Alleged mastermind in Rose Hall Town businessman’s charged and remanded

By Farah Bates – Daniel Mc Lennon, called “Dutty” of Lot 163 Second Street Rose Hall Town, was today charged for the murder of popular Rose Hall Town businessman Lomenzo Johnny called “Sham”when he appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh.

Murdered businessman Lomenzo Johnny

The 24-year-old is said to be the alleged mastermind behind the gruesome murder of the businessman which was committed on February 27th, a short distance away from his home.

He was charged under  Section 100 (1) (c) (I ) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01  and was not required to plea to the indictable charge.

He was remanded to prison and the matter was adjourned to June 02nd where he will appear at the Albion Magistrates’ Court. 

Mc Clennon, after being on the police’s radar for almost a month was finally arrested by ranks of the CID, Eve Leary, in lane Avenue, Georgetown on Wednesday, April 08th. 

His four other accomplices were arrested by police in Berbice following an intelligence led operation by the ranks almost a week after the death of Johnny and they were able to recover a large sum of cash and the safe which was stolen from the businessman’s home. 

The four suspects, Satram Kushlay, Bilaal McClennon, Navindra Narine and Gopaul Ramgobin appeared at the number 51 Magistrates’ Court last month before Magistrates’ Alex Moore.

They were not required to plea to the charges which stated that Kushlay and McClennon on February 27th, 2020 murdered Johnny at Rose Hall Town meanwhile Gopaul Ramgobin and Navindra Narine knowing that Kushlay and McClennon had committed the act, did receive, comfort, relieve, maintain, harbor and assisted the two men.

Johnny’s body was discovered in a clump of bushes at a construction site a short distance from his home.

Government recalls substandard hand sanitizers

The PURCILL brand hand sanitizers are being recalled from the local markets after an analysis was done on the product efficacy following customers complaints about the product.

The Government Analyst Food and Drug Department noted that after the complaint was made they tested the product for its effectiveness and it was revealed that the hand sanitizer has only 0.53% alcohol as compared to the 62% stated on the label. 

Amidst the global pandemic, COVID-19 a 60% level of alcohol in sanitizers has proven to be effective in killing the virus. 

As such consumers are advised not use the product since it is ineffective for the purpose of sanitization during this state of emergency.

All distributors of the product will be contacted and asked to make immediate contact with the department, and Manufacturers and Importers of sanitizing agents are asked to ensure products are approved by the Department and that they obtain the necessary license and permits for wholesale distribution to the local markets. 

The product was made in China as claimed on the label and distributed by Congreat Enterprises Inc, Miami. 

Finance Ministry rejects rumors that Public Servants salaries and pension are in jeopardy

The Ministry of Finance said it has noted the concern raised about the continued payment of salaries to public servants and has categorically state that the salaries of public servants, and pensions, are guaranteed for the rest of the year.

In a media statement the Ministry said, “we urge you to reject any rumors to the contrary. Salaries and pensions will be paid as scheduled for 2020.”

The Ministry added that it is appalled at the insensitive and cowardly attempt by persons to incite public panic, at a time when the county is grappling with national and global challenges. 

“We urge that such persons be held accountable, and that they refrain from making incendiary and ill-informed statements. We invite you to seek out the Ministry with any questions that you may have, so that you can be appropriately informed,” the statement further added. 

The Ministry is emphasizing to  all public servants that their health and wellbeing are priorities.

“And therefore, we appeal to you, to continue to observe all the relevant guidelines and instructions issued by the Department of Public Service, Heads of Agencies and the Ministry of Public Health.”

Three recovered COVID-19 patients medically cleared and discharged

Three of the eight patients who have recovered from the Coronavirus and tested negative twice were medically cleared and discharged on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

The Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence disclosed this during her daily update on the COVID-19 situation in Guyana.

The persons were under isolation for some time after initially testing positive for the virus. They were carefully monitored and treated according to the symptoms they manifested.

Meanwhile five other persons who tested positive remain in isolation and will go through a similar procedure with the hope of being medically cleared as well.

Seven other persons who were in institutional quarantine and tested negative have also been discharged.

Of the 37 confirmed cases in Guyana, six died, three were medically cleared after a period of institutional isolation, three are currently in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit and the remaining 25 are in institutional isolation.

Additionally, Minister Lawrence said another seven persons who were in institutional quarantine for a mandatory period of 14 days were discharged after testing negative for the virus.

The number of persons remaining in institutional quarantine now stands at 27.

 

Confirmed COVID-19 cases stand at 37; 10 patients discharged

The Ministry of Public Health has stated that the total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Guyana now stands at 37 as of April 8, 2020.

This was disclosed by Public Health Minister Hon. Volda Lawrence in her update to the nation today.

Seven persons who have been quarantined and three persons who were isolated have been medically cleared and will be discharged today.

The number of coronavirus deaths locally has unfortunately risen to six with the most recent death occurring on April 7, 2020.

One hundred and forty-five persons have been tested with 108 of those tested returning negative and 37 positive (this figure includes the six deaths)

A posthumous test conducted on the latest fatality proved he was indeed positive for the coronavirus.

Another 27 are in institutional quarantine.  With reference to the patients in institutional isolation by MOPH, the number is 30.

The current number of persons hospitalised in the COVID-19 ICU is three.

The Public Health Ministry continues to offer psychosocial support for those in need of these services.

The Global statistics as of April 8, 2020, stand at 1,279,722 confirmed cases with 72,614 deaths while in the Region of the Americas, the total number of confirmed cases is 384, 242 cases with 11,097 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.

 

GECOM proposes 156 – day timeline for vote recount in draft proposal

The Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission has taken note of the public ridicule by some Commissioners on the draft work-plan for the conduct of the national recount; presented for discussion, amendments and consideration.
Though cognizant that the 156 days proposed for the activity may be quite a lengthy duration in the present circumstance, the Secretariat had to consider matters of law in relation to the procedures to conduct a recount; approved decisions of the Commission and the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting the health situation of the population.
In this regard, the Secretariat considered the request by the Commission for each ballot to be projected on screen, examination of the contents of the ballot box i.e. ascertaining the number of electors on the list, the number of electors who voted, counting votes cast for both General and Regional Election and validation of spoilt, questioned and rejected ballots.
Against this backdrop, the estimated time for one ballot box to be counted was projected to be two hours; utilizing 3 workstations for 10 hours per day (9:00hrs -19:00hrs) at a central location to count 2339 boxes. Hence, the projected duration as indicated.
The Secretariat finds the comments by the Commissioners absurd, distasteful and unethical particularly since they are aware that the proposal considered the decisions of the Commission and its content is still being discussed for finalization.

Traffic Dept enforcing social distancing among public transportation

The Guyana Police Force Traffic Department is working assiduously to enforce the public transportation restrictions outlined by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure amid COVID-19.

This was disclosed by Chief Traffic Officer Linden Isles during a telephone interview with DPI.

Part of the restrictions clearly states “a person who provides public transportation in a motor vehicle (minibuses, hire car, taxi, etc), shall only carry in such vehicles half the number of passengers for which it is licensed to carry.”

The traffic chief said that ranks from the traffic department are sensitising drivers and conductors on the restrictions throughout the country.

“We continue to talk to drivers and conductors. There are some drivers and conductors who are complying while others are not. For those who are not complying, we are instructing them to have the persons disembark from the minibuses so that there is enough distance between the passengers”

The Chief Traffic Officer called on the operators to observe the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Health.

Lindener tested positive for COVID-19

A resident of Wisroc Linden has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to reports, the man was hospitalized at the Mackenzie hospital after displaying severe respiratory symptoms of the virus.
He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where the test was administered and confirmed as positive.
According to the Regional Democratic Council, the patient visited the hospital in Linden on Monday and was soon after transferred to GPHC for better care.
The RDC added that the necessary precautions were taken by all involved while caring for the patient even before his result was confirmed.
Efforts are now underway to reach out to the persons the man was in contact with.
Guyana has now confirmed a total of 34  cases of the coronavirus. Five of those patients died.

BREAKING NEW: Alleged mastermind in Rose Hall Town businessman’s murder caught

By Tracey Khan – After being on the run for over a month, Daniel Mc Lennon called ‘Dutty’ of Rose Hall Town was apprehended on Wednesday by ranks of the Major Crimes Unit in Lane Avenue, Georgetown, according to a senior police source in Berbice.
Mc Lennon is the alleged mastermind in the murder Of Lomenzo Johnny known as ‘Sham’.
Murdered businessman Lomenzo Johnny
The Rose Hall Town businessman was murdered on February 27th 2020 at Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice.
His battered body was discovered at a construction site between a clump of bushes by workers who had just turned up to begin their day’s work.

Johnny would usually exercise in the evening a short distance from his home and it is alleged that the men pounced on him while he was doing his workout.

Meanwhile, four other men were also charged with Johnny’s murder. They are Satram Kushlay, Bilaal McClennon, Navindra Narine and Gopaul Ramgobin.
During their court appearance, it was stated that Gopaul Ramgobin and Navindra Narine knowing that Kushlay and McClennon had committed the act, did receive, comfort, harbor and assisted the men.
Police cracked the case and were able to recover the safe that was taken from the businessman’s home with approximately $2M in cash.
 The matter is set for the Albion Magistrates’ court on April 17th.

VAT on water, electricity removed as Gov’t mulls stimulus package

The Government is considering several proposals to offer relief to various sections of the country to cushion the financial fallout from COVID-19 effects.

This was disclosed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan via a skype interview.

He cited the reduction of Value Added Tax on several items as part of the fight against the pandemic. “For example, VAT on water, electricity, domestic air travel, has been removed.”

“Most recently, we have considerably reduced the price of fuel. We have to study every measure… We have to go through that, cost it and see the viability of it and everything else…before we can even begin to say it is a measure we can put in place,” he added.

Minister Jordan made clear that government has its regular functions to perform. These include the payment of salaries, even as it faces huge expenses in the COVID-19 fight.

He emphasised, that thus far, the government has been able to keep public servants, fully salaried on the payroll and for this reason, finances must be properly managed. The minister reminded that the government creates revenue through taxes and any further reduction can lead to an economic crisis.

“This quarter we expect a dramatic reduction in revenues because of the slow-down in business activities and hence a shortfall in taxes etc.,” Minister Jordan said.

The Finance Minister noted everything has to be considered to ensure whatever is agreed to is viable and “can be financed in whatever way, whilst not reducing the level of services the government has been able to deliver to the population.”

Moves such as the those by Republic Bank, to assist the regional territories in which they operate and the push by some companies, such as DDL, to assist is necessary and welcomed at this time Minister Jordan noted.

Whilst the Natural Resources Fund is available, the Minister noted this can only be accessed with parliamentary approval.