The Week in Review

Sandal Dharamlall resigns: President Irfaan Ali last Tuesday night accepted the resignation of Local Government Minister Nigel Dharamlall, hours after the DPP had advised the police that there was no basis to charge him with rape as the complainant had withdrawn the allegation.

Investigation Complainant not pursuing allegation against Dharamlall – police: The 16-year-old complainant  has decided not to pursue her rape allegation case against, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.

Crime Dharamlall file now with DPP: With the case file on an allegation of rape of a 16-year-old girl against the Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall now with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice, opposition parties last week up the pressure for answers and accountability from both the embattled minister and the administration.

Local Government elections Jagdeo claims massive victory in LGEs: While it won a big majority of the NDCs and seven of 10 municipalities, the ruling PPP/C was easily defeated in   Georgetown and Linden where it had invested much in a high-profile campaign and attracted well- known crossovers from the main opposition APNU in a bid for a historic shift.

Accountability UNICEF review of school dorms last year highlighted myriad deficiencies: A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) assessment of all 24 school dormitories across the country last year highlighted a plethora of deficiencies to the Ministry of Education and another followed with myriad recommendations but it is unclear if any changes were made.

Security ‘Smallie’, accomplice shot dead: After almost two weeks of intensive searching by the Joint Services, escaped death row prisoner Mark Royden Williams, also known as ‘Smallie’, and his accomplice were fatally shot by the Joint Services during what was described as a confrontation.

Tragedy Nineteen die in Mahdia dorm arson: Deep sorrow and shock gripped the small Region Eight town of Mahdia and other hinterland communities after arson obliterated a girls secondary school dormitory on Sunday night claiming 19 lives with another nine hospitalised in Georgetown.

Security ‘Smallie’ makes dramatic escape from Mazaruni Prison: Mark Royden Williams called ‘Smallie’ last Friday escaped from the Mazaruni Prison, a maximum security facility, following an exchange of gunfire with prison officers.

Oil & Gas Govt intent to appeal Exxon insurance ruling shows it as uncaring – TIGI: Local anti-corruption body Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) has said that going against its own citizens in appealing the ruling requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce the liability clause in the permits issued to Exxon-Mobil Guyana, shows a government that doesn’t care and reeks of political opportunistic behaviour.

Court Exxon ‘reviewing’ court ruling on insurance: ExxonMobil says it is reviewing last Wednesday’s court ruling by Justice Sandil Kissoon, which found the company in breach of its insurance obligations for its first oil project Liza 1, a decision that can have major ramifications.

Security President orders that intelligence agency bill be taken to select committee: President Irfaan Ali las Friday night said that he had ordered that a bill for a national intelligence agency be taken to a select committee of Parliament for full deliberations.

Crime Two in custody over murder of Crabwood Creek woman: Two men suspected to be part of the gang that was ordered to kidnap a 36-year-old woman whose body was discovered in a clump of bushes at East Canje Berbice on April 21st have since been arrested for questioning.

Business Not involved in any `scampish’ business – Nazar Mohamed: Declaring that he is not involved in any `scampish’ business, businessman Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed has secured the Washington DC public relations and lobbying firm, Barbour Griffith & Rogers [BGR], to investigate why he has been blocked for more than a decade from securing a US non-immigrant visa.

Border World Court rules against Venezuela’s preliminary objection on border case: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last Thursday ruled in Guyana’s favour that its case before it seeking to affirm the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award settling the boundaries between it and Venezuela is admissible; and that the United Kingdom has no place in the proceedings as Caracas has sought to argue.

Economy Ram pummels gov’t over management of economy: Focusing on the foreign exchange controversy, commentator and chartered accountant Christopher Ram has pounded the government over the management of the economy and has called for the exclusion of non-bank cambios and for more banking licences to foster increased competition.

Politics No shared governance without trust: Shared governance at the executive level would come if Guyana’s citizenry calls for it during the constitutional reform process but at the moment the PPP/C cannot trust the main opposition on supporting its holistic developmental policies, the party’s General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo on March 23rd said, repeating a position he has previously enunciated.

Procurement Gov’t insists e-governance contract is legal:  Insisting that the contract was legal but not addressing key issues and concerns surrounding the US$34 million e-governance deal, government last week launched an attack on civil society group, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA).

Contract Gov’t seals US$34m e-ID card deal: Arising out of its request for assistance from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2021, the Government of Guyana yesterday inked a US$34 million contract with German-headquartered company, Veridos, for the production and rollout of an electronic citizenship card that consolidates the data of the holder, providing for easier access to public and private sector services. 

Elections Next general elections due Nov or Dec 2025 – Jagdeo: Guyana’s next general elections will be held in November or December 2025 owing to the five-month impasse that followed the 2020 polls.

Transparency Guyana suspended from EITI: Guyana has been suspended from the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) for failure to submit a report for 2020, sources tell Stabroek News.