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Shuman P
Shuman challenges Harmon to ‘come clean’ on GECOM meddling
Presidential Candidate for the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP), Lennox Shuman has called out Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), Joseph Harmon, over claims that the coalition meddled in the operations at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in order to influence the outcome of the March 2 General and Regional Elections.
Shuman, in a video message broadcast on social media yesterday, told listeners that Harmon – an executive of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the largest coalition member – must “come clean” and “let the people know about the delay tactics being employed by the generals in PNC.”
He called on Harmon, to provide an explanation as to the reason low-level GECOM staff would be calling him personally, in relation to anything election-related.
Harmon at a press engagement over the weekend had divulged to reporters that on March 11 last, he had received a telephone call from the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) at Stewartville, who was complaining about a directive received.
Shuman in another post also accused GECOM of “doing every single thing that they possibly can to stall, delay or boycott the process of getting the recount done.” He was referring to the agreed to countrywide recount of the votes cast at the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections.
According to Shuman, the move to sanitise the Arthur Chung International Conference Centre was, in fact, another delay tactic being employed by GECOM and potentially coalition cohorts. LJP Presidential Candidate Lennox Shuman
Shuman posited a suspicion that Head of State, President David Granger is being pressured by his generals to go down the wrong path.
Harmon was adamant, however, that “we do not intervene, neither do we interfere in the work of GECOM” and suggested that when the election process is completed, the coalition will have to get around to working assiduously to pull back opinion that seeks to suggest that as a Government they had a role in any sort of irregularity.
Meanwhile, Shuman, the LJP Presidential Candidate, in a brief tirade also called Retired Justice Claudette Singh
out the Alliance for Change – the second-largest faction of the coalition – and said the party has morphed into the same evil it had fought under stringent circumstances to dislodge.
The LJP Leader was also critical of the Working Peoples’ Alliance (WPA) and alluded to the fact that Dr Walter Rodney was assassinated in trying to fight for democracy.
He said the current WPA, including the likes of Dr Rupert Roopnaraine have been silenced and have in fact betrayed the principles that their party’s founder leader had died fighting for. Director General of Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon
Businessman arrested for indiscriminately discharging firearm
ASouth Ruimveldt, Georgetown businessman was arrested on Sunday evening after he discharged his firearm indiscriminately. According to Police reports, the incident occurred at about 19:56h.
Information received revealed that the resident of Congress Drive, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was discharging the loaded firearm unsystematically while his wife and two children were at home.
As such, the police were summoned and a team from Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) responded promptly. The businessman immediately surrendered to the police and he was taken into custody.
A .32 pistol along with several live rounds of ammunition and spent shells were retrieved at the scene. Guyana Times understands that the 41-year-old businessman is an auto dealer and is also a licensed fire
arm holder. No injuries were reported but the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
In January, another businessman was taken into Police custody after he unsystematically discharged a loaded firearm on Broad Street, Georgetown.
It was reported that Police ranks were patrolling the La Penitence, Georgetown area when they heard two loud explosions that appeared to be gunshots.
They proceeded to the area and upon arrival, they observed the intoxicated businessman holding a firearm in his hands.
The man was asked to produce his licence and did so without hesitation. Guyana Times understands that the man was arrested after being told of the allegation.
His firearm, a .32 Taurus pistol, was seized and lodged. Two spent shells were discovered in the area.
BrainStreet offers free online educational services GPS implements measures to safeguard against COVID-19
Director of Prisons Services, Gladwin Samuels
In light of COVID-19 threats, the Guyana Prison Services (GPS) has reduced the visits by family members to those incarcerated at the various detention facilities to ensure that the vulnerable environment is safeguarded.
Acting Director of Prison Services, Gladwin Samuels on Monday stated that persons are being informed that the authorities will now permit only one visit per fortnight for those remanded and appellant prisoners. Previously, the prisoners could have been visited twice per week.
However, convicted prisoners will continue to have their one visit per month of 10 minutes duration.
Moreover, the prison authorities are advising persons desirous of lodging money for prisoners at the Tuck Shop to do so at specific areas set up outside of the various prisons, from Monday through Friday between 08:00h and 12:00h.
Family members who wish to have items delivered to the Mazaruni Prison can deliver as usual at the Prison Headquarters, Brickdam.
According to the prison services, all precautionary measures implemented will take effect from Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and will remain in force until the coronavirus (COVID-19) is no longer a risk to the population.
In light of COVID-19 threats, the Guyana Prison Services (GPS) has reduced the visits by family members to those incarcerated at the various detention facilities to ensure that the vulnerable environment is safeguarded.
Acting Director of Prison Services, Gladwin Samuels on Monday stated that persons are being informed that the authorities will now permit only one visit per fortnight for those remanded and appellant prisoners. Previously, the prisoners could have been visited twice per week.
However, convicted prisoners will continue to have their one visit per month of 10 minutes duration.
Moreover, the prison authorities are advising persons desirous of lodging money for prisoners at the Tuck Shop to do so at specific areas set up outside of the various prisons, from Monday through Friday between 08:00h and 12:00h.
Family members who wish to have items delivered to the Mazaruni Prison can deliver as usual at the Prison Headquarters, Brickdam.
According to the prison services, all precautionary
measures implemented will take effect from Wednesday, March 18, 2020 and will remain in force until the coroCamp Street penitentiary
navirus (COVID-19) is no longer a risk to the population.
In order to keep students focused on their studies, given that all schools will be closed for the next two weeks, local technology provider BrainStreet is assisting by offering free online tutoring and practice questions in maths and English via its BrainCentral (www.braincentral.online) online learning platform.
BrainStreet is specifically focusing on providing these educational services to Grades Four, Five and Six during the next two weeks. However, the organisation will be offering sessions for other grades.
On Friday the Education Ministry opted to close all public schools for two weeks as a precaution in light of the COVID-19 epidemic which was detected in Guyana.
The closure commenced on Monday and the Ministry stated that “this decision will be reassessed during this period and further guidance will be provided.”
Interested persons are being advised to contact the entity on telephone number 225-5353.
BrainCentral is managed and operated by the BrainStreet Group. A technology services provider based in Georgetown, Guyana, the firm has been existence since 1994 and has been offering online learning services since 2005. …following suspension of school
Days after announcing that all public schools will be closed for the next two weeks, the Ministry of Education has now announced that the 2020 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will no longer be written on April 8 and 9, 2020, due to the coronavirus threat within the country.
The Ministry in a statement on Monday asserted that careful thought was given before the decision was made and as such, will advise stakeholders on the new dates set for the secondary school entrance examination.
“The Ministry of Education wishes to notify the general public that due to the current situation; careful thought has been given to the scheduled dates for the administration of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) 2020. As such, please be advised that the previously announced dates (April 8 and 9, 2020) are no longer valid. Adequate notice will be given with regard to the new dates,” the Ministry added in the statement. Moreover, parents are being encouraged to continue working with their children in preparation for the examination, as well as students in other grades, by working practice test papers and tuning into educational programmes.
On Friday the Ministry opted to close all public schools for two weeks as precautions heighten amid the COVID-19 epidemic across the world and confirmed cases in Guyana.
The MoE had initially advised persons to take the necessary precautions as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in relation to COVID-19 but later recanted their decision of keeping these institutions open amid the threats.
Also, the Mayor and City Council had announced that all the municipal daycare centres – South Road, East Ruimveldt, Festival City and Industrial Site – will also be closed for two weeks. NGSA postponed due to coronavirus threats
General and Regional Elections T he Caribbean Community’s intervention in the recounting of ballots cast in the March 2, 2020 National and Regional Elections has been lauded by the Commonwealth.
Secretary General Patricia Scotland in a statement on Monday, made reference to the ruling of Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George which stated that the District Four verification process was not credible. As such, commendations were given to the leadership of Caricom for their intervention.
The decision to have a recount for all ten administrative regions was agreed to by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and President David Granger, which paved the way for the Caricom team to swoop in.
“The Commonwealth Observer Group to Guyana informed me it is the clear view of the Group that the subsequent tabulation in Region 4 was not conducted in accordance with the judgement of the Acting Chief Justice and is therefore not credible. In this regard, I welcome and commend the regional leadership of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), at the invitation of President David Granger, to deploy a high-level mission to Guyana, to supervise a recount of the ballots cast in all ten regions of the recently concluded elections,” Scotland highlighted.
Mention was also made to the leadership of the two mainstream parties – the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) for fostering this process. In light of this, the Secretary General called for stakeholders to act in accordance with the judgement of the acting Chief Justice.
“The leadership of President Granger and the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, in coming to this agreement on the way forward deserves to be lauded. I also note and welcome the public commitment from Justice Claudette Singh, Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), that she would facilitate the recounting of ballots; and her assurance that GECOM will cooperate fully with the Caricom initiative. I urge all relevant stakeholders and public officials to do the same, and in accordance with the unambiguous judgement of the Acting Chief Justice,” the official stated.
Scotland indicated that the Commonwealth is continuing its oversight into the events yet to unfold, and the expectation is that the country will adhere to its constitutional backing and other international obligations.
“The entire Commonwealth family look to the leaders and the people of Guyana to live up to the lofty aspirations set out in your Constitution, your electoral laws, and the Commonwealth Charter.”
Meanwhile, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) also welcomes the decision to have a recount, stating that the integrity of the ballot boxes should not be compromised. It stated that this will moreover bring an end to the tense political climate and uncertainty which currently envelopes the country.
“This, the Commission believes, would bring an amicable end to the current political impasse which has resulted in a non-declaration of credible final results even as two weeks have elapsed since Guyanese went to the polls to choose a Government of their choice. The decision also demonstrates that meaningful and genuine collaboration across the political aisle is achievable and vital to help resolve inherent differences and challenges,” the Commission stated.
The ERC, which is responsible for promoting harmony among the Guyanese people, also underscored the need for tolerance and peace at this time.
“It also has tremendous potential to heal the current unwelcome and prevailing divide among our people. The Commission remains optimistic that the full details of how the recount would be undertaken will be agreeable to all and the conduit to derive desirable credible results… The Commission would like to reiterate its call for all Guyanese to act responsibly; to demonstrate tolerance, respect and restraint especially during this period and to heed the messages for togetherness, harmony and good relations,” the statement read. Commonwealth, ERC laud Caricom’s intervention to recount ballots cast Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland ERC Chairman, Rev Dr John Smith
