Elections
Next general elections due Nov or Dec 2025 – Jagdeo: Guyana’s next general elections will be held in November or December 2025 owing to the five-month impasse that followed the 2020 polls. “Many people believe that this is really the two-thirds point in the term of the People’s Progressive Party in office. It is not. As you know, elections will be held sometime in November or December of 2025,” Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is also the PPP/C General Secretary, told a press conference last week. “So there is still nearly another three years to go, largely because of the extended delay that we had in declaring the [2020] results. And then, the period after convening Parliament you have a three-month period to hold the elections,” he added, which the PPP/C calculates to be late 2025. Five months after the March 2, 2020 polls and a series of legal battles, the PPP/C was finally declared the winner of the elections and its candidate Irfaan Ali subsequently sworn in as the country’s ninth executive president, on August 2, 2020. Jagdeo said that in the next three years of Ali’s term, the party will continue the plans to meet its promises. “There is time in the future to implement the aggressive plans that we have laid out to transform this country,” he said. There are currently several criminal cases, all stemming from the 2020 polls, before the local courts. Separately, the Court of Appeal’s decision is pending on whether the High Court should again hear an election petition from the APNU+AFC. In addition, a Commission of Inquiry, the result of a promise by Ali to investigate the attempt to rig the March 2020 polls in favour of the former APNU+AFC government, is wrapping up. The inquiry was mandated to pay particular attention to District Four, which was the epicentre of those attempts. This information was contained in its Terms of Reference.
Finance
Central bank chides chamber of commerce over comments on alleged foreign currency shortage: The Bank of Guyana (BoG) yesterday rebuked the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) over its comments concerning the alleged foreign currency shortage in the country. In response to the comments, the BoG reprimanded the GCCI for labouring under the mistaken impression that the central bank existed to ensure that foreign currency was available to its members at the times and prices they demanded. It suggested the GCCI’s “energies would be better spent engaging either the banks or the bankers association, who are also members of the private sector, with a view to better understanding the factors that influence the availability and pricing of foreign currency in the domestic market.” According to the BoG, the GCCI’s view of the open market, “is simply not how an open market economy operates, and is simply not how foreign currency availability and pricing are determined where floating currencies are concerned.” The GCCI’s statement had called for an independent intervention as it had lost “confidence in the leadership of the Bank of Guyana or its capacity to implement policies that will guide Guyana’s financial sector to support growth being experienced in the real sector”. It added, “According to its own statistics, the Bank of Guyana has failed to intervene in the ongoing foreign currency shortage issue, despite the private sector complaining of a lack of US dollars since 2019. Therefore, the Chamber views the central bank’s inaction to activate mitigating strategies to address the foreign currency situation as a disregard for business.” The GCCI stated that it was dissatisfied with the BoG’s lack of action, vision, and modern financial policies to improve access to financing for local businesses. It added that the country’s economy was one of the fastest-growing in the world, with oil revenues generating hundreds of millions of US dollars annually. The BoG went on to explain in its response that it was an independent central bank with a clear mandate defined by law and in keeping with international norms and standards for central banking. Its objectives include fostering domestic price stability through the promotion of stable credit and exchange conditions. “The law establishing the BoG also stipulates that the Guyana dollar is a freely floating currency, traded in a market whose prices are determined by prevailing market conditions, that is to say demand and supply,” it stated, adding that it remained committed to discharging its mandate and engaging with the private sector on matters of concern in a mutually respectful manner.
Transparency
Vote abstention did not impact Guyana’s EITI suspension: President Irfaan Ali’s rebuke of two members of the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) for their role in this country’s suspension from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) came from a place of misinformation, as among a number of reasons, their abstaining from voting could not impact the decision, board members Vanda Radzik and Mike McCormack have said. In a letter to the President that they have made public, Radzik and McCormack, who are part of the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) of GYEITI, said they were attempting to clear up misinformation about the issue and “set the record straight”. Following Stabroek News’ report last week on Guyana’s suspension from the Norway-based EITI for failing to meet an end-of-year submission of the 2020 report, Ali, in a Face-book video that same day, said his government was firmly committed to openness and accountability, and blamed members of the MSG for the country’s predicament. “Judging from the opinions attributed to you in the press concerning developments in the GYEITI, it seems that you are badly advised both about the Extractive Indus-tries Transparency Initiative rules and procedures for producing Terms of Reference (TOR) for the EITI Report and also about what prompted our vote to abstain on the TOR at the MSG meeting of February 22nd 2023,” the letter to the President stated. It explained that the MSG comprises three groups in civil society, industry and government, with each sector selecting its own members. Highlighting that the MSG’s representatives are not paid for their services, by its own decision, Radzik and McCormack noted that a founding principle of the MSG was to always seek consensus in decision-making. They said that the group had resorted to a vote only on two occasions in seven years. Providing a summary of the events leading up to GYEITI receiving the letter of suspension from EITI on February 17, the two MSG members said that their explanation was rooted in facts from the EITI Standard that can be found on the organization’s website. In August 2022, they said, at an MSG Statutory Meeting, a request was received from GYEITI National Coordinator (NC) Prem Misir for the retroactive approval of TOR for the 4th Annual Report, which Misir himself had produced. “The MSG unanimously declined to approve this request on the grounds that the content of the TOR was seriously defective and that its submission to the ministry by the NC without allegedly the benefit of an MSG review, input and approval was a serious violation of the EITI Standard. The Standard vests all authority pertaining to both content and process of the TOR in the MSG,” the letter to the President stated.
Procurement
COVID-19 procurement breaches come into focus at PAC meeting: Following an audit report over breaches in relation to COVID-19 purchases, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee [PAC], Jermaine Figueira, has recommended that the Ministry of Health make recommendations for the amending of the Procurement Act 2003 to include emergency acquisitions and improved regulations. Figueira made the recommendation last Monday after the Auditor General in his 2021 procurement, storage and distribution of COVID-19 supplies report, revealed that the Ministry of Public Health and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) had breached procurement laws. That report examined March to August 2020 during the tenure of the APNU+AFC government. However, Malcolm Watkins, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health stated prior to Figueira’s recommendation for a review of the 2003 Procurement Act, that he believe the current laws are functional and breaches in the procurement period at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic should not have occurred. Watkins, made this statement yesterday to the PAC as the MoH and PAC scrutinized the performance audit for the procurement, storage, and distribution of COVID-19 supplies report by the Auditor General. The AG’s report had stated that the ministry had no protection against late supplies as the procuring entities failed to include contract start dates and end dates penalty clauses. It also found that suppliers who were contracted via single sourcing, delivered supplies monthly as the Ministry could not act against errant contractors.
Oil & Gas
Call for increased stakeholder participation marks public meeting on Exxon’s Uaru project: Even as questions of impact on marine life and biodiversity, accumulated mercury content the crude oil contains and mitigation against oil spills were asked, last week’s final public meeting of ExxonMobil’s local affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Limited called for increased stakeholder participation. Having submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Statement (EIS) for its fifth project, done by consultants Acorn International, ExxonMobil is currently seeking authorisation for the project which it expects to begin production in late 2026. The company yesterday brought to a close the in-person disclosure meetings it has hosted across the country on the project and EIA, with the final meeting held at the Umana Yana, in Kingston, Georgetown. Attendance at the meeting was higher than at other stakeholder forums the company has held since last year and it featured a broad spectrum of persons from Region Four, ranging from geological experts, civil society activists, environmentalists, and attorneys, to persons on the street. Acorn International hosted new strategies of communicating with the public by making available, at least eight of its staff, who focussed on various aspects of the EIA. The company also structured the meeting by giving an overview of the project, with respective persons discussing the research, findings and recommendations. Exxon officials were peppered with questions with everything from impacts of noise pollution, air quality, waste water management, flaring, oil spill mitigation, climate and climate change, insurance liability, waste management, and marine life impact and biodiversity. Former Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), William Woolford, questioned about the possible mercury content of the crude in the Stabroek Block, given that it is an element in the makeup and “geo-chemistry” of the unrefined petroleum. He also asked about the water-depth of the operation in comparison to similar projects globally that had been assessed by both the company and its consultants Acorn International, in terms of oil spill modelling and preparation for unplanned events. “What is the closest similar operation, to the one that you have assessed, in terms of water depth, total depth and so on?” he asked. Woolford also expressed concern about response times along with the company having knowledge of projected areas that a possible spill would impact most.
Concerning the mercury content of the light sweet crude that ExxonMobil boasts about, the company’s representatives admitted that they were not currently aware if it did contain mercury, and if so, what the percentage was. They however committed to conducting further research on this topic.
Investigation
SOCU to tap China offer for help in laundering probe – source: The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has initiated the required process to seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy on the ongoing probe into the $4.1 billion money laundering case allegedly involving 22 Chinese companies. A source close to the investigation explained that while this process is ongoing there are a number of channels the request for assistance has to go through before a response can be given to SOCU. Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn when contacted last week noted that given the sensitivity of the matter under investigation, he would not speak on it. “I am not in a position to speak on it,” he said in response to this newspaper’s question. He was asked whether the government has filed a request with the Chinese Embassy. This would presumably have to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sunday Stabroek’s effort to contact the head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh on the status of the investigation proved futile. A spokesperson for the embassy, in response to questions from the Sunday Stabroek said, “Should the Chinese Embassy in Guyana be requested to provide some assistance, we would be quite willing to do it within our capacity.” The spokesperson added, “It is our knowledge that police investigation to the case …has not been completed in Guyana. Presumption of guilt at this time is not appropriate or fair.” An almost three-year investigation by SOCU came to an end three weeks ago when a Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) businessman, his son, and his reputed wife were arrested and charged for allegedly laundering billions to 22 companies in China. Charged were Kenneth Ramnarine, a taxi driver, his reputed wife, Yevette Saroop, and son Damian Ramnarine, a salesman, all of Lot 274 Somerset Court, Herstelling, EBD. SOCU laid a total of 268 charges of money laundering and conspiracy to launder over $4.1 billion against the family. Civil society commentator, Christopher Ram, in a letter penned on Monday, urged SOCU to act on the offer extended by the Chinese Embassy. “SOCU needs to act on the initiative of the Stabroek News. But it needs to be clear about the assistance it seeks on the Chinese businesses, both in Guyana and in China, which were part of this international scam. It must do so cognisant of the close relationship between the Embassy and local businesses and that the Chinese state often uses businesses as its surrogates,” Ram cautioned. His missive came on the heels of reports in this newspaper that there is nothing to suggest that SOCU, which is spearheading the investigations, had approached the Embassy over the three years of its investigation which culminated in charges against the Guyanese family, including one of conspiracy.
Infrastructure
$3.7B to be spent on Palmyra stadium and multipurpose facility: President Irfaan Ali last Friday launched the construction of a $3.7 billion stadium and multipurpose facility at Palmyra, Region Six, with funds from ExxonMobil’s Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), stating that there will be no excuses for not delivering the project on time. It is scheduled to be completed by 2025. Delivering remarks at the location in front of thousands of Berbicians, who had braved heavy rainfall to be there, Ali said it was a historic day for Berbice and the entire country, as the sod was being turned for transformation and to build an inspiration of hope for generations to come “and we do so with our partners.” According to the President, the stadium is an important part of an initiative, “to bring a world-class cricketing product that will be competitive to any you see on television… This vision is clear, nothing is going to stop us… “We have made it our mission to work in every single community, to ensure that every single Guyanese is a part of the prosperity of our country.” According to him, as part of his government’s plan, the journey of modernisation in Region Six will see the Berbice River fully accessible including the possibility of a new bridge across the Berbice River. He said work is ongoing to transition the regional healthcare system and a level five hospital offering the best possible international care will be constructed in New Amsterdam. In addition, the region will also see the development of industrial, manufacturing, and agro-processing hubs with the opening up of “tens of thousands of new acres of land for agriculture,” Ali said. The region will benefit from an expansion of the highway to four lanes running from New Amsterdam to Molsen Creek, and water treatment plants which will provide treated water to every household.
Work on new Demerara bridge underway: With the supervisory firm for the New Demerara Harbour Bridge on site on the West Bank Demerara (WBD) and the commencement order issued last week, work has officially begun by Chinese company, CRCCL on the highly anticipated crossing scheduled for completion in 2024. “The site office has been completed, the supervisory firm has now been properly situated on site… the commencement order has been issued and the instructions and approvals of physical work have been given,” Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, told Stabroek News last week when asked for an update. He explained that the Italian supervisory firm, Politecnica, which last year had won the tender it had bid for in partnership with SKRN Engineering to overlook the project, was in the country but was working out of the Minis-try of Natural Resources’ office. Now that the construction of the office site has been completed at the WBD location, the company has moved there to have a 24-hour presence to supervise works. “The consultant is there and will have that all-round oversight,” Edghill added. Politecnica had bid last year along with seven other companies for the contract to supervise works on the estimated US$250 million fixed location bridge that will replace the current one that has been operating since 1976. And while the company’s office will be on the WBD side of the project site, mobilisation works continue on the East Bank of Demerara on the property rented from Mohammed’s Enterprise by the Chinese firm. Edghill explained that the countdown to the two-year delivery date began when the commencement order took effect and that it is expected that the project will be completed by the end of 2024. However, weather and other natural occurrences that could cause delays are not counted in the time period. The contract to build the estimated US$260 million bridge was signed in May of last year between the government and China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Company Limited (CRCCL). This was after months of technical and financial negotiations with the most responsive bidder – China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) – fell through. CRCCL and their partner, China Railway Construction Bridge Engineer-ing Bureau Group Company Limited, who tendered for the project in a joint venture, were then selected.
Demerara Harbour Bridge to close again in March for necessary repairs: Another lengthy closure of the Demerara Harbour Bridge is scheduled for March, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill last week announced as he inspected the current emergency work that was being carried out there. “We have to signal from now. In March… We still have to replace the entire span nine and that is a more tedious, difficult and time-consuming job than dealing with acceptor span eight,” he said. As of 8 o’clock last night, 60% of the repairs on the Demerara Harbour Bridge were completed and Chairman of the bridge’s Board of Directors Ravie Ramcharitar said it was on schedule to be reopened by 3 am last Monday. That schedule was kept. “I think they have gotten some of the main components into position and they are now connecting that… So we are generally on schedule,” he explained. Simultaneously, Ramcharitar said, they were carrying out other maintenance work on the western section of the bridge. Works were being done on the carriageway and support post and deck plates. The emergency repairs commenced just around 10 pm on Saturday, five hours ahead of the scheduled 24-hour closure. The repairs became critical after the Panama-registered oil tanker, MV Tradewind Passion crashed into the bridge in October last year, and rendered it inoperable for several days. Over $1 billion have been expended on the emergency repairs, the bridge’s General Manager Wayne Watson said. According to Watson, the major work on the bridge yesterday entailed changing two static rollers, a transom beam, six panels and the mechanism to secure the changes. Once the repairs began, however, they were faced with some unforeseen challenges which lead to a delay. Nevertheless, the work pressed on with input and manpower from InFab, the contracted company. “What we encountered this morning [Sunday] whilst trying to remove the static ruler on the left side [was] the timeout panel. When it was hit by the vessel in October, it was tilted about 15 to 30 degrees… So when we tried to raise the structure to take out the static roller, we were focused above but also we realized that the security bolts, that secure the panel to the chair on the pontoon, those ports [were] severed. So, when we focused on raising the bridge upward, the bridge was literally rising from below,” Watson further explained. This forced the team to return to the table and reengineer the work plan, incurring a three and a half hours deficit.
Around 20 Peters Hall structures will have to be moved for new bridge: With the Government of Guyana in the process of constructing the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin D Croal, last week met with several residents of Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara whose residences fall within the project alignment. To make way for the new infrastructure, close to twenty structures will have to be relocated, a release yesterday from the ministry said. Croal, who also engaged residents on Friday afternoon, reassured them that the necessary assistance will be provided to ensure a seamless transition. The relocation and resettlement process is being facilitated through the Community Development Department of the Central Housing & Planning Authority which has been engaging residents for some time.
Crime
Former Kaieteur News grenade attack suspect shot and killed in Suriname: A Guyanese who was once named as the mastermind behind the lobbing of a grenade outside the Kaieteur News’ office in 2016 was last Sunday shot and killed while sitting in a car in Suriname, according to Waterkant.Net. Shemar Wilson, said to be 26, who was also reportedly wanted in French Guiana for murder, was sitting in a car when a gunman fired several shots into it, hitting him in the head, abdomen, chest, arms and legs. The shooter then escaped in another car. The report said no motive had been identified for the shooting, but residents told the news agency that two persons who were also in the car left the scene with what is believed to be a large quantity of cash. A woman who was in the vehicle is now assisting the police in their investigation. The police had issued a wanted bulletin for Wilson naming him as the mastermind in the grenade attack. However, following his arrest in 2019 the office of Director of Public Prosecution recommended that no charge be laid against him. As a result, Wilson, who had been arrested after he disembarked a flight at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, was released. The grenade was thrown outside of Kaieteur News’ Saffon Street, Charles-town, Georgetown office on June 3, 2016. It landed near the front wheels of a vehicle belonging to publisher Glenn Lall, which was parked in front of the building, but did not explode. The device was later destroyed by bomb experts at the Kingston seawall. Three men, Alfie Garraway, 36, of Lot 71 Norton Street; Janiel Howard, 20, of Lot 322 Section C Turkeyen; and Leroy Williams, 25, of Lot 11 D’Urban Backlands, had been charged in connection with the act.
In the courts
Kitty businessman found guilty of assaulting daughter: The Kitty businessman who was ordered to stay 1,000 feet away from his daughter for life now awaits sentencing after he was found guilty of the offences of inflicting grievous bodily harm and assaulting the 25-year-old woman. The businessman, Devanand Singh, last Tuesday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Principal Magistrate Leron Daly and was found guilty. The magistrate deferred sentencing until March 23 after the defendant’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, asked for a probation report to be done. In April of last year the man was charged with the two offences before Magistrate Daly after a video of him was shared on Facebook where he was seen assaulting the woman. He was then ordered to stay 1,000 feet away from her for a lifetime and was granted bail in the sum of $400,000 after he had pleaded not guilty to the two offences. According to the court, the young woman always has the option of having the protection order changed if she ever wishes to do so.
Edinburgh man on $1.2m bail over death of cop: An East Bank Berbice man who was charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol was last Monday placed on a total of $1.2m bail after he was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of Corporal Alden Reynolds on February 24th . Troy Henry, of First Street, Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice yesterday appeared virtually before Magistrate Renita Singh where he was charged with vehicular manslaughter. The charge read that on Thursday, February 23, while under the influence he drove hire car, HD 2816, while he was incapable of having proper control of the vehicle thereby causing the death of Reynolds. He was also charged with driving under the influence, which read that on February 23rd, he drove motor vehicle HD 2816, while his breath alcohol level exceeded the legal limit of 35 micrograms that is to say at the time he had 48 micrograms in his breath. Henry was not required to plead on the vehicular manslaughter charge for which he was placed on $1m bail. He pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge and was placed on $200, 000 bail. He will return to the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court on March 27th, for reports on both matters. Reynolds, 40, of Sandvoort Village, West Canje Berbice; and Police Sergeant, Javon Thomas, 37, of Fort Ordnance Housing Scheme, were at Heathburn when they were struck. The men were rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and then later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Stabroek News was told that Reynolds, who sustained massive head injuries, succumbed just around 4 pm on February 24th. A post-mortem examination yesterday revealed that Reynolds died as a result of multiple injuries sustained.
Brazilian chopper pilot, labourer charged: Two Brazilians — helicopter pilot Alexandre Felix Plan and labourer Ricardo Brags Silva, were charged last Monday with several offences when they appeared via zoom before Magistrate Allan Wilson at Lethem. A release from the police said that the duo pleaded not guilty at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court to the charges and were remanded to prison. The case was put down to March 16th and 17th for trial. Felix, 54, of RUA Pariba 45, Apartment 108 Santos-SP, Brazil was charged with: (a) Operating a civil aircraft without an airworthiness certificate: Contrary to Section 89 (2) of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 21 of 2018. (b) Interference with an Aircraft: Contrary to Section 121 of the Civil Aviation Act No. 21 of 2018. (c) Operating an aircraft without insurance: Contrary to Section 137 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act, No. 21 of 2018. Having arrived in Guyana by air, he was further charged with disembarking without the consent of an Immigration Officer contrary to Section 34 (1) (a) of the Immigra-tion Act Chapter 14:02. Silva, 29, of RUA Laranjeira, Apartment 104 Bloco: 08, Belém, Brazil was charged with disembarking the helicopter without the consent of an Immigration Officer. A Joint Services operation in Region Nine had led to the discovery of the helicopter and an illegal mining site operated by Brazilians.
Accident
Stanleytown man dies after crashing into culvert: A West Demerara man is now dead after being involved in a single-vehicle accident. The deceased has been identified as 38-year-old Samlall Mahaice of Lot 23 Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara. He died in an accident on Thursday at about 10:30 hours on Belle Vue Public Road, Canal Number 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara, after he lost control of his white Toyota Axio, PAB 1939 and collided with a culvert.
A police release stated that accident involved motor car PAB 1939, a white Axio owned and driven by Mahaice. Police inquires disclosed that Mahaice was driving at a fast rate along the road when he lost control of the vehicle and collided with a culvert on the road. As a result of the collision the car toppled and ended up in a trench and submerged with him inside. The car was pulled out of the trench by public spirited citizens with the assistance of a lorry. Mahaice was taken out of the car in an unconscious state with injuries to his head and body and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Biker, pillion rider die in Corentyne accident: A motorcyclist and his pillion rider died last Tuesday after the rider lost control of the bike and collided with a car along the Number 79 Public Road around 10.30 pm. Dead are Devindra Sampal Lakhraj, also known as ‘Lil boy’, 30, of Lot 82 Rahaman Street Corriverton, and Ronny Persaud, of Lot 53 Race Course Springlands, Corriverton. According to information gathered, Naresh Roopchand of Number 77 Housing Scheme was driving motor car, HC 7188, with passenger Mary Devair, 39, of Lot 1 Grant 1805 Crabwood Creek, when it is alleged that the motorcycle which was being ridden by Lakhraj at a fast rate collided with the front portion of the motor car. As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist and pillion rider were flung onto the roadway, sustaining injuries to their heads and bodies. They were rushed to the Skeldon Public Hospital along with the driver and passenger of the motor car. The two were pronounced dead on arrival while the driver and passenger were transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. As of yesterday afternoon, the passenger remained hospitalized with head injuries, while the driver is in police custody for questioning. According to the police, neither of the deceased was wearing a safety helmet at the time of the accident.
