage to the cells. None of the inmates The police have said that none of the prisoners have exceeded their 72 hours in detention.

Death of pedestrian being investigated

A 50 year old fisherman was killed in a Saturday evening accident at Better Hope Public Road, East Coast Demerara. Dead is Navindra Ramnarine of 3rd Field Caneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara. According to a police report, their inquiries revealed that the pedestrian was crossing the road from north to south when motor pickup bearing license plate # GPP 8699 which was proceeding west on the southern carriageway, along the southern driving lane collided with the pedestrian.

According to the police, the collision resulted in the Ramnarine falling and sustaining injuries about his body. The driver of the vehicle instead of rendering assistance fled the scene.

The victim was picked up in an unconscious condition by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was examined by a doctor and pronounced dead on arrival. Ramnarine’s body is at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination. The matter is still under investigation.

Opposition Coalition accuses government of mismanaging COVID-19

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll has soared to 325 with 11 deaths recorded over the weekend. To this end the main Opposition Party the Coalition APNU-AFC said it are alarmed by the rapid spike in the number of COVID related deaths.

According to the coalition the spread of the coronavirus in Guyana has spiraled out of control and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime has demonstrated incompetence in effectively managing the spread. The opposition noted that they are deeply worried by the PPP regime’s lax attitude towards the management of the spread of disease. Since August 2, 2020 when the PPP assumed government, the numbers of infected persons and deaths have skyrocketed without any indication of abating.

Guyanese have lost confidence in the PPP regime’s ability to manage the spread of COVID-19. Enforcement of the insufficient measures that are in place is lopsided, selective and prejudicial. The time has come for selective lock downs of hotspot areas and we call on the PPP regime to institute these.

The APNU-AFC repeated its calls and offered to the PPP to accept broad-based expertise in the management of the pandemic and to revamp the National Task Force to be more inclusive.

We urge all Guyanese to take extreme precautions in protecting themselves and their families, as we battle this deadly third wave and what appears to be a new strain of the virus. Social distance, wash or sanitize your hands and wear your masks in public at all times.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Health said based on PCR testing nine COVID-19 related deaths were recorded for the period April 25 to May 7, however, six of the nine deaths were unreported.

The fatalities were from four Regions – 3, 4, 5 and 6. Region 4 accounted for four deaths, Region 6, three and Region 3 and 5 accounted for 1 death each. The age range of those who are died are between 32 to 79 years old.

Opposition APNU/AFC alarmed at the rapid spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths

The APNU+AFC Coalition is alarmed by the rapid spike in the number of deaths related to COVID-19.

There have been 9 deaths in the past 24hrs and 24 deaths over the past 6 days. The spread of the coronavirus in Guyana has spiraled out of control and the PPP regime has demonstrated incompetence in effectively managing the spread.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the families, relatives and friends of the persons who have passed.

We continue to be deeply worried by the PPP regime’s lax attitude towards the management of the spread of COVID-19. Since August 2nd, when the PPP assumed government the numbers of infected persons and deaths have skyrocketed without any indication of abating.

Guyanese have lost confidence in the PPP regime’s ability to manage the spread of COVID-19.

Enforcement of the insufficient measures that are in place is lopsided, selective and prejudicial.

The time has come for selective lock downs of hot spot areas and we call on the PPP regime to institute these.

We also repeat our call and offer to the PPP to accept broad-based expertise in the management of the pandemic and to revamp the National Task Force to be more inclusive.

We urge all Guyanese to take extreme precautions in protecting themselves and their families as we battle this deadly third wave and what appears to be a new strain of the virus.

Social distance, wash or sanitize your hands and wear your masks in public at all times.
-ENDS-

Two in custody for 13.5 grams of marijuana

Two men are in police custody following the discovery of marijuana on the East Coast of Demerara. The police in a press statement said upon entering a residential premises at Area E Ogle, East Coast Demerara, a male occupant of the house seen throwing a black plastic bag through the right side window of the house.

Up retrieving the bag, the police discovered four transparent Ziploc plastic bags which contained leaves, stems and seeds suspected to be marijuana. One of the two men arrested said, “I does use it for my health”, while the said he had no knowledge of it.

The two were taken to the Sparendaam Police Station where the drugs were weighed in their presence and amounted to 13.5 grams. The two are in police stations pending charges, the police said.