12 NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Sooner a democratic Govt installed, Teen motorcyclist dies, better – EU Ambassador pillion rider seriously injured after colliding with minibus T
he sooner a democratically elected Government and political stability are in place in Guyana, the sooner the European Union (EU) can focus on providing the next level of funding for Guyana to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19). This was explained by EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz-Canto, in a recent interview in sections of the media. According to him, the EU is already providing short term support to Guyana regardless. “We’re doing some reprogramming, to see how the money we have already committed can be refocused and a part of it [used] to do things that are responding to the COVID pandemic,” he said. “But you have to distinguish between the short, medium and long term effects. For the short term effects, we have a humanitarian office already active everywhere. And this doesn’t depend on the political situation.” However, he noted that political stability and a democratically installed Government would greatly assist in having the EU provide additional assistance. According to him, it is the
EU Ambassador to Guyana, Fernando Ponz-Canto
heavy-duty, long term assistance to Guyana that the EU needs to partner with a stable Government. “For the longer-term effects, which are going to be very important, we have our development cooperation. And this is something that we do in partnership with governments.” “So I think that the sooner we have an installed, democratic Government, fully functional, the sooner we will be able to advance with this process,” the diplomat said. As of Tuesday, Guyana
had 113 cases of COVID-19, an increase of over a dozen cases in just a few days. Already, there is talk of a complete lockdown, something that is likely to have a detrimental effect on the economy. Owing to its oil sector, Guyana has been pegged as one of the few countries in the hemisphere that will see positive economic growth for 2020. In fact, this growth is likely to be in double digits. However, the World Bank had recently flagged Guyana’s incomplete March 2, General and Regional Elections as one of the key risks to the country’s transformation projected from expected windfalls from its nascent oil and gas industry The World Bank had also projected that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world will see a drastic reduction in remittances, with the Caribbean being hit with its sharpest decline in remittances in recent history. Remittance, the act of overseas-based family members sending home money, plays a big role in the local economy. The Bank of Guyana reported US$327.9 million in remittances for 2018. This amount was US$317.2 million in 2017
and US$264.6 million in 2016. However, with the coronavirus pandemic, countries around the world have implemented stay-at-home policies. Staying at home and social distancing has been a two-edged sword, reducing the spread of coronavirus but also bringing economies to a halt. There have also been layoffs, including in the United States from where Guyana gets much of its remittances. As if dealing with the potential of an economic contraction and reduction in remittances owing to coronavirus was not enough, Guyana also faces the risk of remittances and the economy being curtailed due to sanctions. This is the bleak reality if foreign Governments make good on their warnings should Guyana not conclude its elections in a timely and democratic fashion. It has already been over two months of controversy, and a credible winner of the 2020 General and Regional Elections is yet to be declared. While a recount is ongoing, parties and stakeholders have complained that each day seemingly brings new challenges.
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ne day after a motorcyclist slammed into a minibus along the Good Fortuin Public Road, West Bank Demerara, he succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention the at the West Demerara Region Hospital (WDRH). Dead is 18-yearold Mark Seegolam of Edinburgh Village, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). However, his pillion rider, 26-year-old Sohan Mangru of Recht Door Zee, WBD, remains in a critical condition. Based on information, at about 08:50h on Sunday, Seegolam and Mangru were riding motorcycle CJ 3165 when they crashed into a minibus driven by a 44-year-old man. The minibus was reportedly proceeding along the Good Fortuin Public Road, WBD, when the driv-
er attempted to change his course when the motorcycle collided with the right-side door of the minibus. As a result of the impact, both Seegolam and Mangru were flung from the motorcycle and landed on the roadway. The injured men were picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the WDRH. Seegolam was reportedly in an unconscious state. However, both men were admitted but Seegolam subsequently succumbed to his injuries. Seegolam’s body is presently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem. Meanwhile, the driver of the minibus was subjected to a breathalyser test which revealed no alcohol in his system. Investigations into the fatal accident are ongoing.
Convicted drug trafficker freed of 5 gun-related charges Duo remanded for possession of gun, A ammunition 57-year-old convicted drug trafficker was on Tuesday found not guilty on five gun-related charges when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Aundre Singh of Lot 779 Section B, Block Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who is presently serving a 3-year sentence, appeared before Magistrate Rondel Weever in relation to the possession of gun and ammunition that were found in his home. During an audio-video virtual hearing, Magistrate Rondel Weever delivered a detailed ruling with regards to the charges against Singh. In his ruling, Magistrate
Aundre Singh
Weever stated that the testimony of the Customs Anti
Narcotics Unit (CANU) Officer, Lyndon Thompson, was highly questionable after the cross-examination during the trial by Singh’s lawyer, Siand Dhurjon. The lawyer pointed to glaring discrepancies which could not be justified by the prosecution. However, one year ago, Dhurjon had challenged Thompson’s testimony in another court before another Magistrate which materially contradicted his testimony in the present matter. During an interview with Guyana Times Dhurjon stated “This caused the learned Magistrate Weever to remark that in the present matter, she held reasonable doubt as to whether Aundre
Guyana’s COVID-19 cases... Region Seven cases
Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) also reported its first case, joining six other regions with positive cases. Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) recorded its first two cases on Monday. When contacted, Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Edward Sagala revealed that there were actually two cases coming from Region Seven. Dr Sagala said he did not have all the details, but from his understanding, two individuals, who were recently in Aranka, Region Seven tested positive in Georgetown.
As of now, he noted that authorities were in the process of doing contact tracing to determine if anyone else was exposed to the virus.
COVID-19 spreading
Meanwhile, commenting on the growing cases in Guyana, Boyle said: “This means that the coronavirus is slowly making its way across our entire country. But you know what, you can help arrest and put an end to the spread of this disease…I simply ask you: wash your hands; avoid touching your face, eyes, nose and mouth; practise physical distancing and adhere to the curfew.” Regions Two (Pomeroon-
Singh had control of the rooms in which the guns and ammunition were found. She felt satisfied that, from the very beginning, Aundre Singh had indicated to officers at his home that he did not live in the rooms in question.” He further explained that the learned Magistrate further ruled that the oral confessions given by Singh could not be relied on after legal issues were raised preventing its acceptance during the trial. Responding to Tuesday’s ruling, the lawyer said that justice has been served and that he expects to be successful very soon in the appeal against Singh’s conviction for trafficking cocaine.
The firearm and the magazine along with the two live rounds found FROM PAGE 11
Supenaam); Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Eight (PotaroSiparuni) have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud had revealed one week ago that Georgetown continued to be the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak in Guyana with the majority of the victims being males, since they were the ones in general not adhering to the guidelines and restrictions put in place to contain the disease. He later declared that cases have been detected in Kitty, Sophia, Turkeyen, Liliendaal, Cummings Lodge, Alberttown, Bourda,
Lamaha Park, South Ruimveldt and Thirst Park. On the East Coast of Demerara, positive cases were reported in Atlantic Gardens, Friendship, Golden Grove, Good Hope, Lusignan, Plaisance, and Strathspey. And on the East Bank, positive cases were reported at Diamond, Grove, Land of Canaan, Providence, and Timehri. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded 4,006, 257 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 278, 892 deaths. In the Region of the Americas, the number of confirmed cases is 1,702,451 with the number of deaths increasing to 101,874.
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wo men appeared at the Diamond-Grove Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday jointly charged for the illegal possession of gun and ammunition. Thirty-two-year-old Gregory Boyce, of Lot 94 Brutus Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown, along with 18-year-old Emanuel Hawker, of Lot 346 Foreshaw Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce and pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them. The charge states that on May 7, 2020, at Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara (EBD), they had in their possession one .32
pistol and two rounds of live .32 ammunition. The court heard that on the day in question, Police, acting on information received, intercepted the vehicle and conducted a search of it during which the firearm and ammunition were unearthed. During the operation, the two suspects made an attempt to escape, but were promptly nabbed along with the driver of the car. Further, the Police Prosecutor told the court that the Police may have thwarted a robbery. As such, the men were remanded to prison with their next court appearance scheduled for May 27, 2020.
