Zoisa Fraser

With several Venezuelan immigrants now working in various jobs around the city, Citizenship Minister Winston Felix has warned that hiring them is illegal if they are not in possession of work permits.

The Guyana Court of Appeal, by a majority decision, yesterday overturned the January 31st ruling made by Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire that the December 21st no-confidence motion against the APNU+AFC government was validly passed with 33 votes, saying that the correct mathematical formula for finding the “absolute” majority was not used.

A falling out over a motion for house-to-house registration yesterday resulted in the PPP/C-nominated members of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) walking out of a meeting dedicated to solidifying a timeframe and budget for the holding of general elections and their government-nominated counterparts have since claimed that it was declared passed.

President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday emerged from a high stakes meeting without reaching an agreement on a date for the holding of general elections and there are conflicting accounts of how the talks went.

Arguing that the allocation of lands at ‘Pradoville 2’ was an act of fraud and in breach of the constitution, the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) is asking the High Court to strip former President Bharrat Jagdeo and six other persons of the ownership of the plots sold to them in 2010.

Breaking his silence after the United Kingdom recently terminated his contract, former Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) adviser Dr.

Finding that the December 21st no-confidence motion against the David Granger administration was validly passed, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire SC yesterday said that the 33 votes in its favour constituted the needed majority of the 65-member National Assembly and that this should have triggered the immediate resignation of the Cabinet, including the President.

Attorney General Basil Williams SC on Wednesday said the selection of Senior Counsel (SC) is at the discretion of the president, who can alter the list of candidates recommended to him by the Chancellor of the Judiciary.

Acknowledging the public interest, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire SC yesterday said she expected to hand down rulings by month end in the three challenges filed on the December 21st no-confidence motion against government.

-gov’t to take case to court Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr.

Warning that the reconvening of the National Assembly next Thursday for routine purposes would be illegal, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said that his party will not be in attendance unless the sitting is held to deal specifically with elections’ preparation matters.

While declaring last evening that APNU+AFC felt “betrayed” by the actions of its Member of Parliament (MP) Charrandas Persaud, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says that the government has accepted that it lost the motion of no-confidence brought against it by the PPP/C and the relevant constitutional provisions will kick in.

Several of the persons who were controversially sold land at below market prices in the ‘Pradoville 2 Housing Scheme’ have reached settlements with the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) by paying the difference for their respective plots, according to the organisation’s Director, Professor Clive Thomas, who says that every effort will be made give to the others a similar opportunity before the court is approached for civil recovery.

The parliamentary opposition has expressed outrage at a late decision to postpone yesterday’s sitting of the National Assembly, which government later said was necessary to facilitate an urgent meeting with its Members of Parliament (MPs) on a no-confidence motion that was filed against it by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

The Integrity Commission yesterday began identifying public officials who failed to submit declarations of their assets and liabilities by the deadline and its Chairman Kumar Doraisami yesterday said that legal action will be taken against those who fail to take corrective action and comply with their obligations.

The Integrity Commission will soon start its examination of approximately 300 declarations, including one submitted by Public Telecommunications Min-ister Cathy Hughes, commission Chairman Kumar Doraisami said on Thursday.

The National Broadband Project moved closer to reality yesterday following the signing of a US$37.6 million loan agreement between Guyana and China and it should be completed by mid-2020.

In the coming days, the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), with input from the Public Health Ministry and stakeholders, will begin developing a policy for the prevention and control of use of alcohol in Guyana.

Arguing that the integrity of the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) in the Whim/Bloomfield Local Authority Area is under threat, a candidate for the PPP yesterday filed a court action to void the listing of 50 names, including his, as official nominators of rival AFC candidates.