Union tells teachers to stay home; rejecting plans to reopen some classes

General Council of the Guyana Teachers’ Union decided not to support Ministry of Education’s plan to conduct classes and examinations during the COVID19 pandemic. The decision was based on the fact that Guyana’s situation remains fluid.

Positive cases of Coronavirus are still been recorded and this posses a threat to the wellbeing of all Guyanese whose desire is to remain healthy.

To this end, teachers are advised to remain in the safety of their homes and continue to give virtual support to learners as they finalize their preparations for their respective examination.

There should be no sense of guilt felt by any teacher since the union’s recommendations to have these examinations written at a later date fell on deaf ears.

We remain committed to the development of Guyana by way of an educated nation, but cannot risk the lives of our dedicated educators, their families and that of our learners.

Further, we remind every teacher that victimization measures will be resisted in the strongest possible way by GTU. Your union will fight to uphold the right to life for every member.

We urge that you remain safe and continue to follow the health protocols established by WHO and supported by Ministry of Public Health here in Guyana.

Grade 6, 11 and 12 students expected to return to school June 15

The Education Ministry on Friday addressed concerns about teachers and students returning to school for the sitting of the NGSA, CSEC and CAPE examinations citing numerous sanitation and other measures to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

As students and teachers prepare to head back to school for a few weeks for major examinations, the Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that it is working in the best interest of students and teachers.

The school day has been reduced to a 4-hour day inclusive of a 30-minute lunch break. Students are only expected to attend on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the commencement of their respective exams.

With some parents raising concerns about student safety, the Ministry of Education team explained the countless measures that will be implemented to ensure safety for all.

Among these include erecting handwashing stations. Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) for the Primary level, Carol Benn said all students will be given a sanitization kit, inclusive of face masks, soaps and hand sanitisers in the first week of re-entry into schools.

Schools will be cleaned thoroughly twice daily and teachers will be equipped with face shields. Physical distancing stickers and other signage will be employed at all schools.

For parents who still have reservations about sending their children to sit the NGSA, there is another option.

Students may be placed in the nearest Secondary School to their home and may be eligible to write a placement examination upon completion of their Grade 9 year once they satisfy the criteria to do so.

All Primary and Secondary school teachers are expected to return to school on Monday, June 8 while students will return from June 15.

Director of the National Centre of Educational Resources Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch said that the examination dates provided are the best, even amid the COVID-19 concerns 

‘The Ministry of Education has been working to get this right for our children. We want our learners to be safe,” Cumberbatch noted.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the closure of 352 nursery schools, 453 primary schools and 139 secondary schools affected almost 190,000 students countrywide.

For students sitting the NGSA, English and Science will be held on July 1 while Mathematics and Social Studies will be written on July 2. The Paper 1 exams are expected to last for one hour each while the Paper 2 examsthe  – except Mathematics – will have a 55-minute timeline.

Salesman charged with the murder of Atlantic Gardens businesswoman

The suspect, Rafeek Khan appeared in the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court this morning before Magistrate Marissa Mettleholzer via skype to answer to the indictable charge.

He was charged with the murder of sixty-one-year-old Monica Singh Beekhary known as Sattie.
The businesswoman was found dead in her Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara home on Monday.

Dead: Sattur Beekharry

When the police arrived on the scene the suspect had concealed himself in the ceiling to prevent being arrested. The lawmen were forced to discharge tear gas into the house to force the suspect out.

He eventually surrendered to the police.
The  post-mortem examination conducted on the body revealed that the woman died from brain a hemorrhage as a result of blunt trauma to the head.  There are also reports that she was beaten to her head and had other injuries about her body.

Back in the courtroom, the accused was represented by attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes in association with two other lawyers who asked that he be medically examined.

Khan was remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on July 20 in court 1 of the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court.

Seven more COVID-19 recoveries recorded

For the third day in a row, the Ministry of Public Health has again reported that there are no new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19); the total number of positive cases remains at 153.

The ministry also disclosed that seven more persons have recovered from the virus. this now takes the total number of recoveries to 77.

To date, the country has recorded 12 deaths.

As of June 4, 2020, 1, 719 tests have been conducted with 1,566 of those yielding negative results.

Currently, three are now 64 active cases are in isolation at various facilities across Guyana; 3 patients in the COVID-19 ICU at the GPHC and 25 persons in institutional quarantine.

Citizens are asked to always practice social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease. They are also reminded to practise frequent hand washing/sanitising and always wear a face mask if they have to go out.

Meanwhile, the WHO has reported that globally the number of confirmed cases has increased to 6,416,828 with 382,867 deaths. While in the Regions of the Americas, positive cases have reached a total of 3,022,824 with 168,553 deaths.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases remain at 153

As of June 2, 2020, the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus remains at 153.

The Ministry of Public Health is also reporting that there are no new COVID-19 related deaths.

Of the 153 cases, Guyana has recorded 12 deaths and 70 recoveries.

Fourteen more tests were conducted with the last 24 hours taking the total number of tests done to 1,672 with the number of negative cases being 1,519.

There are currently 71 active cases in isolation at various facilities across Guyana; 2 patients remain in the COVID-19 ICU at the GPHC and 25 persons in institutional quarantine.

Citizens are asked to always practice social distancing in the workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation to reduce the spread of the coronavirus disease. They are also reminded to practise frequent hand washing/sanitising and always wear a face mask if they have to go out.

Meanwhile, the WHO has reported that as of June 2, 2020, globally the number of confirmed cases has increased to 6,194,533 with 376,320 deaths. In the Regions of the Americas, positive cases number 2,905,432 with death climbing to 163,248.

Mandatory 7-day home quarantine for stranded Guyanese upon return

As the first wave of stranded Guyanese makes their way home during the second week of June, all will be subjected to a mandatory seven-day quarantine at their homes.

Under strict instructions, the returning nationals will not be permitted to leave their homes during the 7 days except to seek emergency medical services.

Further, none of them will be placed into government institutions upon landing in Guyana.

Citizens seeking repatriation to Guyana are required to complete and submit a form and submit a test for COVID-19 via PCR method no less than 48 hours before arrival.

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) will only grant re-entry for citizens testing negative for the deadly coronavirus.

On May 22, the NCTF approved controlled re-entry for approximately 300 stranded citizens abroad.

During the second week of June, the first wave of Guyanese is expected to return from Barbados and by the third week of June, citizens in North America will make their way to home.

Curfew, emergency measures extended to a June 17

The COVID-19 Emergency Measures (No.3) published in the Gazette 29 April 2020, and effective until June 3, 2020, has been extended to 17 June 2020, as advised by the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF).

This also means the 6pm-6am curfew will remain in effect until 17 June 2020.

The Emergency Measures also speaks to, among other things, the restriction on visitations, specific working hours allotted to essential services, preferential treatment for healthcare workers, social distancing and physical distancing protocols, religious worship and domestic travel.

The measures state that persons failing to comply with these measures will be committing an offence under section 152 of the Public Health Ordinance and is liable on summary conviction to the penalty provided under that section.

As such members of public have been cautioned to comply with the curfew and emergency measures that were implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As of June 1, there are no new coronavirus cases. The total number of confirmed cases in Guyana remains at 153, inclusive of 12 deaths and 70 recoveries.