Corona and Democracy - Guyana

Information on COVID-19 measures and democracy

   18 March:

• The government announced that airports in the country will be partially shut down. for 14 days. The restrictions applied mostly to incoming international passenger flights.

   27 March:

• The country’s airports would remain closed to incoming international flights.

   27 March:

• Multiple cities have imposed a curfew for people (from 20:00 to 06:00) as well as businesses (from 18:00 to 06:00) operating in the township.

   30 March:

• Police Force has been put in place to enforce social distance compliance. Announced monitoring of Guyana’s borders.

   02 April:

• The government announced strengthening measures and the extension of airport closures to incoming flights until 1 May.

   05 April:

• The government announce nationwide curfew from 18:00 to 06:00 until 3 May.

   17 April:

• International airports would remain close until 3 May. In addition, citizens must to continue and intensify practising social distancing.

   03 May:

• the government announced that the current measures would stay in place until 3 June.

• https://www.inewsguyana.com/guyana-to-partially-close-airports-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/guyanas-airports-remain-closed-to-intl-flights-only-specially-authorised-flights-being-allowed/
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/coronavirus-linden-announces-curfew-for-businesses/
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/cops-called-in-to-ensure-social-distancing-compliance/
  https://www.inewsguyana.com/cdc-boss-assures-monitoring-of-guyanas-borders-continues-in-effort-to-stop-spread-of-coronavirus/
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/president-announces-closure-of-bars-restaurants-from-6-pm-daily/
  https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/328441/guyana-aviation-authorities-extend-suspension-of-flights-amid-covid-19-outbreak-until-may-1-update-2
• https://www.worldaware.com/covid-19-alert-guyana-imposes-nationwide-nightly-curfew-through-may-3
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/intl-airports-remain-closed-until-may-3rd-sub-committee-formed-to-advise-on-social-assistance/
• https://www.worldaware.com/covid-19-alert-guyana-modifies-extends-measures-through-june-3

• Following the contested result of March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been in charge of planning the national recount of the votes.

  On 20 March, the High Court has imposed restrictions on the lawyers, media and other stakeholders at the hearing of the injunction filed to block the national recount of votes by the GECOM. Claims have been made that this was a restriction of fundamental rights and not due to coronavirus.

   20 March:

• EU Observer Mission leaves Guyana due to Covid-19.

After six weeks, on 20 April, observers would be granted special permission to oversee the recount but they must quarantine for 14 days after arriving, again delaying the exercise. However, no official date has been decided yet.

Increasing contestations since the COVID-19 Task Force, guided by the president, would regulate the work of the commission in the recount.

On 4 May, GECOM announced that the national recount would start on the 6 May.

• https://www.inewsguyana.com/eu-observer-mission-leaves-guyana-renews-calls-for-credible-electoral-process/
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/high-court-restricts-access-to-lawyers-media/
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/coalition-using-covid-19-as-a-political-tool-to-hang-on-to-power-irfaan-ali/
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/day-48-gecom-chair-gives-commitment-again-to-see-recount-through-but-still-no-start-date/
• https://www.inewsguyana.com/order-for-national-recount-gazetted/

   23 March:

• Courts of Guyana announced limited or suspended operations for one month except for urgent matters. Hearings must be conducted, where possible, by electronic means.

   06 April:

• The Supreme Court updated measures until 3 May. https://www.inewsguyana.com/supreme-court-updates-covid-19-measures/

• The Official Gazette

• Concerns have been raised regarding the confidentiality of test results since the Minister of Public Health and others are receiving these in addition to the medical personnel handling the patient who was tested.

• https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/04/12/news/guyana/ghra-concerned-about-confidentiality-of-covid-19-testing/

• Covid-19 Emergency Measures
• The Official Gazette