Confirmed COVID-19 cases remain at 82; 3 patients in ICU

The Ministry of Public Health has reported that as of May 2, 2020 the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guyana remains at 82. This is inclusive of 9 deaths.

Twenty-four persons have been medically cleared and have since recovered from the virus.

A total of 582 persons have been tested, with 500 of those tested returning negative.

In institutional quarantine, there are 18 persons while 49 others are housed in institutional isolation.

The number of patients currently in the COVID-19, ICU at the GPHC has moved up to three.

Globally the WHO had reported 3,175,207 confirmed cases with 224,172 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed cases is 1,291,917 with 69,087 deaths.

The Ministry of Public Health is again calling on all citizens to heed the health advisories and observe the correct hygiene measures and precautions. Citizens are also asked to always   practice social   distancing in   the   workplace, public spaces, and while using public transportation so as reduce the spread of the coronavirus diseases.

West Ruimveldt youth wanted for murder

Following a dispute between two neighbors, a 56- year-old woman is dead after she was shot in her right eye.

A wanted bulletin has been issued for Timothy Evans, an 18- year- old of Lot 67 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown who police believe is responsible for her death.

The teen went into hiding after allegedly committing the crime.

Florence Forte, 56, of Front Road, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown heard a commotion outside of her house, upon checking, she saw two neighbors, Brian Wiltshire and Timothy Evans in a scuffle. 

According to Regional Commander, Wiltshire witnessed Evans stealing his friend motorcycle, however the two men, (Wiltshire and his friend) ventured to Evans house in an attempt to reclaim the stolen motorcycle but Evans became furious and opened fire on the men. 

As a result Wiltshire was shot in the chest and is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit. 

Florence who was at the time standing outside looking at what was happening was shot to her right eye; she was taken to the GPHC where she subsequently died. 

The police are asking anyone with information that will lead to the arrest of the teen to contact them on telephone numbers 226-1389, 227-2128, 226-7476, 226-7065, 227-9271, 227-1611, 227-1149, 227-1270, 225-6940, 225-3650, 226-1928 or the nearest police station.

Men involved in fatal Berbice River boat accident remanded you prison via Skype

By Farah Bates – Twenty – year -old Kevin Archer, Ramnarine Punwasie, 23, Carl Williams, 51,  boat captain Marvin Kissoon, 39, and Natram Punwasie, 38, were on Thursday charged and remanded to prison for possession of narcotics when they appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court before by Magistrate Peter Hugh.
The men were involved in a boat collision on Tuesday with a smaller vessel and reportedly fled the scene after the incident, however; Kissoon who was the captain of the larger vessel was arrested at his residence and taken into custody.
The man then told police that he was heading North, while the smaller boat was heading South when it came into his path, as a result of the collision the boat which had 4 occupants, Freeman Denheart, Romario Denheart both of Heatburn Village, East Bank Berbice and Godfrey Lindey and Julian Mckenzie of Sandhill Village, Berbice River were all thrown overboard and drowned.
After an intelligence led operation by ranks in ‘B’ Division, the police were able to arrest 3 other crew members who were found with 32 taped parcels of suspected cannabis weighing over 81 Pounds at Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice.
A fourth occupant of the said boat was wanted by police but he subsequently turned himself into police Wednesday morning.
At the court proceeding via Skype, when the charges were read to them by Magistrate Hugh, the men pleaded not guilty and were further remanded to prison until May 7th where they will appear for a second hearing.

High – level CARICOM team to arrive May 1

Three member CARICOM high-level team to arrive tomorrow to oversee the National Vote Recount.

The information was related to members of the media by Gecom’s public relations officer Yolanda Ward last evening. She said the specifics of the flight details are not known at this point in time.

The members of the Caricom team that are expected are:

Ms. Cynthia Barrow-Giles – Senior Lecturer at UWI

Mr. John Jarvis – Commissioner, Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission

Mr. Sylvester King – Supervisor of Electoral Commission of St. Vincent.

Two of those names listed above were here to observe the March 2nd polls.

Emergency measures to continue until June 3rd – airspace remains closed- National COVID-19 Task Force

The National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) advises that:
– the emergency COVID-19 measures gazetted on April 9th by the Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence, and currently in force shall remain in effect until June 3rd, 2020.
– the daily curfew (18:00hrs to 06:00hrs) shall also remain in full effect. Only gazetted essential services and essential workers will be permitted to operate during the curfew period.
– the enforcement of all measures will be expanded and tightened by the Guyana Police Force.
– Guyana’s airports shall remain closed to incoming international passengers until June 3rd. Any request from Guyanese who are stranded overseas to return to Guyana is strictly a matter of public health. All requests therefore will have to be reviewed by the Ministry of Public Health, Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) for guidance and advice. Requests should be sent to local overseas missions (embassies, high commissions, consulates) or directly to the NCTF and email address (to be determined).
These decisions were taken after thorough consideration and deliberations and primarily following the technical advice provided by the HEOC.
The NCTF implores the public to more stringently practice social distancing, adhere to the stay at home orders and observe all public health advisories regarding thorough hand washing and the wearing of face masks.
The NTCF remains concerned about the increasing numbers of confirmed cases in Guyana and the lax attitude of some citizens towards the public health orders and advisories. The extension of the emergency measures, as outlined above, is necessary and advisable in order to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana.

Guyana confirms ninth COVID-19 death

Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence, today confirmed the ninth death in Guyana as a result of COVID-19.

The deceased is Samuel Morris, 67 years old who passed away at approximately 20:20hrs yesterday. Mr. Morris was an Intensive Care Unit patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and had suffered from other complications. He was a known diabetic.

The Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Public Health and the GPHC extend condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Mr. Morris.

The ministry continues to plead with all Guyanese to intensify efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 by practising social distancing, staying at home, wearing face masks and regularly and thoroughly washing hands.

Guyana has recorded 75 cases of COVID-19.
-ENDS-

One of four the four Lusignan prison escapees recaptured 

After being on the run for 9 days, Prison escapee  Sasenarine Bisnauth was recaptured by Police ranks on Wednesday night (April 29th 2020) in the canefields aback of  Beterverwagting Sideline Dam, East Coat Demerara.
According to a release from the Guyana Police Force, the fugitive was arrested without any incident even though he  was armed with a cutlass.
Bisnauth who hails from Tuschen Housing Scheme was being held for armed robbery.
Currently on the run are murder accused  Kenraul Perez of Mabaruma, North West District, Ganesh Dhanraj of Façade, Parika, West Coast Demerara and
Anthony Padmore of Ogle Street Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, who was being held for trafficking cannabis.
The men escaped from the Holding Bay at the Lusignan Prison on April 10th.

Bodies of victims of Berbice River boat collision pulled from river

By Farah Bates – The bodies of the four men who drowned in the Berbice River following a boat collision were discovered on Wednesday.
The men have been identified by relatives as Romario Denheart, 24, a worker attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, 50-year-old farmer, Julian McKenzie, Kidman Lindie, 37,  of 41 Stanleytown , New Amsterdam  and Godfrey Denharte, 60, of Sandhills ,upper Berbice River.
Family members of the men are in a state of disbelief following the unfortunate incident which caused the tragic demise of their loved ones.
Romario’s mother, Paula Solomon in an interview with this newscast said her son left home earlier this week to spend time in the Berbice River with his father.
The mourning mother said her son was expected home next week.
His father, Godfrey Denheart is a farmer in the Berbice River and decided to take the younger Denheart with him to help around his farm and have time away from his hometown when they both met their demise.
Meanwhile, Simone, the sister of Mckenzie told this newscast that her brother worked as a farmer in the Berbice River and lived at Sandhills.
She further stated that her brother has always been there for their family even though he lives away from them.
She was in tears as she spoke about him and how he was loved by many.
The men died after a boat carrying marijuana crashed into them.
That boat was captained by Marvin Kissoon, 39, of Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje.
It is alleged that after crashing into the boat Kissoon and the four occupants he was carrying in his boat fled the scene after the occupants of the capsized boat did not resurface.
They were eventually arrested and found in possession of Marijuana.

GECOM Secretariat in preparation mode for national recount

The secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has commenced the groundwork for the recount of the votes cast in the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

Commissioner Vincent Alexander today told the media that the secretariat is in a “full state of preparedness” for the process and could commence some two days after the CARICOM team that will be scrutinising the process arrives.

“The Secretariat is well prepared. They are on the ground today at the conference centre; they will also be on the ground tomorrow including briefing sessions with the staff. They are not waiting; they are proceeding with pace and they have been advised that they’ll be on the ground for assimilation exercise,” he relayed.

On Monday, the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) disclosed that it had approved the April 30 travel date for the CARICOM team.

GECOM, however, said it should receive official word from CARICOM during today.

“We still do not have the commencement date, because we still do not have the final arrival moment of CARICOM. Once we have that, I think we will be able to specify a commencement date,” Alexander said.

Among the discussions, today during the commission’s meeting, was a proposal by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) for GECOM to provide live streaming to observers who, because of the guidelines, would be unable to physically participate in the process.

However, the concerns expressed in this regard surrounded the fact that the streaming will be offsite where GECOM will have no control of the attendees.

Alexander said the commission has no guarantee that given the manner of their behaviour in the past, the stream will not be “opened to everyone.”

The PSC is also asking that the live stream be broadcasted by Channel 28, the operators of the Guyana Times Newspaper.  Alexander said, however, that some commissioners are of the view that the news outfit has been biased in its reporting, pre and post the March 2, elections. He said the commission is not inclined to give that kind of opportunity to a news outfit that has been biased.

Alexander again raised the issue of some commissioners continuing to stall the recount process, bringing up issues that have already been decided on. He noted that these commissioners have also objected to the guidelines of the NCTF, saying that they are “erroneous, unnecessary and that we can do our own thing.”

“That is not a consensus of GECOM, but the commissioner saw it that way,” Alexander said.

He reiterated that the persons calling for the process to be completed are the very persons who are seeking to revisit matters long-settled.

“They do not have an understanding of how a commission works. A commission makes a decision, notwithstanding your dissenting views. It cannot ad nauseum be reopening its decisions,” Commissioner Alexander underscored.