Yearly Archives: 2024

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South Africa held their collective nerve to edge West Indies by three wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-disrupted shootout for a semi-final...

Guyana ranks second lowest in Region for renewable electricity generation – 2024 Report Jun 24, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Guyana has been ranked the second lowest country in Latin America and the Caribbean Region for power generation using renewables, a new report from the Development Bank of Latin and the Caribbean (CAF) shows. Chart showing the share of non-fuel electricity generation, i.e., the share of non-thermal generation in electricity production and the percentage of this that is obtained from non-conventional renewable energy sources (NCRE), including solar and wind. (Source: CAF 2024 Energy Report) CAF in its 2024 Report on Economic Development (RED) titled ‘Renewed energies: A just energy transition for sustainable development’ explained that total energy consumption in Latin America and the Caribbean is 24.2 exajoules (EJ), of which 20% (4.78 EJ) corresponds to electricity generation. According to the report, “This electrification rate is slightly lower than that of OECD countries (around 22%) and remarkably heterogeneous across countries, ranging from lows of 1% and 7% in Haiti and Guatemala to highs of 26% and 27% in Panama and Suriname, respectively.” Notably, 57% of electricity is produced from renewable sources in the region. This is significantly higher than the world average of 36%. The energy report explains that the region has a relatively clean electricity matrix. “Nonconventional renewable energy (NCRE) represents 11% of power generation, similar to the global value, indicating that the advantage in non-fuel generation comes from water resources, from which 80% of electricity from renewable sources is generated,” the report states. Furthermore, the participation of these sources in electricity generation is heterogeneous among countries. The Caribbean islands show low participation in nonfuel generation, reaching a maximum of 14% in the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, in South America, there is a group of countries with medium progress, where non-fuel generation represents between 30% and 40% of the total, and another group of advanced countries, with values between 74% and 80%. Paraguay stands out in the report since all its generation comes from hydroelectric sources. Most of the Mesoamerican countries show values between 44% and 68%, with the exception of Mexico (23%), on the low end, and Costa Rica (99%), on the high end. While the report did not provide specific details on the renewable power generated by Guyana or the nation’s progress in this regard, a table depicts poor use of electricity generated by non-conventional renewable energy sources (NCRE), including solar and wind. The energy report highlights the need to increase the electrification rate and use of green energy options. It explains that in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) announced net zero emissions scenario, the electrification rate for the region reaches 41% in 2050. Along with this expansion, there is a significant growth in installed capacity from solar and wind sources, which reach 43% and 19% in 2050, respectively. While countries around the world transition to renewable energy, Guyana has taken a different approach and said it would provide the electricity needed through the use of natural gas- a cleaner fuel in comparison to the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) presently used to generate the country’s electrical needs. In April, this newspaper reported that seven states are now using renewable energy to supply nearly all of their electricity needs. The Government of Guyana (GoG) is however adamant that renewable energy cannot be used to supply stable electricity for the country. A recent report by the ‘Independent’ highlighted those countries, such as, Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo produced more than 99.7 percent of the electricity they consumed using geothermal, hydro, solar or wind power. Related Similar Articles

Fruit vendor stabbed to death by husband Jun 24, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Police are investigating the murder of Anuradha Khatoon, called ‘Mama’, a 34-year-old fruit vendor of Best Village, West Coast Demerara, which occurred at about 23:30hrs last Saturday night. Decasesed: Anuradha Khatoon, called ‘Mama’ The woman was allegedly murdered by her reputed husband, a 30-year-old fisherman, at their Lot 1 Best Village home. Enquiries disclosed that the now deceased woman and the suspect had shared a common law relationship for the past five years. According to a police release, on Saturday at about 23:30hrs, the suspect returned home under the influence of alcohol and the woman told him that he had to ‘ease on the alcohol drinking’. The suspect became angry, and the couple ended up in a heated argument. As a result, the suspect armed himself with a knife and dealt Anuradha Khatoon one stab to her throat.  The woman fell to the floor in the living room, and the suspect made good his escape. An alarm was raised by the woman’s 12-year-old son, stepson of the suspect, who was awoken after he heard his mother screaming. The woman was then rushed to the nearby West Demerara Regional Hospital by family members, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The scene was searched and one kitchen knife was found on the floor. A stab wound was seen to the woman’s throat area. The body is at Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.  The suspect is yet to be arrested. Related Similar Articles

4,500 dengue deaths in Region thus far-PAHO  Jun 24, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Latin America and the Caribbean has reported 9.3 million cases of dengue so far this year, twice the number of cases reported in all of 2023. However, according to the latest epidemiological update issued late last week by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO),  the fatality rate remains below the regional goal of 0.05%. “While we are seeing a notable increase in the number of dengue cases in the region this year, it is important to highlight that the proportion of cases that progress to death remains low thanks to countries’ efforts and the support of PAHO,” PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa said. “This situation highlights the importance of sustaining surveillance, strengthening prevention and control measures, and ensuring timely medical care,” he added. In 2024 so far, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have reported more than 9,500 cases of severe dengue (0.10%) and just over 4,500 deaths (fatality rate of 0.048%). Compared to the same period in 2023, all countries recorded increases in cases. This can be attributed to several factors, including territorial expansion of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, its main vector, which has expanded its range to areas where it was not present before, potentially due to factors such as El Niño and climate change. In addition, rapid unplanned urban expansion and population growth, combined with poor water and sanitation services, have created favorable conditions for the proliferation of mosquitoes in discarded objects and containers that accumulate water. Furthermore, limited contact between humans and the dengue virus, due to reduced exposure from confinement measures and travel restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, may have increased the number of susceptible people. PAHO works closely with the countries and territories of the region to implement comprehensive dengue prevention and control plans. These plans are based on PAHO’s Integrated Management Strategy for Arbovirus Disease Prevention and Control, adopted by PAHO Member States since 2003, which includes measures such as intersectoral coordination, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, improving timely clinical management, and integrated management of Aedes aegypti, with a cross-cutting focus on communication and community participation. To strengthen the capacities of health personnel in the clinical diagnosis and management of patients with dengue, PAHO has supported face-to-face and virtual training courses – through its Virtual Campus for Public Health. This has benefited more than 430,000 professionals and students of medicine and nursing in the region. As the peak season for dengue circulation approaches in the northern hemisphere, PAHO urges countries and territories to redouble their efforts in detecting and preventing cases. Governments should raise community awareness about eliminating breeding sites, adopt personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites, and ensure timely and appropriate medical care for patients. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention at any sign of alarm and take personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites PAHO also invites countries and the community, especially in Central America and the Caribbean, to join the Mosquito Awareness Week. Under the slogan United for Health, this initiative seeks to raise awareness and involve the population in the prevention and control of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. Related Similar Articles

Govt. concerned about low gold recovery rate Jun 24, 2024 News – challenges miners to adapt to new technologies Kaieteur News – With modernisation taking place in each sector, miners are encouraged to adapt to the new technologies to help increase the country’s gold recovery rate. Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat (standing) engages local gold dealers. This was emphasised by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat during a recent meeting at Duke Lodge with persons within the gold trade industry. According to the minister, the country’s recovery rate is relatively low. He said it is important for miners to shift the way in which they are currently doing things. “We only recover about 35 or 40 percent of the gold at any given mining area, whether at a small or medium mining operation. So, we have to get our miners to adapt to the new technology and different methods of doing things,” the minister stressed. With the use of technology, the recovery rate can greatly increase or even double the percentage of what the country is currently reaping. The minister that once the rate is doubled then it simply means that there will also be an increase in gold production at a similar cost of operation. However, this can only be done once the miners reinvest in their mining operations and make use of the technology that is being made available to them, especially from the government. Additionally, the natural resources minister added that they are now looking to adamantly use mercury within the gold mining industry. “We are looking to phase out mercury. We are a signatory to the Minamata Convention, so we will phase that out. It simply means that they will have to adapt to the new technologies, whether by themselves or working in groups,” Minister Bharrat stated. Miners usually mix the liquid mercury into the sediment which then forms a coating around the gold. Even as government grapples with low recovery, the country’s gold declarations have dropped by approximately 209,000 troy ounces over the past five years. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo previously had expressed the Government of Guyana’s concern about this trend. He warned that strict penalties would be imposed on those found guilty of under-reporting gold declarations to evade taxes and royalties. In 2019, gold declarations were 641,828 troy ounces, marking a 4.7% increase that year, primarily due to greater declarations from small and medium-scale miners. However, foreign companies, Guyana Goldfields Inc. (Aurora Gold Mines) and Troy Resources Guyana Inc., saw a combined output decline of 26.6% to 186,584 troy ounces. Jagdeo explained that higher gold declarations in previous years were due to large-scale miners beginning production, leading to increased declarations from those companies. Kaieteur News had reported that Troy Resources exited Guyana’s gold industry owing the country over $2.6 billion in royalties.  Last year, total gold declarations contracted by 11.2 % to 432,113.2 troy ounces, reflecting a decline in production by small- and medium-scale miners and an increase in the sole operating foreign company. It was stated that AGM recorded higher declarations by 7.8% to 109,358.4 troy ounces at the end of 2023. In wake of the US sanctions on the Guyanese billionaire Nazar Mohamed, his son Azruddin Mohamed and government official Mae Thomas for alleged gold smuggling and corruption, the government last week said it was now requesting information on all local gold exporters to see if they have been making accurate gold declarations.  President Mohamed Irfaan Ali during an engagement with the media at State House on Thursday said that while it is awaiting information from the United States on the Mohameds, the government is also seeking additional information on all gold exporters. “I have asked the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to seek further information at all export locations on gold exported by other gold dealers so that we can have information to see if it matches what is declared in our system”, the president said before revealing saying that GRA is managing the process and is very proactive in its approach for the information. The sanctions imposed on the Mohameds were made by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).  The OFAC made allegations against the Mohameds for a series of corruption – including gold smuggling. It is alleged that Thomas, the Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Labour, misused her position to offer benefits, like government contracts to the Mohameds. On the sideline of an event at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Ambassador Theriot said the sanctions, are the result of over two and a half years of investigations by US authorities. Ambassador Theriot highlighted the gravity of the offenses that led to these sanctions. She stated, “We reserve these types of sanctions for gross levels of corruption and human rights abuses.” Theriot went on to explain that, “it’s a very high bar, we do not do this lightly. This is something that we ensure that we have a preponderance of evidence before we’re ready to levy the sanctions and we had that in this case against the three individuals who were sanctioned.” Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia have since written to the OFAC requesting additional information on the allegations. President Ali on Thursday said that his government is still awaiting that information but have since revoked their cambio licence. The government has even moved to meet with local jewelers and local gold dealers asking to keep record of those who sell them gold. Related Similar Articles