“Government will support you”, Prime Minister tells soldier injured in a fireworks explosion earlier this year.

Sergeant Gordon Cornette suffered burns to his hands and face during an explosion while on duty at the Guyana Defence Force, Coast Guard base in Ruimveldt, Georgetown back in February of this year.

In that incident,  a  31-year-old soldier was badly burnt when pyrotechnics materials exploded at the Coast Guard’s Ruimveldt base. 90 percent of his body was burnt during the incident and he later succumbed to his injuries.
During a visit to the injured soldier’s Clonbrook, East Coast Demerara home, Prime Minister Mark Phillips assured the soldier and his family that the government has the welfare of all its servicemen and women at heart. He noted that “whatever specialist help he needed to recover, he would get it”.

According to a release from the DPI, the Prime Minister added that “GDF and the State of Guyana will take care of Cornette for the rest of his life. He spoke of the 36 years spent in the GDF and said he was responsible for the care of people who got injured and the families of people who got injured”.

Anya Cornette, the sister of the soldier, expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister for sitting with the family.
She told him that his visit was much appreciated, and she was grateful for him taking time out of his busy schedule to visit and listen. She told him It was reported in the press that the army would visit and he showed up, “so it shows that you kept your promise, and I just want to encourage you to continue putting your best foot forward,” she said.
The DPI release added that similar sentiments were shared by the father of the soldier Gordon Cornette (Snr.).
Also present during the meeting with the family, was Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier Godfrey Bess, Medical Officer, Guyana Defence Force, Major Nigel Langhorne, and other representatives of the GDF.

Three murder accused on the run after escaping from the Lusignan Prison.

The trio have been identified as Arnold Kennedy, Mark Rafino, and Alex Mathias. There are reports that the men may have escaped between last night and sometime Wednesday morning. A senior police source confirmed the escape to this newscast.
All three of the murder accused were remanded to prison in 2019. A manhunt is currently underway by the law enforcement agencies.
It’s unclear how the men made good their escape at this point, but an investigation is currently ongoing.
Details emerging

Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll now stand at 114.

The Ministry of Health today recorded three fatalities as a result of the respiratory infection.

The latest fatalities have been identified as women; a 74 year old and two 64 year olds all from the Demerara-Mahaica Region (4).

The Ministry has also recorded 31 new COVID-19 cases, as of October 18. This takes the country’s total confirmed cases to 3,765. Twelve persons are in the COVID-19 ICU.

Meanwhile, among Caricom countries, Guyana’s death toll ranks fourth behind Haiti with 231 deaths, Jamaica 171 and Bahamas with 116 cases.

In relation to confirmed cases Haiti has recorded 8,946 cases, Jamaica – 8,274 and, Bahamas with 5,628 cases.

Guyana records 110th COVID-19 death

The Ministry of Health (MOH) regrettably informs that as of October 18th,2020, one more person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has died. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 110.

The latest fatality is a 55-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) who died while receiving care at our medical facility.

The MOH expresses sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased and will make every effort to provide all the necessary support during this difficult time to render any assistance needed.

Officials of the Ministry have contacted all relatives and persons to facilitate contact tracing and rapid assistance to everyone who may have been exposed to the now-deceased person. The Ministry is also appealing to the general public to respect the confidentiality of the deceased and his family, and to allow them to mourn their tragic loss in peace.

All Guyanese are reminded to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES (NO. 9), which are in effect until October 31st, 2020. This order emphasises:

•  the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving your home;

•  the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others;

•  and the need for good hand-hygiene to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

If anyone is displaying any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or need any additional information, kindly contact the COVID-19 Hotline 231-1166, 226-7480 or 624-6674 IMMEDIATELYor visit us at www.health.gov.gy.

There is a right way of doing things and a wrong way- President Ali on Success squatters

There must be a sustainable approach in developing housing areas said, President Irfaan Ali. The president was speaking at the Housing and Water’s Title distribution exercise held on Friday at the National Stadium at Providence. Ali said that while his government is willing and ready to assist the residents of the Success squatter settlement, there must be a sustainable approach in developing housing areas.
“I said to my brothers and sisters in Success, who we have reached out to on many occasions, it is not that we want you to be dislodged in the area. We want you to own your homes too. That is why we sent the housing team so many times to see you, but there is a right way of doing things and the wrong way. In Guyana, we have to get
accustomed to doing things the right way.

Otherwise, we will  be developing communities that are not sustainable.”
That’s according to a release from the Office of the President.

The Head of State pointed to the multitude of benefits that come with regularised housing settlements, including creating homes, strengthening families, bringing communities together, and uplifting the country in unity, prosperity, and progress.

He added “If you invest $5 million dollars in a squatter settlement, there is no value because it cannot be used as collateral. If you invested in a structured scheme, there is value. You can capitalise, sometimes for more than $5 million, $7 million, $8 million,” President Ali added.
The president used the opportunity to appeal to Guyanese to let us do it the right way.

Equipment, staff issues at Ophthalmology hospital being addressed – Minister

The National Ophthalmology Hospital at Port Mourant, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), will soon be boosted with equipment and more staff to expand its services.

During a visit to the facility on Tuesday, Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony found sections of the hospital dormant.

“We looked at how we could improve some sections of the hospital. We definitely want to get this hospital operating at some capacity because as it is right now, the main theatres are not working because the microscopes that they have to use are dysfunctional.  There are a whole host of other things that are not working,” Minister Anthony said.

He committed to ensuring that non-functional equipment is either repaired or replaced, and that staffing matters are addressed.

The Minister also noted that for now, several minor surgeries can be done until other equipment is acquired to expand the services at the facility.

In 2014 the hospital had ceased operations after a suspected electrical fire destroyed an operating theatre.  The facility was eventually reopened a year later.