Femi Harris-Smith

Recognizing the referendum which Venezuela had planned for tomorrow as a seriously “urgent,” “real” and “imminent” threat to the rights which Guyana currently has to the Essequibo, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a warning of refrain to Venezuela.

A carpenter has won his case for pension, after taking the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to court in what has been hailed as a landmark ruling that pronounced on the obligation of the NIS and the employer for the maintenance of accurate and complete records.

Alexander La Cruz and Mark Welch—the two men who pleaded guilty to the murder of Westminster phone card vendor Ron Mansfield back in 2018—have been sentenced to 13 and 14 years in prison respectively.

Declaring that absolutely nothing—not even the Court—can prevent its referendum planned for December 3rd, Venezuela’s resolute position is that Guyana’s county of Essequibo belongs to it, and it is prepared to fully defend its sovereignity.

Calling the referendum which Venezuela intends to hold on December 3rd, over its claim to Essequibo, an “existential threat ” to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Guyana yesterday argued at the ICJ in the Hague that Caracas was seeking to evade the jurisdiction of the court and its acts of aggression are intended to lay the path for annexation.  

Spanning sixteen years, the long battle in the courts has finally come to an end for former dismissed manager of the New Building Society (NBS), Maurice Arjoon, who has been awarded his pension and other benefits in full.

Sophia resident Wazim Perreira, who back in 2019 killed his former reputed wife by drenching her with gasoline and setting her alight, has been sentenced to 19 years behind bars, less the time he has since spent on remand.

Pursuing a case which the High Court has ruled Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC had no standing being a part of in the first place, the State has now incurred an additional $2.5 million dollar in costs on top of the initial $4 million; having lost on a second round of litigation. 

While finding that the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a permit to ExxonMobil for its Gas to Energy (GTE) project was “contrary to law and improper,” High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry has nonetheless refused to grant reliefs sought in an action which challenged that decision.

Acting Chief Justice, Roxane George SC has ruled in favour of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); against which an action was filed to put a stop to flaring of gas offshore by ExxonMobil.

Social media personality Mikhail Rodrigues, popularly known as “Guyanese Critic,” has had contempt proceedings brought against him for failing to pay some four million dollars in rent owed to his previous landlord.

Veterinarian Dr. Steve Surujbally has filed a $100m  lawsuit against the State, which he says ought to compensate him adequately for his land compulsorily acquired for the gas to shore project.

Former General Manager of the National Communications Network (NCN) Enrico Woolford, has won a $7m lawsuit he had filed against the state-owned media entity which he had said owed him gratuity payment for some three years.                                                                        

Failing to prove its claim of illegal mining on its lands, a case filed by the Isseneru Village Council (IVC) in which it was seeking damages for trespass, was thrown out on Wednesday by a High Court judge.

In what will now be his final bid to evade paying former government Minister Annette Ferguson damages for libel, Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo has now taken his challenge to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Two years after being slapped with a $20m default judgment and filing a series of appeals in a bid to evade payment to former government Minister Annette Ferguson whom he had defamed, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has found himself back to having to honour that initial ruling and whatever award for damages will be imposed against him for libel.

The first of what is expected to be a series of legal actions filed by squatters of CaneView/Mocha,  whose houses were demolished by the Ministry of Housing and Water, is set for hearing in early October before the Chief Justice.

Ranked in the top ten globally, Guyana’s suicide rate is said to have been consistently occupying that position, with pesticide poisoning being the method used by persons whose suicide is described as having been triggered primarily by interpersonal conflict.

Last Thursday, the National Assembly passed the Petroleum Activities Bill 2023 which provides for the exploration, production, storage and transportation of petroleum but  31 amendments by APNU+AFC MP David Patterson were rejected by the government.

The government yesterday approved massive hikes in the external and domestic debt ceilings – the second time in 30 months – signalling an aggressive borrowing campaign for massive infrastructural and other spending.