Diplomatic
Suriname summons Guyana ambassador over New River Triangle plans: Suriname’s Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin on Friday said he had summoned the Ambassador of Guyana, Virjanand Depoo to protest plans by the government in Georgetown to build an airstrip in what he described as the Tigri Area but what is recognized internationally as the New River Triangle in this country. Reuters last night said that Ramdin also complained that a school is to be built in the area. Ramdin asserted that the planned developments violate agreements made in 1970. There was no response by the Guyana Government last night to the Reuters report. There has also been no recent announcement here by the government about plans for an airstrip or school in the New River Triangle. As relations between Guyana and Suriname bloomed in recent years there has been little mention of the contention over the New River Triangle. Just days ago, Suriname hosted a 49th independence anniversary celebration in Georgetown and there wasn’t the slightest hint of tensions. Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and Ramdin were recently here for a series of engagements including the CARICOM-India Summit. On August 19, 1969, a military unit of the Guyana Defence Force during a routine air patrol found armed Surinamese engaged in the construction of an airstrip in the New River Triangle. The GDF unit confronted the intruders who offered armed resistance and then fled unharmed. Guyana and Suriname have tussled for decades over three separate border issues: the offshore maritime zone which was largely resolved in this country’s favour at the International Law of the Sea Tribunal, control of the Corentyne River which is unresolved and over the New River Triangle which is internationally recognised as belonging to Guyana.
Fimace
US EXIM Bank approved US$509M loan request – Jagdeo: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo last week said that the board of the United States Export-Import (EXIM) Bank last week approved US$509m of the $US640m loan this country had requested for the gas-to-energy (GtE) project at Wales, West Bank Demerara, and has sent the document to the US Congress as part of a 30-day notification process. “We had this information but we wanted the announcement to come from EXIM Bank. But since it [the information] has not been forthcoming, let me say to you that the loan has been approved by the Board of EXIM Bank and it has been sent to the Congress for 30-day notification,” the Vice President said at a press conference he hosted at Freedom House, Georgetown. “After which, it will be returned to the Board of EXIM Bank for final approval. So that is where we stand at this point“, he added. In explaining the reduction by almost US$131million, Jagdeo said, “It will only cover exports out of the United States of America…” US EXIM Bank officials last Thursday met to discuss the US$660 million loan for this country’s GtE project but had said that a decision was yet to be made and the project was listed in the pending category. Notification to the US Congress was also noted as being required. The life of this Congress will soon end with another scheduled for January 3, 2025. The loan application had been pending for 17 months. In September, Jagdeo had informed that the bank’s board was likely to discuss the US$660 million funding at an October meeting. “They are aiming to go to the Board by October [for a] Board meeting, but all of the technical and environmental work has been completed and they have all of the information necessary to go to the Board,” he had said. The Vice President, who also holds oversight for the oil and gas sector, said that the Finance Minister would provide additional details on the meeting. “Ashni Singh met with EXIM Bank and he is going to tell you about it and that they have indicated that they have all of the information they need to go to the Board.” The following Saturday, a press release from the Ministry of Finance stated that Singh had 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 for the GtE project which the government has said will cut energy charges by half. The press release had varied from the constant line of a 50 per cent cut by stating it would “significantly reduce electricity costs.”
Cash grant
Only 50% likely to get cash grant before end of year: It now appears that only half of the persons eligible for the much talked about $100,000 grant will receive it before yearend. This is despite an assurance by President Irfaan Ali at a press conference earlier this month that most of the eligible will receive the grant before Christmas. Ever since President Ali first made the announcement of the grant at a special sitting of Parliament on October 10 there has been confusion around the substance of the payout and also the process. After announcing that each household in the country will receive $200,000 “instantaneously”, President Ali reeled that back in on October 16 and said that each adult will receive $100,000. Six weeks later no payment has been made but compulsory registrations are being done for the provision of the grant to pensioners and public servants. On an interview programme on November 13 and in response to a question from Stabroek News Ali said that the $100,000 cash grant will be paid to most persons here before Christmas with pensioners and public servants poised to get theirs by the end of this month. “Before the end of the month, the existing datasets [for pensioners and public servants] their cheque will be cut easily because their dataset is already there. This weekend, they will be in Region 9 collecting the datasets from Region 9, working with all the toshaos …the hinterland regions we will try to complete as quickly as possible because the coast we can easily work with,” the President said. “Yes… you would get your money before Christmas,” he added. According to Ali, a key prerequisite is data collection and that is in the works. “So you had to get a system to collect the data, to cut the cheque, we already had raw datasets like all public service employees and then you have all pensioners. Tomorrow morning we can cut the cheque for all of them.”
PM peppered with questions on cash grant: Prime Minister Mark Phillips faced a barrage of questions lats Wednesday from opposition members about the $30.5 billion allocated for the much talked about $100,000 cash grant and there were doubts at the end of the session whether all persons 18 and above will be paid before the end of the year. Questioning of the PM began at 4:04 pm and ended at 4:34 pm, with heated exchanges and persistent heckling dominating the period. APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Volda Lawrence opened the floor. “The remarks column for this $30.5 billion states, ‘provision of additional resources for the cash grant distribution of every citizen above 18 years of age.’ At that point, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, could be heard heckling, ‘18 years and above, 18 years and above.’” Lawrence pointedly asked, “Mr. Chair, from what I heard from the President and the Vice President, this cash grant is for 18 years and above. So, we need to make an amendment to this remark here since it will form part of our records.” She further pressed, “Could the Prime Minister state whether, out of this $30.5 billion, any amounts will go to administrative costs? Or are you covering administrative costs from another line item?” Phillips responded with “The disbursement of this money is administered by a ministry, and that ministry works with other ministries throughout the country. They already have their operational budgets, so this figure covers payments going to the people 18 years and above. If I am 18 years today, January 1st, 2025, I qualify for the money. This money is going to the people.” At this point APNU+AFC MP Shurwayne Holder raised further concerns about the distribution’s timeline and logistics: “In the initial announcement, we heard that a total of $60 billion would be disbursed. We’ve since seen changes, and now we see $30.5 billion coming to Parliament. Does the government estimate there are 305,000 persons aged 18 and above, or will another $30 billion request come before the end of the year?” Smiling, Phillips responded “I never expected such a question from a fellow member of the House. The financial year finishes on the 31st of December, so it’s just about a month. We are asking for that money, and we’re going to pay out that money as fast as possible. Come January the 1st, we go into another budget cycle, and the remainder of the money that is needed will be apportioned and allocated from that budget cycle.”
Health
Sod turned for $6b Kato hospital: The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Health yesterday turned the sod for the construction of a modern hospital at Kato in Region 8. President Irfaan Ali during the ceremony stated that the new hospital will be built on 57,000 square feet of land and will cost almost 6 billion dollars. He added that modern living quarters will also be added which will be built to the tune of $200 million for the doctors and nurses who will be serving the hospital. He added that the Potaro-Siparuni hospital will feature “75 beds, 45 of which will be in-patient beds. Each ward is expected to have its own washroom and shower, with a fully functional theatre. The hospital will also be doing cataract surgeries, C section surgeries and will feature a procedure room for minor surgeries, diagnostic imagining services along with a modern emergency room. It will also have a digital X-ray machine, a CT scan machine, a pharmacy, a dialysis centre, a digital health control room, paediatric services and an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) along with a modern maternity unit. The project is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Oil & Gas
PM says 58% of gas to power project finished: Prime Minister Mark Phillips last Wednesday reported that 58% of the Gas to Power Project has been completed. Speaking during the 89th sitting of Parliament, the Prime Minister also addressed concerns raised by APNU+AFC MP David Patterson about the project’s financials and progress. During the sitting, the members of the National Assembly approved $25.3 billion as part of supplemental provisions in Financial Paper No. 4 to facilitate accelerated payments for the project. This new sum will be allocated to cover additional resources necessary for the project’s execution, though it does not include costs related to ongoing arbitration. Phillips noted that the previous allocation for the project stood at $80 billion through the Office of the Prime Minister, which was voted on earlier in the year. The newly requested $25.3 billion is designed to ensure payments for various components of the project, including the construction of power plants, transmission lines, and substations. Responding to questions from Patterson, Phillips provided a breakdown of how the $25.3 billion will be distributed. The key components include:
● Natural Gas Power Plant and Liquid Plant: $23.8 billion
● Project Management Consultancy: $149 million
● Transformers: $26.8 million
● Transmission Lines and Substations: $890 million
● Supervision of Transformers, Transmission Lines, and Substation
Control Centres: $103 million
● SCADA GMS, EMS, OPS and Remote Terminal Units Integration and
Commissioning: $156 million
● Consultancy for Control Centre Building Construction: $4.1 million
● Training and Land Acquisition: $22.8 million
● Access Roads and Pipe-line Relocation: $133 million
Patterson also inquired about the project’s contractor, Lindsayca CH4, and the status of the payments made to the company. The Prime Minister confirmed that in January 2024, $55.4 billion was approved, which represented 35% of the total contract value at the time. However, Patterson raised concerns regarding the progress of the work, questioning whether the contractor had met the expected 35% completion rate by now and if the new payment allocation would bring the total funding closer to 50% of the total contract sum.
Legislative
Gov’t moving to amend Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act: In what seems to be a response to the High Court’s ruling that property owners must receive proper compensation before their land is taken through compulsory acquisition, the government has moved to amend the legislation. “This Bill seeks to amend the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act, Cap. 62:05,” the proposed amendment in this week’s publication of the Official Gazette states. “Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to amend section 7 (1) of the Principal Act by firstly providing that the vesting of the compulsorily acquired land in the State is subject to the prompt payment of the purchase money or of any adequate compensation. Secondly, the proposed amendment amends subsection (1) to guarantee the State’s right to vacant possession of the land that is compulsorily acquired,” the Gazette states. “Clause 3 of the Bill substitutes for section 24A which deals with the payment of land bonds, a new section 24A. The new section establishes the legal framework for the Minister to make an advance cash payment to an interested and authorised person. An advance payment will only be paid after the land is acquired by the State, if requested by the interested and authorised person and where there is satisfactory proof of title. The advance payment shall not exceed 80 per cent of the purchase money or adequate compensation. Moreover, where the land is the subject of a mortgage or any other similar registered encumbrance, the Minister shall pay such advance payment as would be required for securing the release of the interest of the mortgagee or the creditor in that land. Further, an advance payment on account of adequate compensation in respect of land which is the subject of settlement or trust shall be made to the persons entitled to give a discharge for capital money,” it adds. In September High Court Justice Jacqueline Josiah-Graham refused applications by Attorney General Anil Nandlall for immediate possession of land earmarked for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge and ruled that in line with the Constitution and relevant laws compensation must first be settled. The AG had moved to the High Court under Section 13 (1) of the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act against Wilfred Brandford, the estate of Virieene Fredricks, Vashti Fredericks in her capacity as the beneficiary of the Estate of Virieene Fredricks, Pearl Layne in her capacity as the beneficiary of the estate of Virieene Fredricks, Malcolm Thomas in his capacity as the named Executor of the last will and testament of William Ovid Thomas, Merlynn Thomas and Joan Stewart.
Public data transparency bill passed: A landmark bill aimed at the management and administration of public data was passed last Monday in Parliament after hours of heated debate. The bill, titled the The Open Data Bill 2024, is designed to provide a framework for the transparent and responsible use of public data, marking a significant step toward modernizing governance in Guyana. Though the bill received initial support, it was not without controversy, particularly following heckling from the Opposition about the Attorney General’s handling of the bill in light of his ongoing legal dispute with social media advocate Melly Mel, over an alleged information leak. The Open Data Bill 2024 aims to promote transparency, innovation, and effective governance by mandating the publication of public data in accessible and open formats. This also encourages public participation in the use of data while ensuring the safeguarding of personal information. This bill forms a key part of the government’s broader legislative agenda, which includes initiatives like the Data Protection Act and the Digital Identity Act. Together, these laws create a comprehensive framework to protect individual rights while positioning Guyana to lead in the digital age. The bill’s objectives are far-reaching. It mandates that public authorities publish data in an open format, facilitating transparency and optimizing the use of public data. By doing so, the government MPs yesterday voiced hopes of improving the quality of public services and foster economic growth through innovation. The law is designed to ensure that data is used responsibly and for the benefit of all citizens, while simultaneously addressing potential risks associated with increased access to public information. Prime Minister Mark Phillips, in his remarks, emphasized that this bill is part of a broader vision to build modern infrastructure and ensure that Guyana is prepared for the future. “This bill is not a stand-alone piece of legislation. It works in conjunction with other key laws like the Digital ID Card Act 2023, the Data Protection Act, and the One Guyana Digital Initiative. Together, these initiatives are positioning Guyana as a leader in the global digital economy,” said Phillips. He also highlighted the government’s efforts to expand internet access and introduce free public Wi-Fi across the country, initiatives aimed at ensuring connectivity reaches every corner of the nation.
CARICOM
High cost of vessel delaying regional ferry service: The high cost of a suitable vessel has set back plans for a regional ferry service despite initial optimism that Trinidad’s Galleons Passage would have enabled a quick start-up. Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell provided an update to the Sunday Stabroek. “The challenge, obviously, is getting the right vessel, because we want a vessel that can do two things – carry cargo and at the same time carry passengers. We need a roll on/roll off vessel and getting the right vessel and getting the right price, particularly one that is fuel efficient is a challenge. It is really difficult to get the right vessel,” Mitchell said on Friday, on the sidelines of the CARICOM security meeting held in Guyana at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal. “In fact, we were just saying… Prime Minister [Barbados PM Mia Mottley] was just giving us an example of boats in Europe for consideration, but it is the price tag. That is always the challenge. So the price tag is the challenge, obviously, that we have. We are satisfied that this is an essential part of the infrastructure that we have to get going in the region, but it is still finding the right solution, finding the right vessel at the right price,” he iterated. Addressing the opening ceremony of the 12th annual Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) consultation with Caribbean Governors, in February of this year here, President Irfaan Ali who was then Caricom Chairperson, had said that he hoped the service would begin in about three months. A high-level meeting was held in Trinidad two weeks prior, and all sides had been given two months for the completion of pre-clearance procedures for immigration, customs, and plant quarantine, and to make the ferry service a reality as soon as possible. That plan has gone nowhere. Ali had stated that the aim was also to bring on board the regional private sector to implement similar initiatives to enhance areas of supply chain and logistics. “We have launched the first phase of this. In another two, or three months, that ferry will begin operations, and we are hoping that this will instil confidence in the private sector, and for the IDB investors, this is an excellent opportunity to bring a regional consortium together.”
CARICOM still to collectively agree on free movement of nationals – PM Mitchell: With no collective agreement yet reached by CARICOM on the free movement of nationals, respective member states are rolling out their own policy initiatives. “I want to call it the coalition of the willing. There are still one and two countries that have some technical issues they have to iron out, but for those of us who don’t have those issues, we have committed to the free movement,” CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of Grenada Dickon Mitchell told Stabroek News on Friday when asked for an update. The CARICOM Chairman did “not want to say” which countries are still looking at issues but noted that his country has rolled out free movement. “In Grenada we sought to address this,” he stated. CARICOM had set a March 31, 2024, deadline for the free movement of nationals, with a draft document signed, but there were other delays and the deadline passed. CARICOM has never officially said what caused the delays and or if a new timeframe was set. However, Mitchell expressed the hope that with Grenada leading by example, other countries which have no current issues with free movement, will implement their respective policies to achieve the free movement objective until the agreement is met. “My expectation is that those of us who have no issues with free movement will be able to implement and those who need that carve out will take that carve out,” he said, adding, “But I would say we are treading in the right direction as less and less of us need a carve out.” In July of this year, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd asserted that free movement of CARICOM nationals is a treaty obligation and Guyana will adhere to that.
Sugar
AFC questions nearly 3-year delay in Enmore Manufacturing Facility: The Alliance for Change (AFC) last week addressed the nearly three-year-old agreement the government had made with Guysons Engineering that is still to materialise, as it underscored the need for accountability in many aspects of the deal that were still not public. “The venture was to bring a vital industry to the East Coast corridor, revitalising the area and creating 150 jobs in the first year and 500 by year five. Yet, despite the promise, here we are—nearly three years later—with barely any trace of the promised facility,” the AFC said in a statement. “When the grand announcement was made in early 2022, many expected swift progress on the much-touted Enmore Manufacturing Facility. Guysons K+B Industries Inc (GKB), a joint venture promising a massive US$37.5 million investment to support the oil and gas sector, had chosen Enmore as its site, reportedly at the government’s suggestion.” The AFC said that in the initial announcement, GKB painted a bright future for Enmore, “a buzzing centre of industrial activity and job creation. Yet, with each passing day, Enmore residents see none of the promised benefits. “The citizens of Guyana have a right to know why their assets are being handed over without results or answers.” The agreement was signed in a blaze of publicity two years ago followed by the dismantling of the Enmore Sugar Packaging plant which is still to be reassembled. A planned machining investment had only begun startup in March this year. When this newspaper had asked the CEO of Guysons Faizal Khan for an update in June this year, he became agitated and questioned why this newspaper was interested in private work. The company has since not provided any updates despite being asked. The AFC pointed to the agreement, noting that the government had leased the joint venture 55 acres of prime land, “practically handing it to GKB on a silver platter. “… This land was meant to become a hub for oilfield services, providing services that are currently outsourced overseas. Instead, it sits largely untouched, the promised investment becoming little more than a memory of a fanfare announcement.”
Development
US$20M dairy farm at Moblissa expects to begin milk production by fourth quarter of 2025: The US$20 million Demerara Dairy Inc (DDI)’s major farming initiative in Moblissa is on track to produce first milk in the third quarter of 2025. This project aims to revolutionise the country’s milk production, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen the regional milk supply chain. The project, which is a joint venture between Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) and Israeli company LR Group, aims to establish a technologically advanced and sustainable dairy farm that will cater to both the local and regional markets. Project Executive for the initiative Loris Nathoo shared details about the timeline yesterday during a tour of the dairy farm. “We are hoping to have the dairy cows here, maybe the first week in June next year, and then… two to three months after that, we will have first milk,” Nathoo said. He added that the farm plans to begin production of fresh milk by the end of the third quarter, or the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2025. The project has already made significant strides in its physical development, with the laying of the foundation of the large pens to house the dairy cows. “As you can see, we are constructing the first large pen, 80,000 square feet,” Nathoo explained. “Each pen will accommodate a significant number of cows, and we have two pens of that size. We will have about seven buildings in total, including the milking parlours.” These pens are being designed to ensure the comfort and well-being of the cows, which will be integral to the success of the farm’s milk production. In addition to the facilities for housing the animals, careful planning is being made for the farm’s feedstock. “Some of that feed will be our own grown hay and silage,” Nathoo said. “We are also exploring the option of having the first 18 months of feed provided by contract farmers.” This will allow the farm to secure an adequate supply of feed while it hones its own cultivation efforts. “By the time the animals arrive, we plan to have between 3 to 6 months of feedstock already stored,” Nathoo added.
Education
Sod turned for $4.4b hospital at Moruca: The Department of Public Information (DPI) says that a sod-turning ceremony for a state-of-the-art hospital in the Moruca Sub-district in the north west took place last Tuesday. The hospital, expected to cost some $4.435 billion is to be funded by the Government of Guyana in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), with the 57,210-square foot facility expected to be constructed during a 24-month timeframe by PCI Sinopharmintl Consortium. President Irfaan Ali, who delivered the feature address at the site, said that the hospital will usher in a new era for Moruca and its residents. “This morning, we gather not just to turn sod but to turn a new page in Moruca. A page that tells a story of transformation, empowerment and partnership… Development is not just something that the government does for you, it is something we do with you. It is us working together with you.” According to President Ali, the hospital represents the government’s commitment to improving the healthcare system in the hinterland and in the riverain communities. It also represents a vision that is one step closer to realisation that will “profoundly” impact the livelihoods of the residents, both socially and economically. Upon completion, the Moruca Regional Hospital will feature top-notch services which will ensure easy accessibility for the residents. A Ministry of Health release stated that the state-of-the-art facility will include two fully equipped operating rooms, a modern emergency room, a procedure room for minor surgeries, a CT scanner, three ultrasound machines, and advanced digital and portable X-ray capabilities. In addition to its cutting-edge infrastructure, the hospital will offer critical services such as specialised outpatient clinics, comprehensive laboratory services, dialysis, a paediatric unit, a maternity wing, and an intensive care unit. “This hospital will have two fully functional operating theatre, so all your surgical requirements will be done right here in Moruca. We are adding modern ER that will be equivalent to the other hospitals that we are building in this country. You will have digital x-ray and most importantly you will have CT scans done right here in the region,” President Ali told the residents.
Domestic violence
‘Red Shoe’ project highlights gender-based violence: With one woman fighting for her life after being brutally knifed and chopped allegedly by her fiancé and another chopped to death by her partner there is no question that intimate partner violence remains a serious problem in Guyana and to shine a light on this scourge a ‘Red Shoe’ project was hosted at Kingston Seawall Esplanade last Monday. The project, which took the form of a display of shoes, each pair representing the life of a woman who has been affected by gender-based violence, was hosted by the Civil Society National Reference Group (CSNRG) in collaboration with UN Guyana and the Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC). While 28-year-old Thagewantie Motie, who died days after she was brutally chopped by her abusive reputed husband Uram Doorbassa who later died by suicide, and Leticia Reynolds, who is fighting for her life in hospital, were not able to tell their stories on Monday other victims took to the podium to share the devastating effects of gender-based violence. The launch of the project coincided with the observance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of #16DAYS of activism against gender-based violence. Chairperson of WGEC Indra Chandarpal in her remarks on Monday recalled that in 1989 domestic violence was largely regarded as a private matter, with societal indifference prevailing. But with reports indicating that two out of five women were victims of violence, increased scrutiny was prompted from the women’s movement and advocacy groups. However, despite ongoing discussions, the absence of protective laws left many feeling their efforts were futile. This led to the enactment of domestic violence legislation in 1996 and marked a significant shift, criminalizing acts of violence against any spouse. This change reflected a growing societal awareness and engagement, leading to increased involvement. The 1996 Domestic Violence Act was earlier this year replaced by the Family Violence Act.
Crime
Soldier in custody after WCB woman chopped multiple times: Leticia Reynolds, a 23-year-old woman from No. 30 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB) is in critical condition after she was stabbed and chopped about her body, allegedly by her fiancé Philon Edwards, a 26-year-old Corporal with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). A release from the police said that the attack took place at around 7.30 pm on November 22nd at the victim’s home in West Berbice. Edwards lives at the same address. The police say that investigations revealed that the suspect returned home at around 5.50 pm on Friday and accused the victim of permitting her son’s father to visit during his absence. The victim acknowledged the visit but said that there was no interaction between them. The release said that the suspect became furious, took a knife from the kitchen, and allegedly held it to the victim’s neck. He then allegedly proceeded to stab the victim multiple times on the left side of her face, below her left eye, on her finger, and in her right abdomen. Fearing for her life, the victim tried to escape from her attacker. The suspect retrieved a cutlass from the kitchen and allegedly inflicted a chop wound to the left side of the victim’s neck before fleeing the scene. He subsequently walked into the Weldaad Police Station and said that he had wounded the victim. He was arrested and placed in custody. The victim sought help from a relative who took her to the Fort Wellington Public Hospital for treatment. She was later transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital for further care, where her condition is considered serious, the police said.
