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May 09, 2019 News 0 Comments
The state-owned Guyana National Printers Limited (GNPL) has admitted that it ordered books from Trinidad and Tobago.
General Manager of GNPL, Trevor Bassoo
However, the explanation by the corporation is not going down well with local printers who insisted that they were not consulted.
They say that the proper procurement procedures were not followed.
In fact, the corporation had attempted to force at least three printers to use GNPL rolls of paper to produce the books.
The printers refused because the cost of paper from GNPL was way above the cost printers acquired their paper.
GNPL is under pressure to explain and provide proof how it bypassed local printers and ordered tens of millions of dollars of books overseas.
The Audit Office of Guyana has said that it is preparing to investigate whether proper procurement procedures were followed and whether Guyana got value for its money.
Rackets involving the procurement of exercise and text books, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, have been ongoing for years now. The Coalition Government has vowed to stamp out the corruption.
Consecutive state audits on the Ministry of Education had raised red flags over procurement, delivery and storage.
In recent days, Kaieteur News has been critical of the way in which the Ministry of Education and GNPL have been sourcing books for the schools.
GNPL, questioning the motives of Kaieteur News yesterday, said that recent reports by the newspaper border on being dishonest, malicious, reckless and is to some extent “libelous”.
GNPL has been selected unilaterally by Government to produce registration forms for the Guyana Elections Commission, and even Official Gazettes, to the tune of millions of dollars.
GNPL said that over the years, it was contracted by the Ministry of Education to supply exercise books for use by public schools in Guyana.
“In 2018 after the new board ramped up its marketing and sales opportunities, the company received a contract to supply textbooks to the Ministry of Education (MOE) for the first time in decades.
“All text books were ordered directly by the MOE, either from the printers in Trinidad, or local suppliers –many of whom order the supplies from Port of Spain.
“This was obvious, as most or all of the local printers did not have the capacity to supply the large orders.”
GNPL did not immediately say what prices it paid the overseas suppliers. That price would include waiting time and shipping and handling.
GNPL stressed that over the years, it has always supplied exercise books to the Ministry of Education.
With regards to recent orders, GNPL had this to say:
“As part of the exercise books contract, GNPL received orders to supply checkered line books as well. Because of old equipment and consistent delays, the company, in an effort to meet the deadlines of providing the books for schools ,ordered the checkered line books on a sub-contractual basis from Trinidad. This arrangement continued up until 2017.”
The corporation claimed that in 2017, Kaieteur Books Inc., which now had the capacity to print the checkered line books, was given the orders by GNPL to print the books locally.
It claimed that the price by local printers was higher than Trinidad.
However, GNPL provided no proof of this yesterday.
In fact, at least two printers challenged GNPL to produce those payments to Trinidad as it would determine whether Guyana got value for its money.
This decision to go local was taken in spite of the cost of printing was higher than in Trinidad.
“The decision however, was based on the fact that a local company had developed the capacity to do the job, and the Board of Directors wanted to ensure that the printing was done locally, since the ability to have it printed here was now available,” GNPL said.
GNPL claimed that to date, it continues to share the printing of the checkered line books with Kaieteur Books Inc.
GNPL claimed that the local printer was unable to provide a complete product (inclusive of Quality Control and Packaging) to hand over to the Ministry of Education.
According to Kaieteur Books, this is a blatant untruth.
In 2017, GNPL said it received a loan from the Government to purchase and enhance its capacity to provide a reliable and efficient service to its customers, including its biggest one – the Ministry of Education.”
GNPL said that it is it is no secret that the Ministry of Education, in the past did contract a Trinidadian company to print the majority of the text books because the capacity to do it locally was not available, at that time.
GNPL did not say how many times it went to Trinidad to sole-source books.
It added, “Therefore there was great excitement and expectations to have that business come back to Guyana since we were on the verge of having our press up and running. Unfortunately, we encountered some early electrical issues and were faced with the challenge of meeting our deadline for the Ministry of Education.
“In our efforts to salvage any disruptions of the delivery of the books, GNPL contacted the local companies we felt had the capacity to print the books, including Kaieteur Books Inc.”
Kaieteur Books Inc refuted this statement.
GNPL however reverted to the Trinidad company for the printing of the text books.
“We at GNPL were saddened in having to make this decision. But as a business, and in order to maintain our responsibility to the Ministry of Education and by extension the school children around the country, we were forced to go that route.”
The corporation said that since these developments, it has continued to produce and satisfy the orders for exercise books for the Ministry of Education and all of its customers.
It said it is also putting systems in place to correct the challenges “and can assure we will be ready to print the orders for books for the upcoming academic year.”
May 09, 2019 News 0 Comments
By Trishan Craig
Corwyn Mingo
Three police ranks were yesterday hauled before a city magistrate for allegedly acquiring a quantity of raw gold by use of menace from three Venezuelan women.
Corporal Ceon Jones, Constable Corwyn Mingo and Corporal Tevin Estrado, allegedly demanded money from three Venezuelan women during a stop and search exercise which they carried out some time last year.
It was alleged that between May 1, 2018 and May 31, 2018 at Makari Top, Essequibo, the ranks, with intent to steal, demanded with menace from Benny Vanessa Benita Rivero, Yanetzy Andreina Lozada Roj and Yurianny Del Valle Ramierz; raw gold valued at $157,500.
All of the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them by the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Tevin Estrado (L) Ceon Jones (R)
Mingo was also charged with raping a Venezuelan national. However, he was not allowed to plead to that offence.
The three accused smiled all through the hearing.
It is alleged that during the month of June, 2018, police ranks from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters were carrying out investigations on an allegation.
During the investigation three ranks from the Issano police station were identified as persons who demanded money from the three victims during a stop and search operation at Makari Top, Essequibo.
The women allegedly handed over a quantity of raw gold.
Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield had no objection to bail for the defendants.
None of the three police ranks were handcuffed, as is the case with other individuals when they are being sent down the prisoners’ chute. They were also not placed in the prisoners holding cell at the courts, but were allowed to stay in a room where prisoners are searched before being taken to the holding cell.
The three men were released on $30, 000 bail each for the menace charge while Mingo was granted $150,000 bail on the rape charge.
The matter was adjourned until May 16, at the Bartica Magistrates’ Courts.
May 09, 2019 News 0 Comments
After expending some four years pouring efforts into ensuring Guyana has a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan in place, the authorities of the day are
Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe
saying that the document is still not ready.
In providing an update on the matter, Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, said that the plan still needs a lot of technical work.
At his most recent press conference, Dr. Bynoe noted that the Civil Defense Commission (CDC) is responsible for the completion of the document. However, the Energy Department is doing its part to provide as much assistance as it can.
The official said, “We have been partnering with them on technical assistance and pointing them to where they can get more assistance too. We advanced work in that regard but we continue to require further assistance. In fact, we had a workshop not so long ago that aimed at enhancing the risk management framework under which that plan would be couched.”
Further, Dr. Bynoe said that the US Embassy has been engaged to see what support could be had through US department, its Coast Guards and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which has years of experience in this field.
As the nation awaits the completion of the document, oil companies are shaping up to accelerate their drilling activities this year.
According to a report that was produced by Financial Analyst, Jenny Xenos, of Canaccord Genuity Corporation which is based in Canada, offshore Guyana is expected to see about 14 wells being drilled.
In an Industry Update report, the author stated that up to nine wells will be drilled on the prolific Stabroek block, two of which are currently being drilled. The Stabroek Block is operated by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), Hess and CNOOC.
Furthermore, two wells are slated for drilling on the Orinduik Block which is under the licensed control of Tullow Oil, Total and Eco Atlantic. One well is planned for the Kanuku Block by Repsol and Tullow Oil.
The Corentyne Block also has one well planned for drilling by its operators, CGX and Frontera Energy. The Canje Block will also see one well being drilled by ExxonMobil, Total JHI and Mid-Atlantic.
IDB URGES
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is of the firm view that Guyana should have a national oil spill contingency plan in place before oil production commences in 2020.
In its special report, the IDB noted that Guyana’s CARICOM sister, Trinidad and Tobago, which has been in the petroleum industry for more than a century, has taken the wise move to safeguard its sector with a national oil spill plan.
That plan was updated and passed by TT’s Cabinet in January 2013. The IDB said that with TT’s new plan, “Deep-water drilling operators will now be required to demonstrate accessibility to a containment lap system to arrest a subsea blow out event.”
The IDB believes that Guyana can take a page from Trinidad’s book and get its own plan in place soon.
2 days ago578 Views
They don’t have money to fix schools. Now they have to pay two bajan dunce lawyers to help them read the Guyana constitution.
They also don’t have have money to fix schools but the have over a billion to fete, wine down, steal money.
How much did Moses USA treatment cost taxpayers ?
How much was allegedly stolen from the airport project ?
How much did the members of SOCU steal ?
I like this thread. Hopefully, they don’t pressure Ray to close it down like they did with the crime thread.
PNC goes slop, slop, slop.
Bibi Haniffa posted:They don’t have money to fix schools. Now they have to pay two bajan dunce lawyers to help them read the Guyana constitution.
Gal it would NOT be the PNC if this does not happen. FILTH HEADS in the Govt!!!
Who knows!! Maybe dem waiting fuh ile money!!
Drugb posted:Four years later…National Oil Spill Contingency Plan still stuck in draft stage
May 09, 2019 News 0 Comments
After expending some four years pouring efforts into ensuring Guyana has a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan in place, the authorities of the day are saying that the document is still not ready.
Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe
In providing an update on the matter, Energy Department Head, Dr. Mark Bynoe, said that the plan still needs a lot of technical work.
At his most recent press conference, Dr. Bynoe noted that the Civil Defense Commission (CDC) is responsible for the completion of the document. However, the Energy Department is doing its part to provide as much assistance as it can.
Superb progress by the PNCR/APNU/AFC -- perhaps if still in power, it may take them about 50 years to understand what needs to be done.
Typical PNC Haplessness. Dem can't even build a toilet, how can they run a country ?
Build Toilet?/ YUh really gat high hopes of those FOOLS!!
yuji22 posted:Typical PNC Haplessness. Dem can't even build a toilet, how can they run a country ?
In reality, they are running Guyana with nuff coolie sucking ginnip under them. Are you a ginnip sucker, Yuji?
Nehru posted:Build Toilet?/ YUh really gat high hopes of those FOOLS!!
yuji22 posted:Typical PNC Haplessness. Dem can't even build a toilet, how can they run a country ?
Dem still trying to do so, Nehru. 
I sense DG spunks done. I don't know how you can criticize a government who still holds power. He is only bracing on the young fools on GNI.
Trump is a SKONT!!!
yuji22 posted:Typical PNC Haplessness. Dem can't even build a toilet, how can they run a country ?
Can you?
Nehru posted:Trump is a SKONT!!!
Ah lil wan or a big big BIG B-I-G wan.
Mitwah posted:yuji22 posted:Typical PNC Haplessness. Dem can't even build a toilet, how can they run a country ?
Can you?
I am not a politician.
Why are you appearing to defend a bunch of AFC PNC clowns ?
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