Guyana Observer News

Malcolm Rodrigues                                   Onika Beckles                   Odinga Lumumba 

(SN) Chairman of the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB) Fr Malcolm Rodrigues yesterday said that Monday’s attack on an EAB observer and a Presiding Officer by a PPP/C candidate was “quite disturbing” and warrants a lawyer’s letter. Fr Rodrigues told reporters outside the GECOM media centre that the assailant, Odinga Lumumba, who fled the scene, was taken back by members of a private security firm and he apologized for his actions.

(KN) Prior to the General and Regional Elections, Kumar Ramnauth, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce had stated that the business sector is concerned about the timing of elections being so close to the Christmas season. And these concerns were certainly not unfounded as just over 24 hours after Guyanese took to the polls, some of the main commercial areas around the Capital City including Regent Street, Stabroek and Bourda Markets remained closed. Some businesses shut their doors but operated through grills and windows, while others closed earlier than usual. According to a few business owners and operators, between the period when elections take place and when the results are announced is too long. It affects the progress of the country since many persons fail to turn out to work.

  Dead Dwayne Little who was shot by police ranks after he tried relieving them of ballot boxes.

(KN) The man who was shot last Sunday night by police ranks during a confrontation at the Maripa Dukwari Landing has been identified as Dwayne Little, called ‘Tattoo man’ of 3707 Bilamby Place South Ruimveldt. According to the police the man was positively identified by his mother yesterday at the Lyken Funeral home. Little was before the courts for several matters including robbery under arms, possession of arms and ammunition without licence and discharging a loaded firearm with intent. In addition he was a suspect in a number of armed robberies, particularly on Brazilian nationals working in the interior. In the past, police were forced to issue wanted bulletins for Little in connection with robberies under arm and possession of unlicensed firearm.

Shaquille Answick is now able to walk with the aid of a crutch.

The badly injured Shaquille Answick was rushed to the GPHC last Saturday for a CT scan.

(KN) Shaquille Answick, one of the three victims of a vigilante style beating on the East Coast of Demerara is alive and well. The rumour mongers were at work yesterday claiming that the young man had succumbed to the injuries he received during the beating. There were also numerous other rumours. Answick and his mother, Evadne James, paid another visit to a doctor yesterday. Despite some discomfort, the young man, his brother and another friend who were also victims of the assault appeared in reasonably good health. Police in a press statement yesterday said that all three of the young men were “contacted by the police (yesterday), and are alive and well.” Four persons have since been charged for assaulting the youths.

(KN) Indiscriminate garbage dumping by anyone is generally viewed as totally irresponsible and disgusting. It reflects the characteristics of the least cultured amongst us. But then there are those who are tasked with keeping the environment clean and healthy, but instead are even guiltier than the common populace, when it comes to indiscriminate garbage disposal. Concerned residents of Linden have condemned this most despicable practice of the sanitation arm of the Linden Municipality, who instead of disposing of refuse safely, have persisted in indiscriminate dumping. One of the present sites for this unhealthy practice is the area just beyond West Watooka, alongside the thoroughfare to the Lucky Spot Mines. Persons who are forced to use this thoroughfare have expressed their disgust over this state of affairs, as the garbage is now littering the shoulders of the road. Young people are in the habit of breaking bottles and strewing them along the roadway.

(KN) Leaders of four political parties yesterday called for calm as the country awaits the results of Monday’s General and Regional Elections. The Presidential Candidates urged their supporters to accept the results which are expected to be announced by today. Representing their respective parties at an emergency press briefing were Donald Ramotar of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic; David Granger of A Partnership for National Unity; Khemraj Ramjattan of the Alliance for Change and Peter Persaud of The United Force. The appeals were made at a historic forum which was organised by the Guyana Elections Commission, through its Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally.

"Get Out" Residents chase PPP Candidate Kwame McCoy from Lodge Polling station after he allegedly verbally abuse a polling staff after being refused to inspect voting. Gordon Moseley

(DW) Kwame Mc Coy, who turned up at the Lodge Community High School to inspect the voting process there, was ordered out of the polling station and escorted from the area by police. Mc Coy, a candidate for the governing Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC), was told that he needed a letter, authorizing him to do so. The incident occurred at the Lodge Secondary School, Meadowbrook. Polling station officials ordered him out and he, in turn, took out his cellular phone, purportedly to take digital images of their behaviour. The situation became tense, resulting in polling station officials summoning police. Persons in the polling station compound and about 50 residents also became incensed and hurled insults at Mc Coy. At least 10 members of the police force intervened and subsequently escorted him away from the polling station. Presidential Advisor, Odinga Lumumba was also present there and he, too, was verbally abused.