Marcelle Thomas

Even as Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson continues to deny ever receiving jewellery presents over the years from the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) and Asphalt Plant, a preliminary review of other agencies covered by his then ministry reveals numerous purchases for him and his then junior minister Annette Ferguson.

While he supports gas from Exxon’s wells being brought onshore for domestic use, former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Vincent Adams says that a rigid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be undertaken and he called on the public to “actively participate” when it is initiated.

The natural gas-to-shore facility which the Irfaan Ali-led PPP/C government hopes to deliver by 2023 as a spinoff from oil extraction will land at Wales, West Bank Demerara, government yesterday announced.

As it laid out its record of compliance, El Dorado Trading yesterday announced that its projected declaration of gold for this year would be at last 250,000 ounces.

The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) is currently investigating allegations made to the Minerals Grievance Platform (MGP) that  local large-scale gold trader, El Dorado Trading is connected to illegally sourced Venezuelan gold, a claim the company denied vehemently yesterday.

At a price of close to US$49.50 per barrel of oil, Guyana has received its fourth one million barrels of oil scheduled for this year and will get its first lift for 2021 in February next year, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday confirmed.

After witnessing what could have been an overturning of democracy here, Canada has pledged further support to electoral reforms and is awaiting the government’s response, outgoing High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee yesterday announced as she spoke about the events in the aftermath of the March 2nd polling, including a meeting where former president David Granger was told that Western countries would not accept the now discredited initial declaration that was intended to keep him in power.

Outgoing Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee yesterday said that Guyana lacks a skilled and sizeable labour force to benefit from the “explosive” oil-linked growth that is coming and she urged the country not to resist foreign investment but use its judgement on who to trust.

Professionals should not have their job security threatened over their political affiliation once they are qualified and apolitical in the execution of their duties, dismissed Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr.

Abruptly dismissed on Monday after serving two years as Head of the EPA, Dr Vincent Adams has warned that the country faces a serious challenge in keeping its rivers free of pollutants as it becomes an oil economy and he called on Guyanese to hold their leaders accountable.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips believes there is still a role for state media in the effective communication of the PPP/C government’s developmental plans.

NICIL is giving holders of divested Wales Estate lands up to November 27 to come forward and establish occupation, failing which it is likely that some of those plots will be reclaimed.

Businessman Avalon Jagnandan was yesterday taken into police custody for questioning into his controversial lease for Peters Hall lands after responding to a request to visit the Criminal Investigation Department.

ExxonMobil yesterday confirmed a hydrocarbon discovery from the Tanager, its first well in the Kaieteur Block, offshore Guyana, but said it does not appear to be economic on a standalone basis even as it pledged to press on with exploration activities in the area.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips has fired back at the opposition’s criticisms of his job portfolio, saying he is no “window dressing” and that his contributions are meaningful and stretch across various sectors, including security.

Promising a “truly modern” Guyana fueled by oil revenues, newly-appointed Minister with responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh has also assured investors that cutting red tape will be one of the first areas addressed.

ExxonMobil is continuing to  drill its deepest ever well – the Tanager-1- in the controversial  offshore Kaieteur Block and says that it will soon add a 5th drill ship and another next year for exploration in the equally contentious Canje Block.

Shortly after 8:30 last night, fire destroyed the 136 Regent Street Singh’s Store and a tent in the lot next door which formerly housed the Sachi building  which was ravaged by fire in February of this year.

The PPP/C government will continue with the China-funded US$37.6 million National Broadband Expansion Project to be implemented by Chinese firm Huawei and Prime Minister Mark Phillips said that national security considerations will be taken into consideration.

With over 30 Expressions of Interest received on Monday by the Ministry of Tourism for the establishment of hotels here, at least two are for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill yesterday said.