Politics
Lengthy gap between Nomination, Election days in draft timeline for polls: The draft schedule of timelines presented by the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) includes a 55-day gap between Nomination Day and Elections Day, we published on September 9th, according to a source. This is nearly double the minimum of 32 days provided for by law. According to statute, Nomination Day – the day parties submit their list of candidates, must be no less than 32 days before Polling Day. This number has guided the actions of the commission in the past with the April 7th Nomination Day for the 2015 general and regional elections falling 34 days before the May 11th Polling Day. For the 2011 elections, Nomination Day was October 27th, exactly 32 days before the November 28 Polling Day. GECOM in a statement published on September 11th said there were justifiable reasons for the delays. It stressed that the shift in the time is justifiable and does not breach any law and is definitely not intended to delay the holding of elections. And opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo following a meeting with GECOM said that the touted date for a March 2020 election was out. He later iterated this position in our Friday’s edition.
Carter Center interested in ‘credible elections’: Six months after its last visit, the Carter Center has returned to Guyana with a four-member delegation, hoping to gain insight into the country’s current political situation. Led by Associate Director Brett Lacy, who was here with another team in March, the delegation has met with Attorney General Basil Williams and Opposition Leader Jagdeo as part of planned meetings “with the different actors.” “We [are] here from the Carter Center and we are happy to have the opportunity to meet with the Attorney General; to hear from him about the laws of Guyana and his various arguments relating to the current circumstances in Guyana so we are happy to have this opportunity to hear from him, from his perspective,” Lacy told reporters on Wednesday following yesterday’s two-hour long meeting with Williams. “I can say that from the Carter Center, we are really just here to listen and are hoping to meet with different actors to understand everyone’s perspectives on current events here in Guyana,” she added.
City Hall
Royston King’s dismissal overturned: The decision by the Local Government Commission (LGC) to discipline Town Clerk Royston King based on recommendation from a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of City Hall was nullified on Friday by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall. Ruling on a challenge brought by King, Justice Morris-Ramlall declared that the LGC acted unlawfully when it delegated its investigatory powers to an entity which was not a local government organ or authority and therefore the inquiry, its conclusions, findings, recommendations and the evidence obtained by it have all been declared null and void. As a result, King, who had been dismissed for gross misconduct, remains Town Clerk with the status quo being that of September 21st, 2018, when he was sent on administrative leave. Speaking with reporters after the ruling, King said, “I’m very happy. I have always exercised great faith in the judicial system. Today justice has been done and I have been vindicated.” King had been dismissed via a letter, dated January 23rd, 2019, that cited gross misconduct as the reason for the dismissal, which was based on the findings of the CoI.
City council passes no-confidence motion against Chief Constable: The Georgetown City Council on September 9th passed a no-confidence motion against the Chief Constable, Andrew Foo. The motion, which was moved by constituency Councillor Denroy Tudor at the council’s statutory meeting, was carried with 19 members of the council voting in its favour. Two councillors voted against the motion and three abstained. We reported on September 10th that as a result of the motion being carried, a report has to be sent to the Local Government Commission so that a decision can be taken on the way forward. Prior to the motion being debated, four constabulary officers were given on-the-spot promotions, which were conferred by Mayor Ubraj Narine. Acting Town Clerk Sherry Jerrick told the council that the Local Government Commission was informed about the appointments. A few of the officers were those who had been disciplined by the Chief Constable in the past. Officer Peter Livingstone was appointed to the post of Deputy Chief Constable.
Oil
EPA undertaking oil spill assessment for national response plan: With oil production estimated to begin in approximately six months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving to prepare an assessment that will identify the possible risks to Guyana should an oil spill occur and it is expected to take several months. The risk assessment will help to form part of government’s National Oil Spill Response Contingency Plan, which Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig says is about 90% done and “will be in place before first oil.” “There is need for a more detailed risk assessment and we have outlined it with the EPA and they are working on having the assessment done. This is because we want to be able to say ‘This area range here and here, this is what will be affected. If it involves mangroves, sea turtles, fishes, farms… whatever it is, we want to know and to plan accordingly,” Craig told Sunday Stabroek in an interview last week public on September 8th.
‘Major players’ interviewed in SARA’s oil blocks probe: The State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) has interviewed several “major players” in its ongoing probe of the awards of oil blocks near to Exxon-Mobil’s Stabroek Block, and should it uncover any malfeasance, it will push for the recovery of the blocks and have them auctioned, the agency’s Director, Professor Clive Thomas says. “Yes. That is what SARA wants ultimately because we think we will get more money from that [auctioning]. I think the best way to handle the sale of the oil blocks is through public auction,” Thomas told Stabroek News in an interview, which was published on September 9th. In May, New York-based Bloomberg News revealed that Thomas had confirmed that an investigation was launched into the awards of the blocks. Thomas subsequently told this newspaper that it was specific information from several “whistleblowers” that sparked the investigation, which began a year ago, into the issuance of about 20 oil exploration licences here.
Crime and security
Facial recognition cameras will only be at official ports of entry: Seeking to assuage privacy concerns, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications has said that facial recognition technology will only be deployed at the country’s official ports of entry as part of the “Safe City” component of the National Broadband Project. The ministry made the announcement on Friday in a statement which came after weeks of public concerns that fundamental rights could be under threat and that images gathered by the cameras could be improperly used. It identified the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the Eugene F. Correia International Airport and the Moleson Creek Ferry Crossing as the ports of entry where the technology would be used. “The specialised cameras at the official ports are very different from the CCTV cameras erected in public spaces. These cameras are the only ones capable of comparing images generated from automatic facial recognition software against databases administered by the Guyana Police Force, and by recognised international security agencies that Guyana has bilateral relationships with. While the cameras installed on the streets are of extremely high quality, they are not equipped for automatic facial recognition,” it explained.
15-year-old succumbs after Plaisance stabbing: A 15-year-old was fatally stabbed during an argument at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Thursday afternoon and the suspect, who is a relative, has been arrested. Dead is Derril Wong, a student of Cumming’s Lodge Secondary School and of Lot 42 Rabbit Road, Sparendaam, ECD. Police spokesman (ag) Shivpersaud Bacchus yesterday confirmed the fatal stabbing, which occurred around 4 pm at Graham Street, Plaisance. He said the suspect, a 17-year-old, is currently in police custody assisting with the investigation. The police, in a press release, said Wong and the suspect had an argument and Wong was later found with stab wounds about his body. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he subsequently died.
Mon Repos man ends life after poisoning wife, daughter: A Mon Repos taxi driver ended his life last Monday by allegedly ingesting a poisonous substance, which he also forced his estranged wife and their three-year-old daughter to consume. On September 10th it was reported that while Balkaran Persaud, 57, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was rushed after he was discovered at his home, his common-law wife Kavita Persaud, 35, and their daughter, have both been hospitalised. Both the mother and child are said to be in stable condition. A relative said the couple had been separated for the last five months and it is suspected that they had a confrontation yesterday that preceded the poisoning.
Roger Khan’s lawyer fears delay in deportation may be politically-influenced: As convicted drug trafficker Roger Khan awaits deportation to Guyana, his local lawyer, Glenn Hanoman, is suspicious about the continued delay, which he thinks may be politically-influenced. “In my heart, I know that they are not being straight forward with the matter…..I think his delay is political. It’s not logistical, it’s political,” Hanoman told Stabroek News yesterday during a telephone interview published on September 10th. On September 6th Police Commissioner Leslie James had told reporters that Khan’s return to Guyana was delayed due to Hurricane Dorian. “I understand because of the hurricane we have had in the Caribbean recently, his arrival has been delayed,” James told reporters.
Business
Massive Massy superstore opens at Turkeyen: A massive Massy superstore was opened in the MovieTowne compound at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara on September 11th and over 120 persons are employed at the location. Customers will be able to access a range of goods including groceries, car accessories, electronics, household appliances and more at the “Massy Mega,” which is said to be the second in the Caribbean. The superstore also features a pharmacy, bakery and a deli. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, it was stated that the store will cater for all ages and lifestyles as it aims to transform customers’ shopping experience. David Affonso, the Chairman of the Massy Integrated Retail Business Unit, told the gathering, which included Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, that just over 50 years ago, the Massy Group started operations in the country, providing industrial equipment and over the years, has grown significantly. “Our investment in Guyana continues with the opening of the second store here at MovieTowne. This store represents a deepening of our investment in this market. It is also evidence of our continued commitment to Guyana and moreso, to the people of Guyana who we proudly serve,” Affonso said in comments published on September 12th.
Major competition for NY route as JetBlue announces Guyana service from April: Come April next year, travellers to New York will have three options for direct flights and lower fares with last Tuesday’s announcement by JetBlue of the start of operations to Guyana. There had been a number of reports that the major US low-budget carrier would begin service at some point to Guyana and the formal announcement came yesterday morning. It announced a new nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri. According to a Business Wire release, flights will operate daily on JetBlue’s new A321neo aircraft beginning April 2, 2020 with seats available for purchase in the US beginning yesterday.
