In the court
Brutus withdraws action against AG, Top Cop, Home Affairs Minister: A day after he faced dozens of serious charges, lawyers for Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus have withdrawn an action he brought against a number of officials including the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner. The government on October 25th released a notice of discontinuance and withdrawal signed by Brutus’ lawyers Earl Daniels, Yuborn Allicock and Domnick Bess. Brutus’ lawyers have not provided an explanation for their actions. The notice of discontinuance was received by the Attorney General’s Chambers and pertains to Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn, the Police Service Commission, the acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). Brutus on October 16 moved to the court arguing that he was being victimized in the ongoing investigation and being denied services including a restriction on his accounts. The application also alleged a role for Cabinet in his being sent on leave and recounted an appearance in court where he was threatened with a wanted bulletin if he did not show up at SOCU which is spearheading the probe. The affidavit also accused senior government officials of interference in the matter. Brutus was seeking a number of declarations from the court including that the acting Commissioner of Police acted ultra vires on July 4th by transferring him from the position of Deputy Commissioner due to “political directives and improper administrative procedures”. Also being sought by Brutus was a declaration that Cabinet acted ultra vires on July 11 when it instructed the acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken to send him on annual leave due to allegations of involvement in financial crimes. Brutus was also seeking a declaration that the rules of natural justice were violated as he was not afforded a fair opportunity to respond. He further sought a declaration that the Minister of Home Affairs acted ultra vires when he dispatched a letter to the acting Commissioner of Police dated August 21, 2024 for Brutus to proceed on leave on August 22.
Crime
Bulletins out for two over kidnapping of ex-cop in Buxton: Six months after former policeman, Delon Alexander, called ‘Portmore’ was abducted in Buxton, East Coast Demerara, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued wanted bulletins for two men who are the main suspects. The GPF has issued bulletins for Mark Cromwell known as ‘Diamond’, 42, of Lot 40 Vigilance and Lot 10 Buxton, East Coast Demerara, and Kevral Hatton known as Smokey, 26, of Lot 36 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, for the abduction of Alexander. The incident took place on May 7, on Church of God Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cromwell and Hatton can contact the police on 227-1149, 225-8196, 227-1611, 268-2328, 268-2329, 226-3405, 225-6978, 333-3876, 225-8196 or the nearest police station. Meanwhile, Delon passed another birth milestone today and the family is still hopeful that he is alive. Delon was expected to celebrate his 36th birthday today. He was an ex-police rank and a gold miner of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. Alexander had left home on May 7 to purchase building materials at Best Buy, Strathspey, East Coast Demerara. Shadah Alexander, Delon’s sister, told Stabroek News in an interview that after her brother bought the materials, he went to Church of God Road, Buxton, for pastries and bread. According to Shadah, eyewitness related that four men approached Delon in a car. One exited the car and allegedly told Delon, “The boss man want see you,” to which he responded, “no boss can’t want see me.” As a result, another man exited the car with a handgun, shot him in the leg, and pushed him in the car. On May 8, the family visited a business establishment and viewed the CCTV footage. On Friday they returned to retrieve the footage but were told that it was discarded. However, the family was contacted by several residents who witnessed the incident and stated that Mark Cromwell popularly known as ‘Diamond’ was seen pushing Delon into the car. Delon’s last words were, “I want people see what y’all doing me.”
Rice
19 rice millers get long-overdue $1.5b owed by Panama Gov’t: After six years, 19 rice millers yesterday received the $1.5 billion owed to them by the Panamanian government for the delivery of 9,000 tonnes of rice following interventions by President Irfaan Ali, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha disclosed. “After years of not going anywhere and they were going to institute arbitration, President Ali met with the Panamanian President… we got up all the info… and here we received the first tranche two months ago and then the rest. So it was due to that intervention,” the agriculture minister told Stabroek News when contacted. In a press release yesterday, the Ministry of Agriculture announced the payout stating that 19 rice millers had received a total of $1.5 billion, in the form of cheques, owed to them by the Panamanian government and that Mustapha had handed those out. The minister explained that the monies were owed for supplies back in 2018, under a deal the Guyana government had secured in 2014 for the supply of rice by millers to Panama. “We had made the deal in 2014 and it was going well up to 2018 when the people [Panama] stopped paying. Because of this action, six rice mills were forced to close and just think of the direct and indirect impact that had on the industry. The non-payment continued and when we got into government [in 2020] we said we would see what we could do…,” Mustapha said. “I had met with the Panama Minister of Agriculture on the sidelines of a meeting and after that we had bilaterals. There were like two or three Panamanian representatives and we had me, the AG and so on. The talks went well but after that nothing happened and that wasn’t going anywhere. They [the millers] said they would institute arbitration,” he added. The agriculture minister said that at another global forum, President Ali had met with the President of Panama and he raised the issue which the Panamanian government promised to look into and subsequently did.
Security
SWAT, SOCU teams descend on Brutus’ apartment: Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus on October 23rd broke his silence on sweeping allegations of procurement fraud and money laundering being investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) saying that his businesses are legitimate and he has followed the law for all transactions done. And as he expressed fear for his life given that a team of SWAT and other police showed up at his Eve Leary home yesterday to search it, Brutus who at one time was responsible for administration of the GPF also pointed to the excessive use of force. “I intend to vigorously defend these matters because there is clear evidence that what is happening is a matter …of manipulation of evidence; fabrication of evidence, just to make out a case against me. Myself and team will defend all the allegations that are made and we are certain that we will be victorious,” he last night told reporters alongside his two attorneys and from the bridge of the Eve Leary apartments that he shares with other high ranking police officials. Also in the compound is the Police Officer’s Mess Hall and its Day Care. Clad in a casual shirt and jeans, Brutus explained that he had just returned home after meeting his attorneys when he saw the police in the compound. “On social media we saw a lot of allegations being swirled and this was leveraged to the current situation here. This whole exercise was one of a fishing expedition as we saw here tonight. The teams of SOCU and two teams of SWAT came to the apartment. We are working on some stuff, myself and the attorneys and I had just returned home. They were parked on the eastern side of the compound and as soon as I came in they pulled up. They indicated that they wanted to search; that they had a warrant for and they wanted the entire team to go inside. I invited them but just the person whose name is on the warrant,” he related. “It showed clearly that they were not too keen or interested because they left. But I am concerned about the level of force displayed here tonight. There is no indication that I am a flight risk. If I was a flight risk, then I would have had used other options instead of going through the official ports to get out of the country and we are all aware of these ports that you can use,” he added.
Recent developments in police force reveal pressing need for reform – GHRA: The Guyana Human Rights Association last week called for policing reforms in Guyana, starting with an oversight body that will be apolitical but get the blessings of the parties for its constitution. The stated intent to appoint the acting and over 55 years old Clifton Hicken as substantive Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and the “saga” surrounding Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus’s large bank accounts have triggered several questions about the GPF, the GHRA contended in a statement and was why reforms were needed. “Whether through a National Commission on Democratic Policing or some other similar mechanism, a national conversation in partnership with communities is urgently needed to achieve a fundamental transition from a Guyana Police Force to a Guyana Police Service,” the GHRA statement said. It pointed out the decades of legal, ethical, constitutional and accountability issues affecting the GPF were only redeemable by “transformational reforms in all areas”. The GHRA noted that the two major political parties were once again at logger-heads, this time over the constitutionality of President Irfaan Ali’s decision to confirm Hicken substantively in his post, despite him being over the age of retirement. It noted that while Attorney-General Anil Nandlall claimed constitutional support could be found for the new appointment, opposition lawyers maintained that the Constitution only allowed extensions to existing posts for over-age officers, not promotions. “This ongoing row vies for news-worthiness with the astonishing saga involving… Brutus and the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU)… Pervasive dysfunctionality in the Guyana Police Force is manifest in many ways,” the GPRA said in its statement. “A retirement age at 55 years, for example, underlines the distance of the policing establishment from civilian life, in which many people would consider a person of 55 to be in their executive prime,” it added. Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran last week said that substantively appointing Hicken, who is one year past his retirement age, would be unconstitutional and illegal.
Education
Education Ministry probing allegations of sexual assault at St Joseph High: Minister of Education Priya Manickchand last week said that the ministry has launched an investigation into allegations that two students of St Joseph High School were sexually assaulted in the school’s toilet. Manickchand told Stabroek News last evening that ministry officials have met both the alleged victims and perpetrators and that comprehensive resolutions were arrived at. She declined to comment further but Stabroek News understands that the alleged perpetrators, five fifth formers and one fourth former, will face the consequences for their actions. Stabroek News also contacted the school’s headmistress who said the matter was being investigated by the ministry. Meanwhile, the mother of one of the alleged victims confirmed to this newspaper last evening that she had a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Education yesterday and needed time to process the information. However, on Sunday the same parent had taken to Facebook live to angrily address the issue of her child being assaulted and not initially getting the support of the school’s or ministry’s officials. Speaking, while hiding her identity, the parent explained that last Thursday she received a call from a teacher who related that an incident had occurred at the school. According to the mother, the teacher said the children were being “disgusting” and referred to the incident as a “little touching thing”. When her child returned home from school, the mother said, she anxiously asked questions and learned that a teacher had sent him to the washroom to fix his shirt and he had encountered older boys there who pushed him into a stall, locked the door and demanded that he remove his pants. He fought them off and as they were also targeting another student in the washroom, managed to escape. As he left, homosexual slurs were hurled at him.
Development
Govt to facilitate Brazilian-built medical school in Region Nine: President Irfaan Ali last Sunday announced that a group of Brazilian investors have signalled interest in establishing a medical school in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and his government is on board to make it a reality. “Very soon we will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the West Indies [UWI] School of Medicine and nursing schools here in Guyana. And the regional authoriies have already said to me that there is a group of investors from the State of Roraima, that wants to invest in a medical school and a medical facility,” Ali told attendees at a sod turning event for both the Lethem Hospital and Tabatinga Secondary School. “So I have to say to all of you, let us do it. Let us build in this region, with the support of UWI and University of Guyana, a medical school that can service the State of Roraima, this region and all of Guyana, so that we can produce global medical practitioners from right here in this region,” he added. Both sides will benefit, the President reasoned, as the Portuguese-speaking country would be able to offer its citizens globally recognized certification from an English-speaking country and Guyana would actually house the facility and be able to train its people also. “For your citizens to be competitive they would have the opportunity of studying in an English environment and move on to global certification. We’re ready to partner with you on this endeavour and make this happen,” the President said. As he prepared to turn the sod for the Lethem Hospital, which he directed must also be a teaching facility, Ali said that access to quality healthcare across the country remained a primary focus of his government and moves are on stream to make this vision a reality by 2030 and beyond. Pointing to his parliamentary address from earlier this month, Ali said, “We are already thinking, if you listened to what I said in Parliament, of Guyana 2030 and beyond… How we are going to make the right investments today to ensure we have one of the most beautiful, well-structured and balanced economies in the world … We have to think about a country that will win in a global environment that is very competitive. “I want to assure our neighbours that I have already said that the prosperity of Guyana must rebound for the prosperity of this region.” The construction of the Lethem Hospital is being funded by a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank for a Health Care Network Strengthening programme and will be built by Chinese consortium Sinopharm at a cost pegged at US$31 million.
Best Western Georgetown franchise, Aiden, formally opened: President Irfaan Ali On October 19th officially opened the Aiden, a Best Western franchise hotel at the corner of Oronoque and Robb streets, with a nod to the crucial role of local investment and the importance of global competitiveness in Guyana’s hospitality sector. Commending the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) for backing the project, developed by Arimu Investment Group, he said, “We should applaud the banking sector. GBTI played a pivotal role in providing the financial support necessary… showing trust in our local investors. This is a key example of how we can move forward together as a nation.” He said that Guyana was not in competition with itself but with the global market. “We must build our projects with a mindset that understands we’re not just competing locally. We are part of a global environment, and if we want to win in that environment, we need to learn and adopt a winning culture.” While the cost of the hotel was not revealed last evening, when the sod for its construction was turned in 2022 it was pegged at US$15 million. The Aiden offers amenities designed to cater to the diverse needs of travellers. The nine-storey modern building has 101 executive smart rooms with the ground floor consisting of a conference room that can seat 120, a restaurant and bar that can accommodate approximately 170 , and a coffee shop. The second to seventh floors, as was explained in 2022, consist of 97 rooms while the eighth floor houses a gym and sauna area, four executive suites all equipped with open terraces, an executive boardroom equipped with a bar, modern technology services and a terrace with privacy screens. The ninth floor has a rooftop bar and lounge. Geraldo Alphonso, head of Arimu Investment, reflected on the challenges and triumphs of the hotel’s development over the last three years. Alphonso credited the support of the government.
Health
Nurses being trained in diabetic foot care as ministry looks to reduce amputation: In an effort to combat the rising number of amputations in Guyana, with the most recent figures showing 108 amputations recorded in 2023, the Ministry of Health has initiated a diabetic foot care training programme. The training is being conducted at the Windjammer Hotel in Georgetown and is attended by nurses from across the country. Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, addressing the attendees, noted the urgency of the issue: “As of 2023, we had 108 people whose feet were cut off. Could we have prevented that? Could we have saved some limbs? Maybe we could have, but perhaps we weren’t diligent enough. Some of the fault lies with people not coming to clinics, and if last year’s number was 108, previous years were likely similar.” He also announced plans to establish a diabetic clinic at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre in order to reduce the distance amputees need to travel for care and rehabilitation. “Patients come to the Ptolemy Reid Centre to get prosthetics and related services, and the effort it takes to get there is challenging. One of the things I suggested was setting up a diabetic clinic at the centre because patients struggle to access services and often have to make repeated visits,” Anthony said. However, he stressed that the efforts to reduce amputations must also include a greater commitment from healthcare professionals. He urged nurses and doctors to follow established guidelines, especially when prescribing medication, as drug shortages in hospitals remain a significant problem. “We have a list of medications available in the public health system. Yet, complaints often arise that patients go to a health centre, get a prescription, and have to buy the medication. The issue is not always a lack of supply but doctors preferring specific drugs over those listed in the guidelines,” he explained. These outdated prescription practices, he said, added to patients’ financial burdens.
Oil & Gas
UK oil traders to market Guyana’s oil for second year: The two United Kingdom firms that last year marketed Guyana’s oil from two offshore platforms in the Stabroek Block will be doing so again, for a one year fiscal period. “The Government of Guyana (GoG), through the Ministry of Natural Resources, is pleased to announce the award of contracts, through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), to market Guyana’s share of crude from the three Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels as follows: BB Energy Trading Limited – Liza Unity and Prosperity FPSOs; JE Energy – Liza Destiny FPSO,” the Ministry of Natural Resources yesterday said in a statement. “…The combined premium per barrel to be received by the GoG from these two companies for the crudes from these three FPSOs amounts to US$1.85, reflecting a substantial 93% increase compared to the US$0.96 premium secured in the previous period (2023- 2024.” Last year, JE Energy had marketed oil from the Liza-1 platform, which uses the Liza Destiny FPSO, while BB Energy marketed oil from the Liza-2 and Payara platforms, which use the Liza Unity and Liza Prosperity FPSOs. Neither of the companies charged the government for the marketing. Instead, BB Energy Limited paid 26 US cents on every barrel it sold, while JE Energy paid some 70 US cents. The government had advertised for marketers for the new fiscal period in September.
Exxon Guyana conducting independent probe into seepage at Crane – EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said last week that ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has implemented the Project Community Grievance Mechanism, which is part of its mandate, with regard to the noxious substance that has been seeping into the homes of some residents at Crane, West Coast Demerara. According to a statement from the EPA, it had instructed EMGL to immediately activate an investigation into the seepage, which residents had begun noticing some weeks ago. It added that under the grievance mechanism process, EMGL was conducting an independent investigation into the seepage. “These findings will be reported to the agency, evaluated by the EPA’s technical team, and appropriately disseminated as soon as the information becomes available,” the statement said. “The agency will take any action necessary based on the findings from these investigations.” It added that the investigations must be “done thoroughly and samples are being sent for further lab testing, as the agency’s initial tests using field equipment have been inconclusive. At the moment, as the investigations continue, the EPA and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are awaiting the results of the lab analysis from the government’s forensic lab.” Further, the statement appealed “to all concerned parties to desist from making public statements that will only serve to cause alarm and create panic among residents of these areas”. Last week’s statement follows criticism by former EPA head Dr Vincent Adams of the agency’s handling of the situation during an AFC press conference recently. Dr Adams had accused the agency of “pussyfooting around”. He questioned why the EPA was focused on collecting tile samples instead of investigating the substance’s source underground, suggesting that borehole drilling should begin immediately to trace the origin. He called on the government to urgently relocate affected residents to safer accommodations and show compassion towards those impacted.
Tri-Star secures two more leases for large swathes of West Demerara land: Even as Guyanese-American developer Kris Persaud of Tri-Star Investments forges ahead with development of its shorebase at Versailles, West Bank Demerara (WBD), the company has entered into a long-term lease agreement with the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for nearly 100 acres of more land in other areas, distances away but also on the WBD. The 50-year respective leases with NICIL are for portions of land in the Toevlugt/Patentia district and cover 9.76 acres, 61.80 acres, 15.44 acres and 17.49 acres. It is unclear what the land will be used for. Stabroek News tried reaching out to representatives of Tri-Star last week, but was unsuccessful. Employees at the site of the Versailles development informed that they were not allowed to speak on behalf of the company. This newspaper also messaged Persaud but up to press time there was no response to questions asked. Earlier in this year, Persaud had told this newspaper that Phase I of the Versailles project was scheduled to be completed by the end of the third quarter of this year, and he was enthused that the project will help to complement the planned Region Three developmental transformation. When this newspaper saw him at State House months later, he had said, “a lot is happening and there is more coming”. While not naming TriStar, President Irfaan Ali had told the recent Private Sector Commission dinner that Region Three would this year see an additional port, and its construction was evidence of the economic growth of the country. In addition, he said that with the planned gas-to-energy plant at Region Three coming on stream and a number of businesses from various sectors starting up in the region, projects such as the port were needed.
Road safety
‘Do the Right Thing’ campaign launched to promote safer road use: The Ministry of Home Affairs launched its “Do the Right Thing” campaign last week with a focus on the upcoming National Road Safety Month in November in an effort to emphasise its goal to promote safe practices and behaviours by road users. Speaking at a press conference in the Ministry of Home Affairs boardroom, Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn called for public and institutional support, highlighting the responsibility of every Guyanese to contribute to safety and security. The campaign aims to extend beyond road safety to include other safety and security concerns in public spaces, social media, and the press. The decision to focus on road safety, Minister Benn disclosed, was made after consultations with the National Road Safety Council. The minister added that the campaign not only addresses the current challenges in behaviour, but in road safety, particularly the increase in road fatalities, noting that the number has increased from last year to now and is projected to surpass last year’s figure. Benn also touched on the nexus between the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads and the corresponding increase in road accidents. He said that despite infrastructure expansion, there is still a significant amount of indiscriminate behaviour in road usage. The minister expressed the hope that the campaign succeeds in reducing road fatalities by 2030 as required by the UN Decade of Road Safety, but lamented that current trends indicate that this goal may not be met. “We are required by the UN in the decade of road safety, by 2030, to halve the number of deaths on our roads. Which should suggest that road death should be by 2030 somewhere around 50 deaths per year [but] at the current rate, we will not achieve that, and this is a particularly grievous data point,” Benn said.