Investigation
SOCU gets tender board documents on Brutus probe: SOCU has acquired documents relating to procurement for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) as it continues its investigation of financial impropriety claims against Deputy Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus. NPTAB has also made it clear that the list of prequalified bidders for the GPF that it received from the Ministry of Home Affairs last year, and which has on it a company allegedly linked to the Brutus’ wife, is a standard document it receives from respective procuring entities with names of companies reviewed that could bid but only the evaluation of tenders determines who is awarded a contract. Reliable sources told Stabroek News that the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) had asked NPTAB for records and documents on GPF procurement and contract awards. These documents, one source explained, were handed over but the Board was not informed about the investigations. In July, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn informed that the allegations of financial impropriety made against Brutus were being investigated by SOCU. Last week, President Irfaan Ali told reporters that SOCU was handling the matter with regard to the Brutus case and that he would not intrude. Ali’s stance was echoed by Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken, who also said that SOCU was an independent agency and had been given unrestricted scope to do its work. Former auditor general, Anand Goolsarran, has stated that NPTAB may be guilty of dereliction of duty in the case of allegations of financial impropriety against Brutus which has also placed a company allegedly owned by his wife under scrutiny. He posited that the Public Procurement Com-mission should also be involved in the investigation in keeping with its mandate.
Oil & Gas
Political parties ceding sovereignty by inaction on ExxonMobil contract -Ram: Commentator Christopher Ram has flayed the government and opposition for abdicating their responsibilities to the country to ensure a better deal with ExxonMobil, a circumstance he described as the surrender of the country’s sovereignty. In the 136th instalment of his oil and gas column in Stabroek News, Ram yesterday said that in the preceding three weeks he had set out how the governing PPP/C had reversed its pre-election promise to review and renegotiate the 2016 Petroleum Agreement. “But it actually did worse – reversed its commitment to an independent Petroleum Commission, failed to provide elementary conditions on ringfencing, and is one of the minority of countries refusing to sign the OECD Framework on a minimum corporate tax on major companies”, he said. As the country gears up for general and regional elections in 2025, he said that thoughts should turn on whether the PPP/C will pay a political price. “They should but that is unlikely because none of the political parties is any better”, Ram declared. He said that the silence of the PNCR, the AFC, ANUG and the WPA on pivotal oil matters is not only disappointing and deafening but amounts to a collective surrender of sovereignty by the entire political establishment. “The PPP’s dramatic shift from promising to `review and renegotiate’ to now parroting `sanctity of contract’ is like a stab in the back of our country. This phrase has become their shield, a convenient excuse for inaction, a dereliction of duty and a betrayal of the national interest. But let us be clear: there is no sanctity in an agreement that fails to protect the interests of the Guyanese people. The only thing sacred should be our nation’s right to benefit fully from its natural resources”, he charged. Ram, an attorney and chartered accountant, said that the misplaced reverence for a flawed contract is not just misguided – “it’s a dangerous ceding of our national sovereignty. By treating the 2016 Agreement as untouchable, our leaders have effectively handed over control of our resources to foreign corporations. They have prioritised the interests of ExxonMobil and its partners over the wellbeing of the Guyanese people”.
Governance
Nandlall `vehemently’ rejects autocracy suggestion: Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC has rejected the position of former Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr Bertrand Ramcharan that shades of autocracy are evident here. Speaking on his “issues in the News” programme on Facebook, Nandlall asserted that global academics. scholars and legal luminaries and the courts have examined this country’s constitution and government’s actions and to date there has never been such an accusation. The attorney said that while Ramcharan is a distinguished international lawyer and Is highly qualified, his interpretation of how this government operates is flawed and if his analysis was fair he would see that the constitutional architecture and legal framework show democracy at all levels and that this country’s executive, legislature and judiciary operate and function independently. “He proffered a contention that Guyana and the Government of Guyana exhibits shades of autocracy and that the government and Guyana may be categorized as autocratic. An autocratic government or state is equivalent to a dictatorship…it is not a demo-cracy it is not a democratic government and those in charge of the state don’t practice the rules and principles of democracy and concepts in their discharge of government functions,” Nandlall said. “I want to reject vehemently that categorization and classification of the government and state of Guyana. I reject his hypothesis, his classification…,” he added. He said that a democratic Guyana under the PPP/C, the constitution and the governance structure is there for the public to assess for themselves and to determine if it is autocratic or democratic. When this analysis is done, he said, there can be no doubt that the PPP/C is not one of only the most transparent but that its actions are democratically inclusive. “Guyana is governed by a constitution and has been an independent state for nearly six decades …Never has there been an allegation or a contention that Guyana’s constitutional structure is undemocratic in its nature or inherently…From all the analysis that has been done of the Guyana constitution,” he said, while making an except for the 1980s under the rule of Forbes Burnham and the constitution at that time which gave him vast executive powers. When Ramcharan argues that Guyana has shades of autocracy he said that “he is wrong…because that doesn’t exist in Guyana”. Nandlall asserted that this country is “more democratic than many other countries in the Caribbean”. He said Ramcharran probably makes his case based on the way the state is governed and is again wrong as Guyana is a “ lifeblood of democracy at work.”
Development
Palmyra residents excited about big construction projects: Residents within the community of Palmyra, Corentyne are very excited about the major construction projects underway such as for a shopping mall, hospital, new housing scheme and stadium. While the residents have been battling dust from the construction sites resulting in them having to clean multiple times per day, they believe in the greater good of the development which is expected to boost the region economically. Lealawattye Adram, 61, who recently returned to Palmyra after living twenty years overseas, explained that she now also feels a sense of security as the area which was previously populated with cane fields and often used by bandits as their escape route after pouncing on community members, has now been cleared as a result of the ongoing construction. She said, “When I look out I can see straight over and I feel so much better and so much safer, I’m not scared no more… For me, I am happy about it because it will get a hospital closer, a stadium closer so I’m looking forward to it.” However, Adram said that they have been battling the dust and are forced to clean several times daily. “Yes, it’s a sacrifice we are making because we want the development but this place here never clean, two, three times a day me a clean, me had to go buy a pressure wash just for that.” Adram stated that she is extremely happy to have returned to Guyana and never thought that her area would see such massive development. “This area used to be just cane, this right now me just happy… I never, never expect this… When them start talk about this thing, that them go build stadium me say me might dead and me might not see it but when me see them start for clear up and grade up, me say oh my God, I’m so happy. I said this happening, I couldn’t a believe that so fast”, she said.
Employment
itel call centre to close its doors here: Just some three-plus years after establishing its large customer call centre in Guyana, Jamaica-based itel has announced plans to close its operations in the country, leaving hundreds facing unemployment in what will be a blow to the government which has been seeking to expand the sector. In 2021, itel, a customer experience provider led by Founding Chairman and CEO, Yoni Epstein, and headquartered in Montego Bay, Jamaica, revealed its acquisition of Emerge BPO, a business process outsourcing company here. While Epstein’s itel is winding up here it is expanding in Jamaica. In an internal message to its staff last Tuesday, the company said that the decision followed extensive analysis and discussions among its leadership. The closure will result in more than 400 workers losing their jobs. Despite significant investments over the years, the company’s management disclosed that its Guyana operations are no longer sustainable. While itel described Guyana as a “gem”, it pointed to ongoing challenges despite the nation’s continued economic growth. As Guyana’s economy expands, the rising cost of doing business has made it increasingly difficult to find and retain qualified candidates, according to the company. Itel explained that these challenges have impacted its ability to attract and retain Fortune 500 clients, which are crucial to maintaining a steady flow of business for the centre. It also revealed that despite efforts to reduce costs and engage the workforce, it has struggled to overcome these hurdles. These positions from itel will challenge the government’s rosy outlook for the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. It is unclear if the government had been in dialogue with itel before its decision to close operations. Several employees yesterday expressed uncertainty about their future following the announcement. According to sources, reactions to the closure varied across departments. One employee told Stabroek News that on March 31, 2024, they arrived at work only to find their department had been shut down. Since then, the company has gradually been shedding staff and closing departments. One employee described the announcement of the full closure as a shock, stating, “I don’t know what my next move will be.” This sentiment was echoed by other workers, many of whom felt blindsided by the news. “Our department did not receive a notice,” another employee shared.
Copy rights
Trump violated Grant’s Electric Avenue rights – US court: The United States District Court in the Southern District of New York has issued an Opinion and Order in the matter concerning Guyanese-born international artiste, Eddy Grant and former United States president, Donald Trump, ruling that Grant’s music was improperly used and the musician was not compensated for his creation. Grant, through his companies – Greenheart Music Limited (UK), and Greenheart Music Limited (Antigua) – had brought a copyright infringement action against former President Trump and his campaign for the unauthorised use of Grant’s music in an animated video created by a third party during the 2020 US presidential election campaign and posted by former President Trump on his personal Twitter account. The piece of music in question was the song, “Electric Avenue” for which Grant, the plaintiff, asserted claims for copyright infringement for both the musical composition and the sound recording. The Order, which was penned by District Judge John Koeltl, noted that in a previous Order dated September 28, 2021, the same Court had denied the motion brought by Trump, the defendant, to dismiss. It informed that the parties have now filed cross-motions for partial summary judgment. The defendant had moved for summary judgment dismissing Count II of the complaint on the grounds that the plaintiff lacks a valid copyright registration for the sound recording of “Electric Avenue,” while the plaintiff moved for summary judgment on the issue of liability. After the Court heard oral arguments on the motion on September 6, Trump’s motion for partial summary judgment was denied, and Grant’s motion for partial summary judgment was granted. According to the Court, it arrived at its opinion based on several reasons. Firstly, that its decision was guided by the facts in the matter. A) It has been established that Grant did, write, produce and record the 3-minute-48-second song entitled “Electric Avenue” and that he and his companies were rightful owners of the music.
Accountability
GMC General Manager says she launched audit of irregularities: Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) General Manager, Teshawna Lall last week said that she had initiated an audit after detecting irregularities between the accounting department of GMC and the special projects unit and has been awaiting a decision on the way forward from the Ministry of Agriculture. In an exclusive interview with Stabroek News, Lall said that she launched the audit after noticing irregularities involving the Accountant and the Special Projects Manager (SPM). Lall’s contention that she was the driving force behind the launch of the audit is at odds with a statement that was issued yesterday by the Ministry of Agriculture which said that it was the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha who launched the investigation. “Basically, the information that the Ministry put out is not correct,” Lall said. “I was the one that called the audit based on some irregularities I was noticing between the Accountant and the Special Projects Manager”, she said. According to Lall, the SPM frequently failed to claim expenses, submit reports, and was often preoccupied with selling chicken. “When I went to the accountant and asked him for the records, he doesn’t have any to give me and the SPM doesn’t have any to give me either”, the GMC GM said. Lall’s frustration grew as the situation persisted. “So, it kept going on like this for a couple of weeks and I finally got fed up,” she recounted. “I called her in and I said, ‘You’re going to go and get it done now, stop selling the chickens, I need to know why you’re not coming in.’” After her internal efforts proved unfruitful, Lall took her concerns to the Ministry of Agriculture. “Long story short, she kept having me go around and around with wrong information and I ended up going into the Ministry and telling them that something doesn’t seem right and I would like to call in an auditor,” Lall said. The Ministry arranged for the audit two weeks later. The audit reportedly uncovered collusion between the Accountant and the SPM, along with instances of fraud. Lall and her team have been reviewing the findings.
NPTAB may be guilty of dereliction of duty in police procurement case – Goolsarran: Former auditor general Anand Goolsarran has flayed the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) over its apparent role in what could be a conflict-of-interest situation now that investigations into allegations of financial impropriety against Deputy Commissioner (ag) of Police Calvin Brutus have also placed a company allegedly owned by his wife under scrutiny. Not naming Brutus, Goolsarran wrote in his weekly ‘Accountability Watch’ column published in the Stabroek News today: “Media reports indicate that the officer’s wife set up a company about a year ago, which company became one of suppliers of the Police Force with the full knowledge of senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs… the Public Procurement Commission should also be involved in the investigation in keeping with its mandate. “What is most distressing is that the NPTAB offered no objection to the company being included in the list of suppliers for the force. It is not clear whether the NPTAB carried out the necessary background checks before offering its no objection. Such checks would normally include a scrutiny of the incorporation and other documents to ascertain, among others, how reputable the company is, who are the real owners, whether there is any connection with members of the force, and any other matters that may pose a conflict of interest. If the NPTAB did not conduct such checks, it would have been guilty of a serious dereliction of duty.” Contacted yesterday, NPTAB Chairman Tarrachand Balgobin told Stabroek News that he was out of the country but referred this newspaper to CEO Arvin Parag, who said he would address questions today. In July, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn informed that the allegations of financial impropriety made against Brutus were being investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). Last week, President Irfaan Ali told reporters that SOCU was handling the matter with regard to the Brutus case and he would not intrude.
City mayor calls for urgent talks with gov’t, Assets Group over planned Carifesta Ave hotel: City Mayor Alfred Mentore last Monday called for urgent talks with the government and the Qatari Assets Group over a planned hotel for Carifesta Avenue as a tussle over control of the land rumbles on. At a statutory meeting of the city council on Monday, Mentore called for talks to clarify the terms of the investment and its potential impact on the city’s finances. He said that the dialogue was necessary to ensure that the interests of the Council are represented and that the benefits of the development are fairly distributed. Mentore revealed that in the coming days, he plans to reach out to representatives from the Assets Group to discuss the new developments and to better understand the direction of their plans. He expressed hope that through these discussions, the Council would gain clarity on the project’s timeline, scale, and expected benefits for the city. “In the next few days, I will be reaching out to the persons from Qatar who run the Assets Group to discuss these developments and gain an understanding of the direction they will be heading in,” Mentore stated. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the City Council plays an active role in the decision-making process, highlighting that the Council’s support for the investment is contingent upon receiving adequate backing for their own local projects. Specifically, he mentioned that the Council is in need of support for the development of its markets, which he hopes will be part of the broader conversation surrounding the Assets Group’s planned investment. Mentore underscored the importance of cooperation between the government, the Assets Group and the City Council. While he expressed optimism about the potential benefits of the investment, he reiterated that clear communication and fair terms are essential to ensuring the development serves the best interests of Georgetown and its residents.
Mining
Small miners continuing to push back against reducing mercury use – GGMC: The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) continues to face challenges from miners who insist on using the dangerous pollutant mercury to separate gold, citing its cost-effectiveness and lack of access to cheaper alternatives, Commissioner of the GGMC, Newell Dennison says. Clamping down on mercury use here also poses major challenges for regulatory agencies due to this country’s porous borders and lack of data to ascertain how much is being smuggled in and out.Despite these setbacks, GGMC says it will continue to push for environmentally cleaner alternatives and will begin rollout of the promised RIVEN minerals recovery system, as logistics plans were stalled due to COVID-19 and the non-delivery of the machines which were only recently received. Canisters of mercury found in August 2022 by the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit at an abandoned sawmill in Berbice. “Challenges [are] one, border porosity, because there is a risk of mercury being smuggled out of Guyana, and data on this issue is limited. And two, adoption of mercury-free technologies where some miners are resistant to transitioning to mercury-free technologies,” Dennison told the Sunday Stabroek when contacted last week on the issue. “Mercury-free technology equipment is not widely available locally and securing funds for the purchase of mercury-free equipment remains a challenge,” he added. The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty aimed at protecting human health and the environment from mercury pollution. Guyana, as a party to the Convention, is committed to reducing mercury emissions, regulating mercury use, and promoting safer alternatives. A flyover of any gold mining district across the country illustrates the damaging environmental effects of gold mining operations.
Oil & Gas
Singh meets US EXIM officials, no word yet on key gas to energy $$: Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh last week met in Washington with key US government officials including from the EXIM Bank but there was no word on the pivotal US$660 million financing that Guyana is seeking for its ambitious gas to energy project. A press release yesterday from the Ministry of Finance said that Singh met with the Senior Advisor to the President and Chair, Larry T. Decker, and other senior and technical officials of the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the United States in Washington DC. where discussions surrounding the Bank’s support towards the gas to energy project which the government has said will cut energy charges by half. The press release yesterday varied from the constant line of a 50% cut by stating it would “significantly reduce electricity costs”. The project “when completed, is expected to significantly reduce electricity costs, increase the competitiveness of other industries, and reduce the nation’s reliance on heavy fossil fuels. During that high-level meeting, Dr. Singh also expressed appreciation to the Bank for their continued support to Guyana, and reiterated that the Government values greatly, its relationship with the Bank”, the release said. The government has vowed to find alternative means to finance the gas project if the US EXIM Bank funding isn’t approved. In the face of a delay to the US$660 million loan application to finance the Wales gas-to-energy project, coupled with the US’ recent pausing on new approvals of LNG exports which activists hope would extend globally, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said in February this year that Guyana would consider other plans. “I don’t want to speculate about the EXIM Bank funding because we anticipate that the funding will be available, and as I have said before, it would be retroactive funding. However, without disclosing the sources that we have, we have already been talking about a contingent line of credit that could easily supplant that,” he told a press conference at Freedom House in Georgetown. “Secondly, from the Budget. We have already been financing, beyond the first US$100 million that we have put into the project, from budgetary sources. So that is the first year. We have been making payments to the company from the budget. So those are the two sources – [our] own revenue from the Budget and from a contingent line of credit that we are already discussing,” he added. In July 2022, the Government of Guyana and the EXIM Bank of the United States signed a historic US$2 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with specific focus on infrastructure, energy, water and sanitation, information and communications technology, and agriculture. Then in April of 2023, Guyana made the US$660 million loan application.
Investigation
Police seeking three men over D’Urban St murders: The police last Monday issued wanted bulletins for Omalie Vieira, Keron Hinds and Dominique Darrel Osborne over the August 24 shooting on D’Urban Street that resulted in the deaths of two men. The shooting at about 5.45 am at Lot 23 D’Ur-ban Street, Lodge, George-town, following a party, resulted in the murders of Anthony Havercome and Lawrence Wayne. Vieira’s last known address is Lot 47 Princes St, Lodge. Osborne’s last known addresses are 44 Princes St and 196 E 51st Street, Brooklyn, New York. Hinds’ last known addresses are Lot 4 Smyth Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown and 134 E 59th St, Brooklyn, New York. The police said six persons were hospitalized while 40-year-old Haver-come, called ‘Pandit died. Lawrence’s name was not among the six persons listed by the police. The police had said in a statement that an ‘All Black’ party was held at V’S Flavor Delight located at Lot 23 D’Urban Street, Lodge and at about 5 am on August 24, the police ended the party. A 37-year-old businessman and host of the ‘All Black’ party stated that he was on the northern side of D’Urban Street cleaning up where the party was held when he heard several loud explosions. Upon enquiring where they were coming from, the businessman said he saw a black motorcar speed off west along D’Urban Street. The businessman said he then saw a few persons with what appeared to be blood on them and he assisted in putting them into separate vehicles to go to the hospital. Checks were made at the GPHC and Travis Ceres, a 25-year-old vendor from East La Penitence suffered one gunshot wound to the lower abdomen; Teon Allen, a 38-year-old unemployed man from Sophia suffered a gunshot wound to his left shoulder; Stanley Matthews, a 31-year-old labourer from Sophia sustained a gunshot wound to his left hand and one on the left thigh; Destra Auther, a 33-year-old vendor from East La Penitence suffered a gunshot wound on the left leg; Lenox Wayne, a 39-year-old security guard from Turkeyen sustained wounds to his right thigh and hand; while Haver-come, a 40-year-old vendor from South Ruimveldt, who was shot multiple times, succumbed to his wounds.
Tragedy
Pre-teen girls drown in highway creek: What was meant to be a birthday celebration turned into a day of mourning after two cousins drowned at Enchanter Creek, Soesdyke-Linden Highway last Sunday afternoon. According to a police press release, 10-year-old Akira La Rose of Lot 95 Stewartville, West Coast Demerara and 11-year-old Joylyn Jack of Lot 1726 Tuschen, West Coast Demerara reportedly died by drowning at approximately 15:30 hrs at Enchanter Creek, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The police said enquiries revealed that Allison Klass, 53, the grandmother of the two girls, and other family members, including Oswald Jack (Joylyn’s father) were celebrating Akira’s10th birthday at Enchanter Creek. The release said it was alleged that the two girls were playing in the water but were later discovered missing. An alarm was raised, and a search party later found them in the water, unresponsive. They were taken to the Diamond Diagnostics Centre by the police and civilians and examined by a doctor who pronounced them dead on arrival, the release said. It added that no marks of violence were found on their bodies. The children’s bodies will be transported to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for post-mortem examinations, the release said, as investigations continue.
Crime
Hill Foot farmer, 29, stabbed to death by reputed husband: A 29-year-old farmer of Hill Foot, Soesdyke-Linden Highway was fatally stabbed about her body last Sunday by her reputed husband, who later attempted to commit suicide. According to a police press release, detectives in Regional Division #3 are investigating the murder of Alexis Roxanne Harris called ‘Cullie’, which occurred at about 12:20 hrs yesterday at Free and Easy, West Bank Demerara. The police were told that Harris was stabbed by her reputed husband James Lord, a 35 year-old labourer. The release said enquiries disclosed that Harris had been living with James Lord and their children at Hill Foot. However, about two months ago they had a misunderstanding during which she was allegedly assaulted by her reputed husband, who reportedly threatened to kill her. This caused Harris to move out of the home with her children, to her sister’s residence in Free and Easy. The release said the police were told that at about 12:00 hrs yesterday, James Lord arrived at the sister’s residence to see his children. At the time, the police were told, Harris was on her cell phone and this angered the man, who took away the cell phone and broke it. It was reported that Harris then went and sat on the stairway outside, but James Lord followed her, removed a knife from his haversack, and attempted to stab her. His nephew, Junior Lord, who was there at the time, heard the commotion and intervened. He attempted to take the knife from his uncle, who stabbed him in the abdomen, the release said. The suspect then rushed to Harris and stabbed her to her left side breast and her right hand. She ran and collapsed into a nearby drain, while the suspect made good his escape on foot to the sea dam area, the release said. Junior Lord was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital by public-spirited citizens where he was treated and admitted as a patient in a stable but serious condition, it added.
Fire
Convicted prisoner sets fire to mattress at Georgetown Prison: A convicted prisoner last Monday set fire to a mattress at the Georgetown Prison resulting in injuries to him and another inmate. A release on September 9th from the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) said that “catastrophe was avoided” when the fire set by the convicted prisoner “of unsound mind” was quickly extinguished at the Lot 12 Camp St, Werk-en-Rust penitentiary.. “Prisoner Delon Blake, who is serving 20 years for rape, allegedly lit his mattress at approximately 14:00 hours in his cell of the security block of the prison”, the GPS said. It added that Officer in Charge of the Georgetown Prison, Senior Superintendent Olivia Cox reported that the situation was quickly brought under control by the officers on duty at the prison. Blake and another inmate, Christopher Stanley, who is also of unsound mind, were immediately taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical treatment. According to releasefrom the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), it received the call at 14.10 hours and responded promptly with the first units arriving on the scene by 14.16 hours. In all, a total of 18 firefighters attended the call. The release informed that the incident occurred in a three-storey concrete and metal building within the Camp Street Prison complex. The fire resulted in the destruction of one mattress and a quantity of clothing. It was also reported that Stanley, 25, suffered second-degree burns on various parts of his body, while Blake, 35, sustained first-degree burns to his upper right shoulder. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was started by an inmate who lit a mattress using a lighter, which then ignited nearby combustible materials. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident, the GFS said. Before the arrival of the fire service, prison officers used several dry chemical extinguishers to extinguish the fire. As such, the GFS commended the quick actions of the prison officers in using extinguishers to contain the fire and minimise further damage before the fire crews arrived.