Guyana News

Under growing criticism over a previously unannounced sale of Guyana’s first three lifts of oil, the government’s Department of Energy (DoE) today defended its plan but did not explain how it decided which companies should be selected to bid in a process set for tomorrow.

-Trotman awaiting final reports before taking action A complaint to President David Granger of mismanagement and corruption at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), in which top officials have been fingered, has sparked a probe and Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman is awaiting the final report to inform further action on the claims.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) at an extraordinary meeting on Friday decided to post for public scrutiny the names of the approximately 20,000 new registrants recorded during the aborted House to House Registration exercise (HtH).

Exactly one year after he allegedly killed his teenage daughter and her cousin, New York-based Guyanese Abdool Zameer Zaman was found hanging in his prison cell on Friday evening.

Following a high level meeting yesterday, the Guyana Police Force has launched ‘Operation Safe Roads,’ which is to commence countrywide this morning.

Armed bandits last evening staged a robbery at the Chenick and Sons Supermarket, in Betsy Ground Village, East Canje, Berbice, where they severely beat the owner and discharged several shots during the attack, including one that resulted in a customer being grazed.

The Guyana Police Force is now mourning the death of one of its own after a Special Corporal died following a boating mishap in the Berbice River yesterday morning.

Despite him being released from the Georgetown Public Hospital just over a week ago, eight-year-old Richard Boodram, who was brutally beaten by five of his classmates at the Mon Repos Primary last month, is still experiencing severe headaches and complains that he cannot see from his left eye, according to his mother, Devika Persaud.

The driver of the Route 31 (Georgetown to Wales) minibus that crashed into a car at Nismes, West Bank Demerara, resulting in the deaths of four persons and the injury of several, was on Thursday released on a total of $120,000 bail after he was charged with three traffic offences.

Paws for a Cause-Guyana Inc (PFAC-G) yesterday hosted its first event to raise funds to build a shelter for stray animals.

The University of Guyana (UG) will next month be introducing a mandatory human relations course for its staff and the student body a part of a respect programme that was due to begin this weekend.

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has invested some $4 billion into its Tropical Orchard Products Company (TOPCO) expansion project, which will see its demand in 2020 for a total of nearly 2 million pounds of various fruit that local farmers are expected to supply.

Nine farming groups within Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have received almost $20 million in micro-grants to reduce the impact of natural disasters.

Seeking to increase transparency, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has introduced the use of portable video recording devices, known as body cameras, during daily operations in several divisions and Regional Commander of Region 4(A) Assistant Commissioner Edgar Thomas is seeking to lead by example to encourage the adoption of their use by members of the force.

Government is upgrading the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) high technology security camera system to support crime prevention efforts by the Joint Services with the addition of 17 camera locations, including in Stabroek Market area, at the Berbice River Bridge and at the Lusignan Prison on the lower East Coast.

Oil traders from Houston, Geneva and London are expected to begin bidding on Monday on some of Guyana’s first oil cargoes, Bloomberg news has reported.

A petition was filed yesterday morning urging Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards to remove Magistrate Alex Moore from presiding over the proceedings against Marcus Bisram, who is accused of masterminding the murder of a Corentyne carpenter Faiyaz Narinedatt.

Foreign Secretary Carl Greenidge yesterday confirmed that Guyana’s ambassador to Venezuela, Cheryl Miles, is among several envoys who have been recalled by President David Granger.

First oil production from ExxonMobil’s Liza-1 field offshore Guyana is still expected this month with the oil major, having completed hookup of the equipment, currently testing it. 

The partially decomposed body of a 31-year-old miner was discovered buried in a shallow grave at Rice Creek, South Rupununi on Sunday, three days after he was allegedly killed, and a teenage suspect has since been arrested.