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GOVERNMENT REMOVES COVID RESTRICTIONS GOVERNMENT REMOVES COVID RESTRICTIONS

CCJ SAYS DPP ERRED IN ORDERING THE RE-ARREST OF MARCUS BISRAM FOR MURDER

Wednesday March 16, 2022

NARCOTIC FOUND IN FIVE-GALLON CONTAINER GPHC GETS NEW CARRIED

BY MAZARUNI ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY PRISONER UNIT

FATAL ACCIDENT ON CORENTYNE PUBLIC ROAD

Wednesday March 16, 2022

GOVERNMENT REMOVES COVID RESTRICTIONS

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony says that even as most COVID-19 Restrictions have been removed, the return of the old and

new restrictions can be implemented if there is a surge in cases.

Just last evening, the Government through a gazetted order signed by

President Mohammed Irfaan Ali removed a number of COVID-19 Protocols. This paves the way for a full reopening of the country. The decision was prompted by the low number of cases and high vaccination rate.

Some protocols such as the travel vaccination policy, the vaccine restriction of movement in the country along with a few more would remain.

However according to Minister Anthony full restrictions and more could return if there is a surge in cases and more variants.

“We will monitor to make sure, and if we

notice that things are going up obviously we’ll have to take the relevant precaution. So, this will take the form of both public health and other measures that are necessary,” Minister Anthony said Dr. Anthony added that apart from implementing the measures again to safeguard, plans are in motion to further build capacity for a surge and even more.

“We will continue to monitor. We have capacity in our hospitals in case people get sick.

We continue to open those capacities to make sure that if anyone one is sick that we can

provide treatment,” Minister Anthony noted Guyana, despite having over 30,000 positive cases in January has for the past two other months seen a sharp decline in cases; with the daily number being just under 50 on most days.

The country has just over 35 new cases today and over 200 active positive cases.

This sharp decline, according to the Health Minister, is surely on the basis of having the majority of the persons being vaccinated.

However, despite the numbers the Minster pointed out that persons should not become

complacent with the new relaxed protocol.

People should still take care of themselves since COVID-19 remains a threat.

“The Ministry and Government have done a lot of educational work, talking to people, educating them, by now I think a lot of people would be very much aware of everything COVID-19.

“We want them to continue to think about it and to take the necessary precautions.

So, if you think that you are going in to a high risk area abide by the rules and if you do that we will continue to maintain low numbers.”

NARCOTIC FOUND IN FIVE-GALLON CONTAINER CARRIED BY MAZARUNI PRISONER

Man serving life sentence gets additional four-year sentence for drug possession

Prison observed inmate John Caesar, heading to the Security Block, with a five-gallon bottle in his hand. Caesar ignored the guard who called out to him and continued walking.

The prison rank caught up with him and enquired about the contents of the The Mazaruni Prison bottle Caesar had in his On 2022-03-10 about officials performing hand. Caesar replied that 07:25 hours prison duties in the Mazaruni it was water. The rank

then collected the bottle and escorted him to the office. In his presence, the rank opened the bottle and found a quantity of leaves seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

They also found three cellular phones, three cellular phone chargers, 20 packs of cigarettes and one cellular phone earpiece.

Bartica Police Station

was informed and responded. Caesar, the narcotic, and the other prohibited items were escorted to the Bartica Police Station where the narcotic was weighed in his presence and amounted to 3010 grams (3 Kg 10 g).

The inmate was returned to Mazaruni Prison pending charge.

Caesar, who is currently

serving a life sentence for attempted murder, appeared in the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Crystal Lambert on Monday, to answer the drug possession charge.

He pleaded guilty and was jailed for four years.

He was also fined $2.6 million.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON CORENTYNE PUBLIC ROAD

# PSS 1682 driven by Latchman Sukhan

Police in Regional Division #6 is reporting a fatal accident that occurred on Tuesday March 15, 2022 about 03:15hrs on the Number One Public info@guyanapostonline.com

Road Corentyne Berbice.

The accident involved motor lorry #GZZ 4440 owned and driven by Herman Singh, 47, of lot 7 Johanna, South Black

Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice and motorcar # PSS 1682 driven by Latchman Sukhan, 20, of lot 333 Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne,

Berbice.

Also in the car was Yujisteer Puran, 26, of lot 50 D Crawford Street, Rosehall, Corentyne, Berbice.

The two occupants of the car died in the accident. Puran was seated in the left front seat.

According to the police report, motorcar #PSS 1682 was proceeding east along the northern drive lane of Borlam Public Road, East Coast Berbice.

It was in the process of negotiating a right turn on Number One Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, when the driver lost control of his vehicle.

The vehicle spun several times and

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collided with the front portion of motor lorry #GZZ 4440 which was proceeding south along the eastern drive lane on Number One Public Road.

As a result of the collision the driver of motorcar #PSS 1682 and Puran received injuries about their bodies. They were both taken out of the motorcar by publicspirited citizens and ranks of the Guyana Fire Service in an unconscious condition.

The driver was escorted to New Amsterdam Public Hospital while the occupant was escorted to Port Mourant Public

Hospital. They were both pronounced dead on arrival by the doctors on duty.

The body of the driver is presently lying at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital Mortuary while the body of the occupant was taken to Ramoo Funeral Home Rosehall Corentyne Berbice.

The driver of motor lorry #GZZ 4440 was arrested and is presently in custody at the Albion Police Station and is assisting with the investigation.

A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver but there was no trace of alcohol.

Wednesday March 16, 2022

CCJ SAYS DPP ERRED IN ORDERING THE RE-ARREST OF MARCUS BISRAM FOR MURDER

Accused, Marcus Bisram

Justices of the Caribbean Court of Justice have struck down the decision by the Guyana Court of Appeal to uphold the Director of Public Prosecution decision to have Murder Accused, Marcus Bisram stand before Jury in a High Court.

Bisram who had been charged for the 2016 murder of Berbice resident, carpenter

Faiyaz Narinedatt, last year walked out of the Whim Magistrate’s Court a free man after Magistrate Renita Singh upheld a no-case submission submitted by his Attorneys.

Following a Preliminary inquiry, in which Bisram was discharged by a magistrate, he was rearrested on direction of the DPP who ordered

that he be committed to face trial before a judge and jury.

This later triggered a high court battle with the lawyers appealing the DPP order and Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall quashing the decision of the DPP. That decision, however, did not find favor with DPP, who later appealed the matter.

The Guyana Court of

Appeal overturned Justice Morris-Ramlall’s decision effectively paving the way for Bisram to be taken back into custody to await trial.

His stay was not for long, as the ruling of the Appeals Court in Guyana was also challenged in the CCJ. A stay was granted for the decision to be halted until the matter was fully dealt in the CCJ. Bisram through his lawyers contended that the move by the DPP was unlawful under Section 72 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act. This Act was used to justify that a murder accused be committed to stand trial, even though a magistrate at the conclusion of a preliminary inquiry (PI) found no prima facie case.

Lawyers representing Bisram had argued that courts must have their independence, and not be influenced by outside

parties.

Director of DPP, Senior Counsel Shalimar Ali-Hack had then argued that her directive was proper, reasonable and lawful, noting that Section 72 (2) (i) and (ii) (a) and (b) empowers her to order a magistrate to re-open a PI and commit an accused for trial.

As such, Mr. AliHack had indicated that under Section 72 (2) (i) and (ii) (a) and (b) that empowers the DPP she has the powers to order a Magistrate to re-open a PI and commit an accused for trial.

Justice Adrian Dudley Saunders, however ruled in the favor of Bisram finding that the DPP erred in following the procedures under section 72, which would have seen the DPP receiving the deposition of the matter and then making a decision, which stands in contravention to fairness in the trial.

Justice Saunders also pointed out that DDP failed to follow section 122A, which also speaks to the independence of the courts.

By this means, the court noted that it has decided Bisram should not be charged on the same evidence but noted that he could be arrested and charged with fresh evidence.

Narinedatt was found dead on the Number 70 Village Public Road on the Corentyne Coast.

Police at first treated the case as a road fatality but Georgetown Police were sent to the Corentyne and took on the case as a homicide.

The Police had claimed that Bisram had made sexual advances toward Narinedatt, including touching his penis, and when Narinedatt refused, by slapping him, he, Bisram, told others to kill the carpenter.

CUBA BEGAN POLIO VACCINATION CAMPAIGN ON MONDAY viral illness that in its most severe form causes nerve injury leading to paralysis, difficulty breathing and even death.

Cuba’s vaccination program targets all children from one month of age and up to two years, 11 months and 29 days of age. In addition, all nine-year-old children will be reactivated with To eradicate ministry of public health Vaccination Campaign on a dose of oral polio poliomyelitis also known officially began its 61st Monday, March 14th. vaccine. as polio, in Cuba, the National Oral Polio Polio is an infectious The first stage of the

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campaign began on Monday, March 14 and will continue to Saturday, March 19, 2022. There will be a make-up week from March 21 to 26 for children who could not be vaccinated in the scheduled week.

The second stage will run from between Monday 16 and Saturday 21 May. The recovery week is scheduled to take place between May 23 and 28.

The polio vaccination

campaign will be carried out simultaneously throughout the national territory.

The first national immunization campaign, which started in 1962, was aimed at children under the age of 15 years old who were given two doses of trivalent vaccine with a 4-week interval between them. It took one week to complete administering each dose and 87.5% coverage was attained.

Friday March 4, 2022

Startup Huddle to Provide Support and Resources to Small Businesses

The Guyana Economic Development Trust (GEDT) under its initiative, !nnovate Guyana, announces the launch of Startup Huddle, a programme of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), in Guyana. The programme aims to help support the growth of Guyana’s startup and small business community.

This initiative comes at a time when businesses in Guyana are being resuscitated, on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic

As members of the legal profession woke in the morning of March 12, 2022, we were informed of the sad news that the sun has set on the distinguished legal career of a worthy son of Guyana’s soil, a member of first the Bar and then the Bench, in the person of Justice Cecil Kennard, CCH, Former Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana.

This was a comment from the Guyana Bar Association issued on Saturday, shortly after Justice Kennard’s death.

A distinguished jurist who delivered justice with the dignity befitting

not only affected small and micro businesses across the country, but also inspired the birth of many.

Startup Huddle, active in more than 60 cities worldwide, provides direct assistance to entrepreneurs and addresses a critical element of success for all businesses – connectivity.

Startup Huddles provide a neutral space, where business owners can discuss the challenges they face and get the encouragement they need.

GEDT, through !nnovate Guyana, is the

identifying solutions, increasing skills, and enhancing the presenters’ businesses.

“There is a need for more activities at the community level, where micro and small businesses can be disconnected from the central business services infrastructure due to distance.

The objective of offering Startup Huddle is to bring the resources of the !nnovate Guyana initiative to local communities by partnering with local Business Support Organization (BSO) hosts that have the community relationships,” said Caroline English, Program Manager at GEDT and organizer of Startup Huddle in Guyana.

Startup Huddle is a community-based programme. As such, regional BSOs, operating at the community level,

have been engaged by GEDT to conduct monthly Startup Huddles in the various Administrative Regions in Guyana.

BSOs that will be hosting monthly Startup Huddles include the Linden Fund – Region 10, Orange Light BSO – Regions 5 & 6, Together We Win Business Network (TWWBN) – Region 4, and soon, Junior Chamber International Guyana – Region 4, and Mocha Arcadia Multipurpose Agricultural Co-operative Society – East Bank Demerara.

Founder of TWWBN, Marlon Joseph said their organization offers a platform for small businesses by providing the support they need to scale their business.

“Collaborating with GEN Guyana and GEDT to host Startup Huddle is needed, relevant and timely since it provides

the support for TWWBN to achieve its objective of offering quality service at the highest standard,” Joseph said.

Participating BSOs will have access to support services and resources from GEN, through GEDT / !nnovate Guyana, to successfully achieve the goals of the programme.

In addition to the monthly sessions, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to participate in pitch competitions to win access to micro grants to help support their businesses.

The best business pitches from each community will also be afforded the opportunity to participate in events organised by GEDT/!nnovate Guyana for Global Entrepreneurship Week, slated for November, which will expose their businesses/products to a global audience.

jurist.

Complaints Authority for inquiring of his or her distinguished wellbeing, sharing a view There Former Chancellor some fifteen years.

Kennard reminded us all that central to any system of democratic governance is the doctrine of separation of powers.

For the administration of justice in Guyana, he was a champion of the doctrine of separation of Cecil Kennard, CCH, powers, particularly in the In recognition of the on a topical legal issue and face of executive excess, fact that members of concluding the encounter speaking out against the judiciary first serve always with a kind word violation without fear or favour. as members of the Bar, of encouragement.

The records of the Court The Bar Association of Former Chancellor Kennard continued his of Appeal will reflect Guyana mourns the loss service to the Bar. He one of his most recent of Justice Cecil Kennard, never passed young addresses on the occasion CCH, Former Chancellor Counsel with whom he of a Full Court sitting of the Judiciary of blessed was acquainted, without to pay tribute to another memory. We extend our

deepest sympathies to his caring, devoted, and beloved wife, Mrs. Chan Kennard, son, daughterin-law and extended family. May his soul rest in eternal perfect peace.

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard passed away at his home in the wee hours of Saturday morning at the age of 86.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Justice Kennard was an avid lover of the horse racing sport, and even owned his own race track the Kennard Memorial Turf Club at Bush Lot, Corentyne.

local franchise partner spearheading this and other GEN initiatives for Guyanese startups and small businesses.

Startup Huddles are scheduled to occur around Guyana once per month.

Local businesses present their challenges, share their experiences, take advice and learn from others.

The format of the programme is such that business owners make 20-minute presentations, which are followed by conversation with peers and advisers aimed at

Justice Cecil Kennard dies at 86

the revered Honourable which accompanies the word, Justice.

His tall stature could be seen as an indicator that he would have made colossal strides through the course of his practice at the Bar and later service at the Bench, culminating in the attainment of the highest judicial office in Guyana, that of Chancellor.

The service to Guyana of Former Chancellor Kennard continued even after his retirement, as he was not content to ride off into the proverbial legal sunset. He served after his retirement from the Bench as Chairman of the Police

GECOM Appoints Attorney-at-Law Kurt Da Silva as Legal Officer The Guyana Elections Commission at its Statutory meeting held on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 appointed Attorney-at-Law Mr. Kurt Anthony Da Silva as the Legal Officer.

Mr. Da Silva holds a Master of Laws Degree in Public Law from the

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University of the West Indies.

Shortly after being called to the Bar in Guyana in 2017, he served the Chief Justice (ag) and other Judges of the High Court as a Judicial Research Assistant. He then moved onto the Caribbean Court

of Justice (CCJ) in 2019 where he currently serves as the President and Judges as the CCJ as a Judicial Counsel.

Based on his experience in both the Caribbean Court of Justice and Guyana’s High Court for researching legal issues,

analyzing submissions in cases from Attorneysat-Law, writing legal opinions for Judges, and his knowledge of the new rules of procedure and the electoral laws, the Commission appointed Mr. Da Silva as the Legal Officer.

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