Border Controversy
Work underway on Argyle Declaration: The persons who will form the joint commission to be established under the Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela are in the process of being selected, as Takuba Lodge hailed Thursday’s meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines as “mutually beneficial.” Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd told Stabroek News last week that preparations will immediately begin to form the team for the commission and that they will also be attending the meeting to be held within three months in Brazil’s capital of Brasília. This newspaper understands that President Irfaan Ali will soon hold a press conference on the meeting held last Thursday at the Argyle International Airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In the historic face-to-face meeting between Ali and Nicolás Maduro, amid a bitter row over Venezuela’s efforts to seize Guyana’s Essequibo County, the President had made it “clear” to his Venezuelan counterpart, that no activity whatsoever, including joint initiatives would be allowed in the 160,000-square kilometre Essequibo area without this country’s approval. Both sides agreed not to use force against each other in any circumstance, a key development for Georgetown in the light of months of tension over Caracas’ staging of a referendum on Essequibo and its subsequent decision to annex the county which makes up five-eighths of this country. The presidents had held a series of talks before final approval of an 11-point joint declaration which said that they both “Agreed that Guyana and Venezuela, directly or indirectly, will not threaten or use force against one another in any circumstances, including those consequential to any existing controversies between the two States.” Hammered out in the presence of high-level interlocutors including host, Vincentian Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves; Celso Amorim, special envoy of the Brazilian President; and Dominican Prime Minster Roosevelt Skerrit, the two leaders also agreed that any controversies between the two states would be settled in accordance with international law including the Geneva Agreement of February 17, 1966. Noted in the Joint Declaration was this country’s assertion that it is committed to the process and procedures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the resolution of the border controversy. Also noted was Venezuela’s assertion of its lack of consent and lack of recognition of the ICJ and its jurisdiction in the border controversy. In the presence of other previously unannounced invitees including Colombia’s Foreign Minister, Alvaro Leyva Durán, the two Presidents also agreed to continue dialogue on any other pending matters of mutual importance to the two countries. Also agreed at the cavernous Argyle Airport was that both States will refrain, whether by words or deeds, from escalating any conflict or disagreement arising from any controversy between them.
Electricity
Generators to boost GPL have arrived: The generators which are expected to boost the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) generation capacity arrived in Guyana on Wednesday night according to a Facebook post by the power company. GPL Executive and Management committee member, Kesh Nandlall, told Stabroek News yesterday that the generators which are worth some US$27 million are currently in the process of being connected to the grid. He noted that works are moving apace for installation to be completed days before December 25 – Christmas Day. “We are moving as quickly as we can and we are working around the clock to ensure that these generators are installed”, Nandlall said, adding, “We are working towards getting most of these generators, installed before Christmas, if not all we will ensure that most of them are connected to the grid, in time for the holidays.” The generators are to be located at Plantation Columbia where the utility is currently engaged in preparatory works. The Columbia station is in the Mahaica/Mahaicony area and the generators will feed into the Demerara/Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, noted in a Facebook post that the vessel, MV Skystar, had moored at Muneshwer’s wharf in Kingston, Georgetown, where 76 containers with engines and ancillary equipment such as radiators, fuel and lube oil separators were being offloaded. Indar was also present at the wharf and witnessed the offloading of the generators alongside senior managers of GPL and the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor.
Immigration
Gov’t says 21,782 Venezuelans recorded in nine regions: Based on tabulations, 21, 782 Venezuelan migrants have been registered in nine regions and Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has once again called on the government to curb the influx. Figures were provided in Parliament last week by Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn. The number of Venezuelans here is believed to be higher. The Opposition Leader made the call for curbs yesterday during the 69th sitting of the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where he opined that there must be a comprehensive screening and monitoring system for Venezuelans to ensure the safety of citizens in the hinterland communities which are on the border with Venezuela. Prime Minister Mark Phillips earlier told the National Assembly that while the government is open to dialogue on other matters with Venezuela, issues relating to the border controversy will not be on the agenda as President Irfaan Ali meets with Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. Norton in response to this said that while the Opposition is not against the Government of Guyana’s position to meet with the Venezuelan President, citizens must be assured that the nation’s sovereignty will not be undermined. The Opposition Leader said that while President Ali has made it pellucid that the territorial controversy which involves Essequibo is not up for bilateral discussion, there is still a need to exercise scepticism and Guyanese should know the agenda of the meeting before the Head of State departs for St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “The Parliamentary Opposition wishes to make it quite clear that we are not opposed to dialogue or discussions with the President of Venezuela as this could lead to better relations between the Governments and peoples of our two countries. Indeed, paragraph 3 of the Geneva Agreement recognizes that “closer cooperation between British Guiana and Venezuela could bring benefit to both countries”, he told the National Assembly yesterday at a private members’ sitting. He continued “That is why since independence Guyana has sought and promoted bilateral relations with our Western neighbour across a spectrum of issues including health, education, and other relevant areas of development. It must also be recalled that during the Parliamentary debate on the territorial controversy, the opposition insisted that the door should always be open to dialogue”. Although President Ali has agreed to a meeting with President Maduro on Thursday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, following mounting concerns at Venezuela’s aggressive stance, the Guyanese Head of State has made it clear that his country’s land boundary is not up for discussion.
Infrastructure
Ali commissions Heroes Highway in honour of fallen copter crew: With a replica of the giant anteater in the foreground amid songs and prayers, a tearful President Irfaan Ali last Sunday named the Eccles-Great Diamond Four-lane road, Heroes Highway in honour of the five members of Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who died in the December 6 helicopter crash, stating that it represented their legacy of strength and hope. Surrounded by six former heads of the GDF and present Chief of Staff Omar Khan, President Ali honoured Brigadier (retired) Gary Beaton, Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan. Many paid tributes in songs and prayers to the fallen five and cried at the official opening of the roundabout which will create an interlink with the three counties: Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice. The names of the deceased will be etched on the anteater monument and as soon as today there will be a plinth between Eccles and the present road, which will also have their names and those of any other man or woman in uniform who dies in the line of duty. The five deceased, along with two others were on a GDF Bell EPL helicopter, which crashed in the vicinity of Arau on December 6. The survivors are Lieutenant Andio Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson. While he was asked many questions since the tragedy, President Ali said, he has concluded that if the country asks that it be done again then they would do it all over again. “We have lost, physically, some of our finest and when I tell you some of our finest, I mean some of our finest,” the Head of State said, adding that over the period of his presidency he had developed an “intense bond” with the men and women of the armed forces. “Because every time I call on these men and women, their immediate response is ‘Yes Sir’ and every time they complete a statement they finish, regardless of how rough the conversation was, respectfully ‘Sir’,” he said. He emphasised that the nation can learn from them, adding that the members of the joint services are rarely celebrated by the country or even acknowledged. This, he said, was “painfully sad” but he has respect for them since he knows what they do and sacrifice. He pointed out they have spent more time in service to the country than with their families.
Accountability
Auditor General’s report says $725m in drugs still to be delivered for 2022: The Auditor General’s report for 2022 says that $725m in drugs and medical supplies were still outstanding at the end of August this year. In the report tabled in the National Assembly last week. it was disclosed that the largest outstanding amounts to be delivered are from Western Scientific at $438m, New GPC Incorporated at $137m and Meditron at $100m. The report said that in September 2023, the ministry submitted stores received and delivery notes for drugs and medical supplies valued at $133.6m. The audit office said that it is in the process of validating the deliveries. The ministry in responding to the findings of the audit office said that in addition to space constraints it is the normal practice in the health supply chain to expect changes in delivery times for medicines and supplies after contracts are signed, due to unexpected demand patterns as a result of pandemics, natural disasters and profiles of illness. Therefore, it said that the ministry had staggered the deliveries to suit current needs. The audit office’s recommendation was that the head of the budget agency take action to ensure that suppliers of drugs and medical supplies honour their contractual obligation. The outstanding supplies were from a total of $9.58b in payments. In addition, the audit office report said that there were outstanding deliveries of $132.3m for the year 2021 as of the end of August this year. Western Scientific accounted for $96m of this amount and New GPC, $35m. In September this year, the ministry submitted stores received and delivery notes for drugs and medical supplies valued at $23.2m and the audit office said that it is in the process of validating them.
Electricity
PM assures generators will arrive in time for Christmas: Despite the delay in the arrival of transformers and generators to boost GPL’s power generation capacity, Prime Minister Mark Phillips assured that they will arrive in time for installation just before Christmas. He told the Sunday Stabroek that from his understanding, the generators will arrive just in time for the festive season and that the government is on track. “I was informed of a few setbacks, however, no need to worry it will arrive just in time for the Christmas season, we are on track, we are on track,” the Prime Minister said. According to sources, the equipment which was purchased from Apan Energy in Honduras at a cost of some US$27 million, is expected to arrive in the country on December 15. Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, had recently told this paper that the equipment which was originally slated for arrival on November 22 had encountered shipment delays. “The engines and all of the accessories are coming on one boat … directly to Guyana. The transformers came from China, everything is on its way to Guyana but different components are landing at different timings,” Indar had told Stabroek News. “We asked what caused the delay and I was told that there were some issues where some of the transformers, apparently encountered a shipment delay,” he added. Amid rising blackouts and increased consumption, Guyana Power and Light (GPL), procured 17 reconditioned containerised generators worth US$27 million from Honduras which will produce 28.9 Megawatts (MW) of power and will be installed in time for Christmas. Both the government and GPL have been criticised over the load shedding that has occurred in recent weeks and the emergency recourse to the reconditioned carbon fuels sets.
Crime
Travis Chase’s vehicle shot at, gunman escapes: HGP Nightly News journalist, Travis Chase escaped what appeared to be an attempt on his life last Monday night at D’Urban Street and Cemetery Road after a gunman on a motorcycle shot several times at his car. The incident occurred at about 7.30 pm. Chase told reporters that he parked his car in front of a relative’s premises. He explained that as he stepped out of the car a gunman on a motorcycle shot several times at the vehicle. An off-duty policeman who witnessed the incident subsequently went after the suspect but he escaped. The car with the three bullet holes on the left side. Chase who was unscathed stated that it was not the first attempt on his life and attributed the incident to his reporting style. He reiterated, “I am not at war with anybody.” A number of spent shells and live rounds were recovered from the scene. When Stabroek News arrived at the scene three bullet holes were seen on the left side of the car. Detectives were on the scene conducting an investigation. Investigations are ongoing.
Tragedy
Last rites for servicemen in helicopter crash: President Irfaan Ali joined hundreds of Guyanese to bid farewell to four of the five fallen heroes who died in last week’s helicopter crash. A release from the Office of the President said that at the Promenade Gardens, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces reflected on the time he shared with the servicemen, who he referred to as brothers. The late Brigadier (Ret’d) Gary Beaton was remembered as a “man of class” and a selfless individual who served with distinction. Likewise, he remembered Colonel Michael Shahoud as “the epitome of loyalty” and Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome as a “silent hero” who was set on advancing the work of the reserves. Additionally, President Ali described Warrant Officer II Jason Khan as a man moulded in “faith”. Earlier this week, the President attended the funeral of Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, who also perished in the crash, the release said.
In the courts
Five sentenced to death for murder of fishermen: The five men who pleaded guilty to the murder of four fishermen in May 2016 during a horrific pirate attack on the Corentyne River were last week sentenced to death at the High Court in Berbice.
Ramchan Latchman of Number 65 Village, Ganesh Naidoo of Number 79 Village, Ramesh Singh of Liverpool Village, Stephon Leacock, of Lot 366 Number 77 Village and Leon Sammy of Lot 1 Number 75 Village, Corentyne, were charged with four counts of murder during the course of piracy. The death penalty is not being enforced here. In 2016, the men who are all fishers, were charged with murdering Hemchand Sookdeo of Number 55 Village during the course of piracy on May 28, 2016. While Sookdeo’s body was found tangled in seines with a chop wound to the back of his head hours after the attack, three other crew members: Munesh Churman, called ‘Boyo,’ 26; Dochan Sukra, 54, called ‘Butcher’ and Dhanpaul Ramphal, all of whom hailed from the Upper Corentyne, were feared to have died in the attack. Their bodies have never been recovered. Initially, Singh, Leacock and Naidoo all pleaded guilty to the men’s murders while Sammy subsequently pleaded guilty. Latchman who had opted to stand trial eventually entered a guilty plea mid-trial at the High Court in Berbice before Justice Sandil Kissoon.