August 25, 2020

Source

GEORGETOWN, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Ever since Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) found vast deposits of oil off Guyana's coastline in 2015, government leaders have pledged that black gold would transform the fortunes of one of South America's poorest countries.

This year alone, the economy should grow 48%, the fastest rate on the planet, according to the World Bank.

But managed poorly, development experts and diplomats warn, those funds will stoke Guyana's overheated, race-based politics, while adding the nation to a long list of petrostates whose people have remained poor despite vast resource wealth.

In May, Guyana's government announced it had tapped the sovereign wealth fund that holds the royalties paid by oil producers for the first time. By year-end, drawdowns will exceed $600 million, a figure that will soon balloon into the billions.

By 2027, Exxon and its partners, New York-based Hess and China National Offshore Oil Corp (0883.HK), aim to pump 1.2 million barrels per day from Guyana's seabed, making the country by far the world's largest producer per capita. read more

"Prepare for a massive influx of government revenue with little expertise on how to handle it," wrote analysts at the U.S. Agency for International Development in a report released earlier this year.

Interviews with more than 30 politicians, entrepreneurs, activists and citizens across the country showed both the buoyant aspirations and profound anxieties of a nation on the cusp of radical transformation.

The current government, supported largely by Guyanese of East Indian descent, says the oil boom will fund broad-based development with a focus on infrastructure and education for the nation's roughly 790,000 residents. read more

"Our commitment as a government is to ensure that opportunities are real across the country, irrespective of where one lives, irrespective of who someone might have voted for," Guyana's Finance Minister Ashni Singh said in an interview.

But many communities, particularly in areas associated with the Afro-Guyanese opposition, are skeptical. Some complain cash and contracts are already flowing to government supporters and allege the ruling party is installing loyalists to bodies meant to govern the nation's newfound riches – allegations that Guyana's leaders deny.

"What they're seeking to do is use oil for political patronage," said Aubrey Norton, a federal lawmaker and the head of the opposition. "There's no vision."

MAJOR OPPORTUNITY, COMPLEX TIMING

Tucked between Venezuela and Suriname, statecraft has long been volatile in Guyana, due in part to competition between its main ethnic groups.

Descendants of African slaves compose about 30% of the population. Another 40% of Guyanese descend from indentured workers from India. Mixed race and Amerindian peoples largely make up the remainder.

President Irfaan Ali of the largely Indo-Guyanese People's Progressive Party (PPP) assumed power in 2020 following a months-long political standoff after a disputed election.

In the legislature, the PPP is now in a position to make pivotal decisions regarding the nation's future thanks to a razor-thin, two-seat advantage over the opposition, led by a mainly Afro-Guyanese grouping of parties known as A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). In recent months, the two sides have butted heads on every issue from how the government's ballooning accounts should be audited to key appointments.

But perhaps the most central dispute has been fought over how to govern the Natural Resources Fund, the sovereign wealth fund holding Guyana's oil royalties. read more

Among the opposition's qualms with the current legislation, which came into effect this year, is that they have no right to appoint representatives to its board. That's a major concern in a country with a history of endemic corruption, they say.

The government calls those concerns baseless.

Singh, the finance minister, told Reuters a proposal under the previous APNU government, which was in power from 2015 through 2020, would have centralized power in the hands of the ruling party to an even greater degree.

In any case, he argued, the credentials of the government's board nominees are unimpeachable.

The opposition counters by saying that is beside the point. Regardless of any individual's qualifications, they deserve a seat at the table.

"When everyone is from one side, it sends one message - and that is that the fund will be politicized," said Vincent Adams, a former environmental regulator whose nomination to the board by the opposition was rejected by the government.

FIGHT FOR FUNDS

Beyond the halls of the National Assembly, Afro-Guyanese communities have taken to the streets at times to call out the government for allegedly unfair distribution of resources.

In an interview, the opposition leader Norton argued the government's generous use of cash handouts, often administered by local bureaucrats, promotes corruption and political favoritism.

The government has consistently denied any graft and said handout programs are subject to a federal audit. Outwardly, the government has made a point of adopting inclusive rhetoric.

But the fight for resources is often subtler than a battle over bags of cash.

Under the previous government, many state-owned sugar farms - known locally as estates - were closed or downsized amid flagging productivity. That enraged the Indo-Guyanese community, whose members make up the vast majority of workers on those estates.

Since the government changed hands, the roles have begun to reverse, with many Afro-Guyanese complaining that sugar-growing communities are getting outsized investments, while their own neighborhoods are neglected.

The Uitvlugt Estate west of Georgetown lost hundreds of workers to other industries as the former government refused to adjust salaries, its manager Yudhisthira Mana said.

But in the last year, government investment has flooded back.

"What is happening with sugar now, I have never seen in my lifetime in terms of capital injection," said Mana, a 38-year veteran of the trade. He recounted with a smile a recent visit from President Ali, whose personal residence is nearby.

Fifty miles south, however, in the primarily Afro-Guyanese bauxite-mining town of Linden, much of the population is wary.

The government has made significant investments here, including an aggressive push to pave and resurface the isolated region's undermaintained roadways.

But many residents suspect their region is getting less than they are owed.

"We're in mourning because it seems Linden isn't benefiting like the rest of the country," said Charles Antigua, a retired miner.

Also fueling the sense of inequality is that most of the country's major entrepreneurs are Indo-Guyanese, giving their ranks a massive advantage in cashing in directly from the fast-growing oil sector.

One such businessman, Nazar Mohamed, a port developer, said in an interview that President Ali had asked him if he could add an Afro-Guyanese investor to a planned project near Georgetown, but that few had the funds.

Ali's office did not respond to a request for comment regarding the purported request.

"We did approach several persons," said Mohamed. "But they couldn't even find the money for the studies, much less building the project."

Article by.

Gram Slattery

Thomson Reuters

Rio de Janeiro-based correspondent specializing in the oil and gas industry, as well as white-collar crime and corruption. Recent stories have shed light on criminal wrongdoing by some of the world’s largest commodity traders and revealed how organized crime groups have infiltrated Brazil’s largest fuel distributors. Previously posted in São Paulo and Santiago and has also reported extensively from Argentina and Bolivia. He was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College.

D2 gat Sean wid the coconut branch bat, some good lash pan him.

Dave the Peacemaker trying to get Sean to stay in the Backdam.

That chap D2 always fighting. Now trying to get Sean out of the Backdam back into the VCillage.

Lawd ah Murcy.

https://www.aol.com/news/biden...shape-100035667.html

Guyanese family accused of laundering billions for Chinese businesses arrested at airport

By Editor On Feb 9, 2023 Last updated Feb 9, 2023

Guyanese family accused of laundering billions for Chinese businesses arrested at airport – News Room Guyana

Was doing some research and found this nice article. My brother told me some of the people mentioned were popular members in GNI's heyday – Vishnu Bishram, Mel Carpen, Dr. Ramharack, Chuck Mohan, etc.

https://icdn.today/emergence-o...ie-ramharack-others/

Kaieteur News grenade attack trio to stand trial in High Court

Jan 06, 2017 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News 0 Comments

 

– bail denied for number one accused
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday ruled that prima facie cases have been established against the three men accused of lobbing a grenade at a vehicle belonging to Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall, last June.

The three accused to stand trial in the High Court – Janeil Howard, Alfie Garraway and Leroy Williams. A fourth suspect, Shemar Wilson (top right), is wanted by the authorities.

As a result of the ruling, Alfie Garraway, Janeil Howard and Leroy Williams have been committed to stand trial at the High Court.
Williams, 25, of 11 D’Urban Backlands; Howard, 20, of 322 Section ‘C’ Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara; and Garraway, 36, of Norton Street, Lodge, Georgetown, are accused of conspiring together with other persons to cause an explosion by way of throwing a grenade, likely to endanger lives and cause damage to property.
The offence occurred on June 4, 2015, at Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.
According to reports, on the day in question, a member of the Kaieteur News security staff heard an unusual sound near Lall’s Toyota Lexus SUV, PRR 8398. The vehicle was parked on the western side of Saffon Street outside the building housing the newspaper’s offices.
On checking the front of the vehicle, the staff member spotted a grenade lying near one of the front tyres. Video footage from the company’s CCTV cameras showed a grey-coloured vehicle slowing as it approached Lall’s vehicle. The driver accelerated after the explosive was thrown.
Shemar Wilson, also known as ‘Abdue’, is still wanted by the Police for questioning in relation to the grenade attack. He is 20 years of age and his last known addresses have been given as 43 North Sophia and 51 West La Penitence, Georgetown.
Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers requested bail be denied for the number one accused, Alfie Garraway, who had been released on $300,000 bail by the High Court. Garraway, who was represented by Attorney Stanley Moore, asked the court to take into consideration that his client has attended every sitting of the hearing of the matter – during the Preliminary Inquiry.
The Chief Magistrate in turn said that based on the seriousness of the offence and the penalty it attracts, she would not grant bail to his client and that he would therefore again remanded to prison.
The three men will stand trial at the next sitting of the Demerara Assizes.
When given a chance to address the court, each of the men said, “I’m innocent.”
Leroy Williams who is known for being disruptive at every sitting of the court hearing once again yesterday showcased his bad temper in the courtroom by unlocking his handcuffs and waving around while staring at the reporters who were sitting in the courtroom.
One reporter on seeing Williams’s handcuffs loose quickly picked up her bag and dashed through the lone door. The man’s mother on observing that her son handcuffs was loose, hysterically shouted “No! No! No! Calm down son.”
A few months ago, Williams caused pandemonium when he had stormed back in the court after he was being escorted to the holding cell.
Williams prior to causing chaos in the court had hurled a bottle of water at a female reporter, hitting her in the chest as she was standing on the stairway, capturing video footage of prisoners as they were being taken to the prison van.

Does anyone know if Freddie was fired from Kaieteur newspapers.

Access to education is not an assurance of quality

Kaieteur News – The Minister of Education must not get confused. There is a difference and distinction between access to education and quality of education.

Access to education is measured quantitatively. The quality of education is a qualitative measure. The fact is that it is quite possible for there to be access to education but this education is substandard. In Guyana’s primary education, there is universal access. But it is obvious that the quality of education is extremely poor with more than half of the students writing the Grade 2, 4 and 6 Assessments failing in the core subjects.

Access to education however is important from the point of view that unless education is available and accessible, one cannot speak about quality. But you can have access and very poor quality. Access does not guarantee quality, has never done. In its Manifesto, the PPPC promised to improve access to education at every level from nursery to university but also to raise the quality of education across all levels. So where is the plan for the latter?

The Government is spending a larger share of its education budget this year on capital works. But comparing this percentage with what occurred under the APNU+AFC is disingenuous because the resources are now available to allow for a greater portion of public expenditure on capital spending. To invert capital and recurrent spending under the APNU+AFC regime would have been disastrous. There would have been spanking new schools, with no benches, chairs, teachers and educational materials. What good then would access be?

Throwing shade at the APNU+AFC and engaging in comparisons between what was done under the APNU+AFC – does not fix the myriad of problems within the education sector. The PPPC used to make mockery of David Granger’s plans to provide buses and boats to take children to school. Now they are boasting about expanding the number of buses and boats in 2022. The Minister in her address failed to adequately address the fundamental concerns of the education system. How does the education Budget address the issue of ensuring universal secondary education? The failure of Guyana in the third decade of the 21st century to have universal secondary education is an indictment. But will building new schools guarantee universal secondary education in 2023?

Or is it intended to expand accommodation for the schools that are presently bulging at the seams and to rebuild schools which were either destroyed by fire or had to be closed because of their poor conditions. In other words, to what extent are the new schools going to increase access versus simply improving accommodation.

The empirical data does not suggest the need for a massive drive to build new schools. The nursery school population is projected to remain about the same by 2025. And in terms of enrollment, there is only likely to be about 1,000 more nursery school children in 2025 than there are today. Primary enrollment is projected to increase by five percent but accommodation has to be made for the fact that an increase in private primary school enrollment may ensure about the same level of enrollment in public schools in 2025 as it is today. And secondary school enrollment is actually projected to decline by 2025.

The problem of overcrowding and catering for future increases in enrollment may have been better addressed by improving the school placement system. Building new schools, may not be the answer to overcrowding or catering for the relative small overall increases in enrollment that are projected in the near-term. The Budget also does not appear to address the issue of the large number of students who are not completing secondary school. Surely resources should have been apportioned to study this problem and to arrive at policies to address it. It is serious indictment against the education system that so many students are not completing their secondary education. So what is the plan?

The PPPC likes to boast that it restored the school’s cash grant. But this grant is universal – it is given to every school child regardless of economic status and regardless of whether the child has a good or poor attendance record. Rich and poor, millionaire and pauper, all benefit. The APNU+AFC did remove the school’s cash grant. But it did promise that if it was reelected it would provide an educational cash grant but this would be linked to attendance. This is a far more sensible approach since it would provide an incentive for parents to ensure that their children attend school. This is what happens in Brazil. And if it costing the Government $237,000 per child to provide education, would it not be cheaper for the Government to pay private educational providers to provide the service? It would save the billions that are going to be spent by Government to increase educational access.

Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSZuz9tGxsQ

Can someone with official information add a link

AFC formalises divorce from APNU after 7-year union

Jan 03, 2023 News --- Source --- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...-after-7-year-union/

…says may rejoin Coalition for 2025 elections

Kaieteur News – The Alliance For Change (AFC) has parted ways with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), ending a seven year bond between the groups.

Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday confirmed the split, adding that the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton has accepted and respects the party’s decision.

Leader of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan

Ramjattan explained, “We had a partnership agreement that indicated terms of withdrawal within three years to five years and we have so withdrawn on the third year. It is not a split. We will still remain cordial and courteous and have engagements because we know that indeed that is necessary for a united Opposition against this very corrupt PPP government.”

He said it was on December 28, 2022 that he met with Norton to relate the party’s decision to withdraw from the APNU. At that meeting, only the Leaders from the two sides were present, Ramjattan said.

“It is nothing that he can’t accept. If by a contract you say, it could be terminated within an expiry of time and the time has expired and we said well fine, we’ll go, it is not for him to consent to it. He doesn’t have a privilege to say the consent of his is necessary. Anyone of us could say we are withdrawing and that is what we wrote into the Accord,” he explained.

Ramjattan said he made it clear during the engagement with Norton that it was not a decision he made, but was one that the party’s highest decision-making body decided on in June last year, during its biennial National Conference.

When asked if AFC is likely to have future partnerships with the APNU, Ramjattan said this is likely.

“Oh yes, I can foresee that if at our next national conference, they decide that they would want to go, fine why not? At that appropriate moment, if there is a decision for the rejoining, that could very well happen. If that National Conference feels that some other decision should be made, they can very well make that decision.”

At the same time, he pointed out that if the National Conference also votes in favour of joining the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) he will accept this decision as well.

Similarly, Ramjattan said that if the AFC members decide that they want to join other small political parties to “remain independent” this will be done.

The next AFC National Congress is due for 2024, while the next Regional and General Elections should be held in 2025.

At this time, the AFC is not engaged in discussion with any other political group, according to Ramjattan who said the party’s focus is to regain independence and do its own work.

Meanwhile, as it regards the recalling of the AFC Members of Parliament, Ramjattan said it was a “non-issue” that was not and could not be raised with Norton.

“Well he knows and I emphasized the point even before that there is an inviolability of our nine Parliamentary seats and that is in accordance with the Constitution. We went in as an Opposition in the Parliament as APNU+AFC and at a Parliamentary level, we are going to be APNU/AFC and we will have our nine Parliamentarians there. They can’t go and take that away; neither can we take any away from their 22.”

He said the Leader of the Opposition understands clearly that while the parties will be going their independent ways, they will work along, communicate and collaborate in the National Assembly.

Several attempts made to contact Norton yesterday were unsuccessful.

It was on February 14, 2015 that the AFC signed the Cummingsburg Accord with the APNU, binding the two political parties as a Coalition. They later defeated the PPP at the 2015 elections held in May that year. Since then, the Coalition has stood together but not without its internal hiccups.

Though most of these are kept quiet by the members, Ramjattan hinted before that the two sides had a misunderstanding over the Region Four Vice Chairman position that led to its decision to leave the APNU.

“We have had other problems as you would have within Parties…but we have had our problems and I don’t want to make all the problems public,” he told a press conference in November last year.

It must be noted too that the tension between the APNU and AFC sparked when a member of the Alliance For Change, Charrandass Persaud turned against the Coalition and voted in favour of a ‘No Confidence’ Motion that was filed against the then government in December 2018. This led to the historic over turn of the Coalition government.

Chicken is now Mr. Chicken!

Oct 16, 2022 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists, News --- Source --- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...n-is-now-mr-chicken/

Dem Boys Seh…

Kaieteur News – A fowl walk pass dem boys de odder day. As it was passing, it stop, cock it neck proudly and den turn it head in de direction of dem boys.

Dem boys had to look away. Dem could not stare de chicken in it eye. Because chicken now is Mr. Chicken and dem chicken turning dem noses up pon people dese days.

Chicken price now outside de reach ah de poor. Is now more dan $400 per lb pluck weight. At dat price, dem chicken can mek styles pon yuh.

De Prezzie did claim dat how we can be producing we own broiler chickens and mekkin we own feed. De man never promise dat chicken gan be cheap. But dem boys never expect dat de price woulda jump suh high. Dem seh is supply chain crisis. But dem boys wan feel is greediness and exploitation wah cause de price fuh guh suh high.

Dem boys gan get back even though Christmas coming and money gan come in from foreign. And dem boys gan guh and look fuh de fattest and juiciest chicken and dem boys gan bubble it in curry.

Dem boys gan call dat a chicken curry. And as Prezzie seh, whether is chicken curry or curry chicken, dem boys will be having chicken and curry fuh Christmas. Right now dem boys struggling fuh mek ends meet.

Nah talk about turkey. Or even mutton or duck. Dat outside of de range of poor people. Dem boys can’t afford dat nat even with de $28,000 pension bonus wah dem giving de elderly.

Imagine we ah produce oil and we poor people can’t afford fuh buy chicken.

Talk half, leff half.

Charrandass Persaud axed by Pres. Ali over obscene outburst in India

Charrandass Persaud

Guyana’s High Commissioner to India Charrandass Persaud will be recalled following the circulation of a video which shows him verbally abusing a woman at his official residence in India.

President Dr Irfaan Ali moments ago announced that he had a conversation with Persaud on the issue during which he [Persaud] accepted full responsibility for his actions and agreed to return home.

President Ali said the Guyana Government will now take all official steps and measures to ensure a smooth transition.

The President elaborated that during his discussion with Persaud, he emphasised the importance of representatives of Guyana conducting themselves in the highest regard.

He also reiterated that the issue in question, which occurred in August 2021, was already dealt with by the relevant agencies in India during which no evidence of misconduct was found.

The Head of State also noted that the video in circulation does not completely demonstrate what transpired.

Notwithstanding, the Head of State posited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Guyana Government will continue to work to strengthen its relationship with India and every partner across the globe.

In this regard, he said it is in the “best interest” that Persaud return home.

In the video, Persaud is heard telling the woman: “You probably want the dog to f**k you, that is what you want. And I don’t care. I don’t care who you are…f**k you.”

The video has been making its rounds on social media but this publication understands that the incident occurred since August 2021.

Following the rapid circulation of the video on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement on the incident.

See full statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is aware of material circulating on social media relating to allegations made against His Excellency Charrandass Persaud, High Commissioner of Guyana to India regarding an incident which occurred on August 1, 2021 on the premises of the High Commissioner’s residence.

This matter, brought to the attention of the Ministry of External Affairs of India by High Commissioner Persaud, was fully investigated by the relevant authorities and a formal response to the High Commission dated September 3, 2022 indicates that “allegations of sexual abusive words to complainant has [sic] not been substantiated”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation therefore considers this matter closed.

Norton calls for unity in PNCR

…tells party faithful ‘we will come through this difficult period’

Dec 23, 2022 News --- Source --- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...s-for-unity-in-pncr/

Kaieteur News – Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Aubrey Norton said like his predecessors he will continue to give leadership to his party and assured members that despite the current setbacks “we will come through this difficult period…”

Norton at the time was speaking at a memorial service for Guyana’s Former President and Party Leader, the Late Hugh Desmond Hoyte. The ceremony was held at Hoyte’s burial site, the Place of the Seven Ponds, in the Botanical Gardens.

Leader of the PNCR, Aubrey Norton

Norton’s leadership has been called into question in recent times, with many predicting that he would be ousted at the party’s next congress. However, in a speech that heaped praise on Hoyte’s leadership of Guyana, Norton sought to shore his own saying, ”Like Mr. Burnham and Mr. Hoyte, like Cde. Corbin and Cde. Granger, like our Elders Cde. Hamilton Green, Oscar Clarke, Jeffrey Thomas, Rashleigh Jackson and others, I have every confidence in the supporters of the Party and the people of Guyana, of which I am the Leader. We will come through this difficult period and guarantee the success and equitable development of our nation. That must be our focus. That is why I have not hesitated to walk among our people and to be with them in this hour of need.”

Norton said, “I believe as Leader of the Party, that all our Party Comrades in every region must find themselves amidst our people. It is good now and it will be good for government. I have heard as I move around the complaints of discrimination and I have seen the levels of poverty in our society. I have no doubt that this is an urgent social problem. Yet the PPP is making no effort to deal with it, even as the World Bank has warned that poverty in Guyana is as high as 49%. This is clearly unacceptable. The resources are available and my Party will insist that the current administration do something about this situation as we proposed to them comprehensive policies and programmes to deal with poverty. A Government under the APNU+AFC will ensure the resources of this country benefit the people of Guyana.”

Norton who is also Leader of the Opposition, said it is a source of great concern to the PNCR that the PPP seems more intent in building mega projects rather than attending to the basic needs of our people. “This is callous as well as cynical. For everyone knows that these projects enable the PPP to fund itself and enrich their elites. Yet for all the difficulties we face, I am very hopeful for the future of Guyana. I have seen how Mr. Hoyte was able to ride out the difficulties in the pre-1998 period and I am persuaded that the PNC/R, with the support of its constituents, will remain a formidable force and will no doubt beat the People’s Progressive Party in the next elections. And we intend to do this with a viable coalition.”

He told the gathering that when he became Leader of this Party, he had called for unity. “I make this call again this morning. The Party has to be united as we seek to resist the efforts of the PPP to control and dominate our society. We have to be focused on building a better unified Guyana. We need not fear as our Party has gone through many difficult periods as I have already described. We have survived, we have progressed, and we have prospered. I have no doubt that we will do so again. I am convinced that the PNCR as a Government was inclusive and a Government in the future with the Coalition will be inclusive. I am satisfied we have the intellectual and other capacity to do it. I am satisfied that we are competent but most importantly, I am satisfied that as a Party, we are resilient. I am satisfied that we governed fairly when we were in Government and we operated based on the Rule of Law. And I believe that this is the recipe for success; this is the legacy left to us by Hugh Desmond Hoyte. Today we celebrate his life twenty years since his passing and we are indeed thankful for the ideas and activities of Hugh Desmond Hoyte that would have resulted in us becoming the formidable force we are in this country.”

Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield

June 9 ,2021

Source

The Guyana Police Force has announced the intention to institute a charge of conspiracy to defraud against Chief Election Officer Keith Lowenfield, Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers and Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo.

Attorney Nigel Hughes who represents the three officers told Stabroek News yesterday that during interviews at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) they were informed that they will be charged with “Conspiracy to defraud the electors of Guyana”.

He declined to offer any other comment on the situation.

Lowenfield, Myers and Mingo have since September, 2020 been called on to defend themselves against a litany of charges related to their actions following the March 2 General and Regional Elections (GRE).

Clairmont Mingo

The CEO is already facing three charges of misconduct in public office and three counts of forgery while Myers is defending herself against two counts of misconduct in public office.

Mingo has been individually and jointly charged with forgery and conspiracy to defraud. He was charged along with PNCR Chairman Volda Lawrence with one count of conspiring to commit fraud. Individually he is charged with four counts of misconduct in public office and also jointly charged with APNU+AFC agent Carol Joseph with one count of forgery. He further faces two counts of conspiracy to defraud.

It is alleged that following the March 2 GRE, Mingo and others conspired to rig the results of the Region Four elections in favour of the incumbent APNU+AFC.

Roxanne Myers

The dispute over the Region Four count led to a painstaking 35-day recount scrutinized by CARICOM, the Organisation of American States and local observers.  It also resulted in several protracted legal cases which were eventually adjudicated by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Following all of this,  the PPP/C was declared winner of the 2020 elections and Mingo and others placed before the Court.

The three officers however retained their positions with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

June 1 ,2022

Source

Kaieteur News – Almost two decades since it was first promulgated as a solution to Guyana’s energy demands but had to be shelved on many occasions, the recently resuscitated 165 Mega Watt (MW) Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project has again been met with another snafu.
This was confirmed by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who during a press engagement at the Office of the President on Monday, reported that the Chinese Contractor – China Railway First Group – had been unable to secure the finances.
According to the Vice President, the contractor had as late as April 22, last, written to the government “saying that they are having a hard time doing the BOOT (Build, Own, Operate Transfer) contract and they want to shift to an EPC (Engineer, Procure, Construct) plus finance” option instead.

He explained that under an EPC contract, it would mean that the government would have to secure the finances for the project and that they would be used as the EPC contractor.
As such, Jagdeo disclosed that in light of the developments, government may very well have to retender the project.
“We have been in discussion with the company since November last year, the discussions, the negotiations are very difficult,” according to Jagdeo who indicated that “in the negotiations, we are still trying to get them to meet the commitment that they bid.”

Qualifying his position further, the Vice President sought to remind that during its most recent incarnation, where Sithe Global of the Blackstone Group had been selected as the Project developer, the electricity was supposed to have been sold to consumers at a generation cost of US$0.10 (cents) per kilowatt hour (KwH).
The Chinese bid, he said, had committed to 7.7 Kwh but are now saying “they can’t go ahead with the BOOT they want to change the basis to an EPC.”
He was adamant, however, “if we can’t change that, if we can’t get it done under the BOOT we will have to retender, they would not be able to conclude the construction, because that is what the tender was about, a BOOT model not an EPC+ finance model.”
He told members of the press corps “…in the last six months or so we have been struggling to reach agreement and so we are now going to have to give a deadline to cancel; if they can’t proceed as the original model so we may have a set back there on that.”
Asked to provide further clarity on the contractor’s position during the ongoing negotiations, Jagdeo divulged that it was not a case of the Chinese not being in favour of a BOOT arrangement but rather “they simply can’t raise the financing, because of that.”
Under the BOOT, arrangement, he said, it “meant they had to build it, own it and supply us with power at a particular price and then 20 years after transfer it to the government for free, because that is what they bid on.”
In such an arrangement, Jagdeo said, “…we would not have any debt, there would be no debt associated so that model they are saying they can’t pursue.”
According to Jagdeo, the Chinese are requesting that government contract the debt and use them as the contractor “so we said we did not bid for that.”
He noted, nonetheless, that in such a situation, government would have started the process all over again by retendering.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President, with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh in January last had announced that the Chinese contractor, who was granted approval to construct the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, would commence operations on the mega venture this year.
He was at the time presenting Budget 2022 to the National Assembly, “regarding renewable and low carbon energy, our most promising venture continues to be the AFHP (Amaila Falls Hydropower Project) with an expected capacity of 165 MW.”
He informed then that government had already requested, received and evaluated proposals for the project and negotiations were in progress with the ‘highest ranked company’ China Railway First Group (CRFG) – the same company that had previously signed a contract to build the said project several years ago.
Jagdeo in November of last year, during a press engagement, told reporters that a decision had been taken by Cabinet that government would be approaching the selected contractor to negotiate on the way forward.
The Ministry of Finance, in a subsequent public missive corroborated the Vice President’s assertions saying, that Cabinet had given its ‘No Objection’ to the company, as evaluated by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
In this regard, the AFHP will be developed under a ‘build-own, operate-transfer (BOOT) arrangement where the developer would operate the project for a 20-year period before handing it over to the government, at no cost.
The Finance Minister had explained, “The project will be developed under a build-own operate-transfer (BOOT) arrangement within which the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) will purchase power from the operator under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). We anticipate that construction will begin in 2022 and be completed by 2027. Once operationalised, the facility will reduce the cost of energy significantly for both businesses and households.”
At that time, the Vice President was of the view, “…we have a really great bid” and explained that in this iteration of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, “we are not going to put any money into the project, we are just buying power.”
Jagdeo in February this year, however, despite conceding months of negotiations with the Chinese, had in lauding the project during the International Energy Conference and Expo 2022 at the Kingston, Georgetown Marriott Hotel, said his government was currently negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Chinese contractor.
Government had earlier in the year advertised soliciting a private partner to fund and develop the project.
The administration in inviting partners had indicated two proposals, namely a BOOT option or a Design Build Finance option.
At the time of selecting China Railway First Group, it was noted that the BOOT option would be utilised.
According to the administration, a total of four companies submitted proposals, and China Railway Group Limited was identified as the most ‘capable partner’ by the Evaluation Committee after a rigorous evaluation process, following which NPTAB submitted the relevant recommendation to Cabinet for ‘no objection’.
It should be noted that checks conducted by this publication found that China Railway was in 2019 debarred by the World Bank for practices considered fraudulent on a highway project in the country of Georgia.
China Railway was established in 1950 and is a subsidiary of China Railway Engineering Group (CREG).
Jagdeo during his press engagement on Monday, in defending the move to retender the project said that the second closest bidder would not be feasible since the cost would work out to more than that of the Gas-to-Shore project.
It should be noted that under the most recent iteration of the project as presented, Guyana was to stand the majority of the major risks involved in the project.
These include those related to political force majeure, payments risks in the event that electricity sold is not sufficient to meet the PPA demands, and hydrology where Guyana stands the risk associated with the likelihood of there being insufficient water supply, meaning if the Amaila Falls runs dry, among other risks.

Jan. 6 Committee Recommends Criminal Charges Against Donald Trump

The bipartisan House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots unanimously voted Monday to recommend that the Justice Department charge former President Donald Trump with four crimes

The U.S. House committee investigating the riots of Jan. 6, 2021, has officially recommended that the Department of Justice lay four criminal charges against former President Donald Trump, including conspiracy to defraud the government and inciting an insurrection.

Saying that Trump "wanted to ride in like Mussolini on the shoulders of the mob," Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin announced that the committee had voted to refer the 75-year-old former president to the Department of Justice for allegedly obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the government, inciting an insurrection and conspiracy to make a false statement.

Raskin added that the committee would refer Trump attorney John Eastman for allegedly obstructing an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the government.

According to a preview of the committee's final report, they will also refer four members of congress to the House Ethics Committee for refusing to comply with subpoenas: House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Scott Perry and Rep. Andy Biggs.

John Eastman. Susan Walsh/AP/Shutterstock

Eastman, a former professor at Chapman University, has described himself as Trump's attorney who was assisting the then-president in his efforts to prove that the 2020 election was "stolen."

But, according to filings made public by the committee earlier, Eastman was more than an adviser: "He spoke at the rally on the morning of January 6, spreading proven falsehoods to the tens of thousands of people attending that rally, and appears to have a broader role in many of the specific issues the Select Committee is investigating."

In response to questions posed by the committee, Eastman has invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, the filing says, and has attempted to "conceal a range of relevant documents behind claims of attorney-client privilege and work-product protection."

As the criminal referrals themselves carry no official legal weight, they are largely symbolic — and come just weeks before Republicans gain control of the House, effectively putting an end to the committee's work altogether. It will now to be up to the Justice Department to determine whether or not to charge the former president or Eastman.

The referrals come as the Justice Department is already looking into the events surrounding Jan. 6, and has for months been hearing testimony in a criminal probe of the riots.

Recent testimonies by those close to former Vice President Mike Pence offer an indication that the Justice Department's criminal investigation into Jan. 6 is intensifying, per recent reporting by The New York Times.

The committee's hearings, which began airing publicly in June, have featured new revelations about the events leading up to the attacks and how Trump and his allies responded.

Among the most notable allegations are that Trump at one point attempted to force his Secret Service agents to drive him to the Capitol building himself as his supporters were descending on the building.

The House committee's final report is set be released Wednesday, and will provide the DOJ additional evidence to work with while they consider potential charges.

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Trump has consistently embraced the extremism expressed by those who participated in the Capitol riots, which ended in the death of one Capitol police officer who died after being beaten by the rioters. Several other officers were also beaten, some sustaining life-threatening injuries.

Since leaving office in 2021, Trump has continued to express solidarity for the rioters who broke in to the Capitol that day, filming a video as recently as this month in which he said they had been treated "very, very unfairly."

The announcement of the criminal referrals comes amid several other investigations into Trump, including one of handling of classified documents after leaving office.

A module being lifted onto the hull of a Guyana-bound FPSO.

Guyana’s offshore Stabroek Block developments have been outstanding performers when it comes to pace and efficiency. Hess Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess said the projects come on two to three times faster than any other global offshore development.

During his participation on Thursday at Bernstein’s 38th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference in New York, Hess reminded that the Stabroek Block has been an apt representation of industry-leading capabilities backed by the efforts of its operator, ExxonMobil with 45% working interest, Hess with 30% and China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation with 25% percent.

Hess was pleased to inform attendees that in three years, the partners were able, from the time of investment decision, to add the Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to the Stabroek Block that can add 220,000 to 250,000 barrels of oil per day in production capacity, while adding “our tie backs would be about 18 months.”

The CEO said, “In Guyana, we are getting these big FPSOs and as we define more oil that is very low cost, high margin and low carbon footprint oil which makes it needed 20 years from now and gives us an advantage over other companies, it takes about three years from when you make the investment.”

Hess commits US$2.3 billion to Yellowtail development | OilNOW

“We just got sanctioned on April 1, 2022, on Yellowtail which is our fourth development, and it will be 250,000 barrels a day ship with opportunity for upside and that oil will be on in 2025. So, for Guyana it is three years but for the Gulf of Mexico it is about five years,” he said.

Speaking to the desire and approach to have such record-breaking operations, Hess said it involves spending enough time doing the exploration and appraisal work to define for example, a 600-million-barrel resource to a billion-barrel resource to underpin a ship. The CEO said the partners are queued up now for the fifth ship which will hopefully get sanctioned by the end of this year and the sixth by the end of next year.

Exxon’s 5th project could produce up to 275,000 bpd, with first oil as early as 2026 | OilNOW

Hess said, “When we were fortunate enough to have our first discovery in 2015, I remember talking to Rex Tillerson [Exxon’s former CEO] about this and he said, ‘John we want to go as fast as we can with this, but we don’t want any leakage.’ And what was he saying? We must be capital efficient and operating expense efficient. Doing one ship a year is a huge task for project management, for execution, for yards to handle it and Exxon is probably the best in the business at doing this.”

Hess said ExxonMobil’s philosophy of “design one and build many,” which will result in one FPSO coming on board every year is industry-leading. He said too that his company has a page in its investor pack which actually shows how its development of oil production in Guyana is “two to three times faster than any other global offshore development.”

FPSO contracts surge; Guyana contributing to global total this year – Rystad Energy

The CEO concluded, “So we are going fast but we are bringing value forward.”

Hess and its co-venture partners currently have four sanctioned developments in the Stabroek Block.

The Liza Phase 1 development, which began production in December 2019 utilizing the Liza Destiny FPSO with a production capacity of approximately 120,000 gross barrels of oil per day, recently completed production optimisation work that expanded its production capacity to 140,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

The Liza Phase 2 development, utilising the Liza Unity FPSO, began production in February 2022 and is expected to reach its production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day by the third quarter.

The third development at Payara is ahead of schedule and is now expected to come online in late 2023 utilising the Prosperity FPSO with a production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

The fourth development, Yellowtail, is expected to come online in 2025, utilising the ONE GUYANA FPSO with a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

SBM Offshore confirms contract awards for ‘One Guyana’ Yellowtail FPSO

At least six FPSOs with a total production capacity of more than 1 million gross barrels of oil per day are expected to be online on the Stabroek Block by 2027, with the potential for up to 10 FPSOs to develop gross discovered recoverable resources.

Dutch floater specialist, SBM Offshore, has won contracts to build and operate the FPSOs for all the projects approved so far at the Stabroek Block.

PNCR General Secretary and Treasurer resign

Dec 16, 2022 News --- Source --- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...nd-treasurer-resign/

Kaieteur News – General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Geeta Chandan-Edmond has resigned. She submitted her letter of resignation to the Party’s leader Aubrey Norton on Wednesday.

Chandan-Edmond, a former magistrate, was selected by Norton when he was elected Leader of the Party earlier this year. Norton had said that Chandan-Edmond, possessed management and good human relations skills that made her suitable to be General Secretary of the PNCR.

However, Chandan-Edmond has been on extended leave from her duties in the Party since August but had continued to attend sittings of the National Assembly as a Member of Parliament. Kaieteur News understands that she was physically absent from the Party’s Sophia headquarters for several months ahead of submitting her resignation letter to Norton on Wednesday.

The Opposition Leader was repeatedly questioned during his weekly press conferences about Chandan-Edmond’s hiatus but skirted those questions. In a post following her resignation, Chandan-Edmonds thanked party members for the support, cooperation and guidance she received during her stint as General Secretary.

“It has been an absolute honour and privilege,” Chandan-Edmond wrote, saying she will remain committed to the ideals of the party.    The former magistrate who had replaced Amna Ally, a long-serving member of the PNC/R, remains a Member of Parliament.

Meanwhile, PNCR’s National Treasurer, Faaiz Mursalin has signaled his intention to resign from his post.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Mursalin said that he will be performing his final duties as National Treasurer on December 23, 2022 after serving under ‘Team Norton’ for the past year.

“I will discharge my last and final duties as National treasurer of the P.N.C.R. on December 23, 2020…A formal letter will be prepared and be sent to the Leader’s office, thank you all who supported me,” he said in the social media post.

PSC calls for resignation of Mayor Narine amid “Islamic State” comment

Georgetown Mayor Ubraj Narine

• Other organisations, businessmen condemn statement  

In light of recent statements made by City Mayor Ubraj Narine against President Ali whom he accused of turning Guyana into an ‘Islamic State’ several organisations and prominent businessmen have condemned the utterances and called for the mayor to resign.

See below full statement issued by the PSC:

It has come to the attention of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) that the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, in the course of protesting against the removal of vendors on New Market Street, descended into making a number of wholly unacceptable, vile, obnoxious, religiously offensive and highly provocative personal statements publicly directed at the President of our country.

The Private Sector is appalled at these statements and condemns them in the strongest possible manner.

Mr. Narine, having realized that his statements were immediately rejected out of hand as offensive and dangerously divisive by the Christian, Muslim, and Hindu organisations of our country, belatedly, attempted an apology.

The Private Sector is of the view that, given the high office and responsibility of the Mayorship of our capital city, Mr. Ubraj Narine has proved himself to be unfit for this office and is left with no alternative but to immediately resign.

Full statement from Viraat Sabha Guyana:

The Viraat Sabhaa Guyana opposes the remarks made by the mayor in his condemnation of work executed by the Central Government. His expression of degrading the President as a racist and Muslim leader who wants to create Guyana into a Muslim state has no relevance to his subject. The Sabhaa has confirmed that since President Ali   ascended to his position, his agenda of uniting Guyana took precedence over everything else. For he is firm in his conviction that only a united Guyana could accelerate the progressive attitude of our people.

The President personal intervention and involvement in program such as Men on Mission is a testimony to the fact that he is concerned about every gender, that is, men should maximize their support for women and children. President Ali has never deliberately absented himself from any Hindu festivals. As a matter of fact, this year he was personally involved in the Diwali celebrations in Georgetown and other parts of the country. His passionate celebration of Phagwah and his personal visits to various Mandirs is a testimony of his support for the Hindu religion. His contribution to the strengthening of the social and religious fabric is being admired by all with whom he would have come into contact.

How is it a man who is an ambassador of CARICOM and whom aspire to create a better Guyana for all, could be accused of racism and religious bias?

The Mayor in effort to explore possibilities for the vendors has allowed his emotional overdrive to ventilate these bias accusations of the President. The Viraat Sabhaa denounces such expressions and calls on the Mayor to tender his resignation with immediate effect for making such dangerous statements.

The Sabhaa continues to support national development wherein all could benefit. A man is a citizen before he becomes an individual. All citizens should subscribe to full patriotism which could enhance full evolution of the nation.

Meanwhile, Prominent business people have also lashed out at the mayor stating that the statements have far stretching consequences and will not be tolerated.

Guyana, they say will remain a blessed country with its rich cultural and religious diversities and that Narine should have been more careful before making such a dangerous statement.

G/T Mayor, Duncan arrested on cybercrime, traffic charges

Dec 15, 2022 News --- Source --- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...ime-traffic-charges/

Kaieteur News – Police on Wednesday afternoon arrested Georgetown (GT) Mayor, Ubraj Narine, and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) and General Secretary of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Sherod Duncan, on Cyber Crime and traffic related charges.

Narine and Duncan walking out of the police station after being released on bail.

Ranks had detained the men at the Mayor’s Office and were captured on cell phone recorded videos cautioning them about the alleged offences they had committed.

According to a statement sent out by the Police Force, Mayor Narine and Duncan were arrested for three offences they had allegedly committed during evening hours on Monday, December 12 last, at New Market Street in the vicinity of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Narine and Duncan had gone there that evening to join Vendors who were protesting the removal of their mobile food stands and other structures on New Market Street by members of the Ministry of Public Works and the Police.

The Vendors reportedly did not comply with the Ministry of Public Works’ notice for them to move because their stalls and mobile food stands were obstructing the smooth flow of traffic along the street. Narine had said that he does not have a problem with them being moved but wants the Government to dialogue with the City Council and not just forcefully remove the Vendors without providing a solution.

Protestors blocking the stairway at the M&CC office

During the protest Narine and Duncan had allegedly placed a wooden pallet across the road to block the flow of traffic. Cell phone recorded videos also captured the Mayor lying under a truck to prevent it from driving off with some structures from that area.

GT Mayor Ubraj Narine and Opposition Mp, Sherod Duncan being arrested by police

As a result of their actions, Police decided that both Narine and Duncan be charged with obstructing traffic, contrary to Section 61 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, using a computer system to attempt to excite ethnic divisions on the ground of race, Contrary to Section 18(2) of the Cyber Crime Act, and attempting to excite hostility or ill will on the ground of race, contrary to Section 2(1) (a) of the Racial Hostility Act.

It was a chaotic scene yesterday in Georgetown as the arrest of the Mayor sparked protests from Vendors in the City and Opposition members. Some of them tried to stop ranks from taking him and Duncan to the Brickdam Police Station by lying across the stairway of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) office located on Regent Street and the Avenue of the Republic.

Protestors outside of the Brickdam Police Station

Eventually the Mayor got them to move after he said that he will comply with the instructions of the Police.

Protestors followed them to the Brickdam Police Station and stood outside chanting, “Free the Mayor!” “Free the Mayor!” until both the Mayor and Duncan were released.

The men were both released on $100,000 station bail and are expected to appear at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to face charges at 09:00hrs today.

After his released Narine told Protestors, “What happened here to me is victimization, I am fearless, I represent my people, and my position is not about wealth or fame and  I will continue to fight for the Vendors and the people of this country”

Narine has since publicly apologised for the some of the remarks he had made on Monday night during his attempt to stop the Police and other Ministry Staff  from removing the stalls on New Market Street.